WHM: My game plan: Scoring big at the National Sports Forum

It is rare to participate in an experience that leaves an indelible impact on your professional and personal life and one that grows your network exponentially. I had that experience at The National Sports Forum (NSF) in Pittsburgh, Pa. by attending as part of the 2024 Business of Diversity in Sports and Entertainment (BDSE) Cohort.

The BDSE Cohort workshop began with interactive programming at the Clemente Museum. Thanks to Legends, the official partner of the BDSE program, the cohort of 32 members enjoyed tours and networking at the museum. The second workshop day provided the Cohort with best practices, case studies and real-time business applications. Then it was on to the NSF Welcome Reception hosted by PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Pirates for an exciting night of networking with other sports industry professionals along with a behind-the-scenes stadium tour that ended with an incredible drone show.

The NSF is one of the largest annual sports business conferences in North America and there were 900 attendees this year. The first full day started with a newcomer’s breakfast, Opening Ceremonies and the Super Panel on How AI is going to Change the Way We Work. Then I attended the Social Media workshop held by my USTA colleagues Reshina Warren and Alyssa Simonin. They gave an informative presentation on how the US Open social media team drew 1.65 billion engagements last year. I also attended The ERG Playbook: Championing Inclusion. The next Super Panel - Her Time: The Changing Face of Sports Leadership - was extremely enlightening as five dynamic women discussed their path to the C-suite. Later, the Trade Show took center stage, and I enjoyed a mixer that included a book signing with author Macaela Mackenzie.

The second day featured a Super Panel with team executives from the NHL, NBA, MLB and MiLB in From Where I Sit: Leadership in 2024. I participated in an insightful discussion on Deion Sanders and how he fosters a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging with his University of Colorado football team. Another informative breakout session was Developing a Game Plan: Data-Driven Strategies for Crisis Management. The last evening concluded at Acrisure Stadium for the Budweiser Gala with an unforgettable tour of the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room.

I was proud to be one of the more than 100 applicants who received a scholarship to the Cohort and, to my knowledge, the only tennis representative in attendance at the NSF that was heavy on delegates from the “Big 4” leagues: MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL. I am grateful for the education, the new family, and the memories of a lifetime in an ultimate sports city- Pittsburgh. Thank you to the entire BDSE Committee leaders and Legends for affording me this opportunity for exposure to sports industry executives on a whole new level across the spectrum of leagues and teams.

It is my goal to share this program with USTA Southern and USTA colleagues and mentees so that they can explore this opportunity for networking, personal growth, and realistic self-appraisal in the sports industry. I would also like to see USTA play a bigger role as an organization in this game-changing event.