Stories of Leadership: Randy Bernstein

Randy Bernstein, ’82, has secured over one billion dollars in sponsorship, advertising and corporate support over the course of his 25-year career.

His success began while at San Diego State University where he competed on the university’s forensics team and the baseball team. Bernstein majored in speech communications.

After graduation, he launched a career in professional sports management and events management which included a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego Sockers, the 1994 FIFA World Cup and serving as a founding executive of Major League Soccer and a vice president of Yahoo!.

In 2010, his company, Premier Partnerships, was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Marketing Agency of the Year for “Property Consulting, Sales and Client Service.”

Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?

I would say building, marketing and promoting one of the greatest World Cup Competitions in the history of the event in 1994. I am also proud of being one of the founding executives of a professional sports league, Major League Soccer. And it’s a great feeling for Premier Partnerships to be recognized as creating one of the most successful sales representation agencies in sports and entertainment.

What’s your favorite college memory?

My favorite memory was being on the forensics team and baseball team at the same time. Sometimes the schedules would coincide and I’d compete in speech and debate and then play a baseball game on the same day.

Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class?

Peter Anderson was an amazing inspiration and I loved, loved, loved my public speaking classes and participating on the forensics team.

If you were to give current SDSU students some advice, what would you say?

Get practical experience while you are in college. Don’t wait until you graduate. Get as many internships and access to different industries as you can. Showing your skills to entrepreneurs who may hire you really matters and can put you ahead of other graduates.

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite book?

Anything by Jim Collins. His book, "Good to Great" is the foundation of my business. "Great by Choice" is a solid follow up by Jim Collins.

What is your passion?

One is having a positive outlook, another is living a healthy lifestyle and being able to work out and use my body in a way that is exhilarating. I used to run and do triathlons. Now I work out by trail running, weight lifting, stair climbing and whatever makes me sweat.

What is your motto?

Anything is achievable.

What trait do you most value in your friends and colleagues?

Loyalty.

If you knew you could not fail, what would you attempt?

I think I would become the president of the United States.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the winnings?

After taking care of my family, the list is too long to elaborate on.