Student Organization Spotlight: Sports Business Initiative
The SDSU Sports Business Initiative guides students interested in the sports industry.
Through the organization, students are able to network with industry professionals, visit sports companies and venues, and learn about internship and job opportunities.
Paul Jensen, president of SBI, said joining SBI has allowed him to develop into a leader on campus and gain experience working in the sports industry.
“I was very shy and reserved my whole life growing up, but finding an organization that aligned with my passion and career goals helped me break out of that shell and take on leadership roles on campus,” Jensen said. “It has truly been an amazing experience getting to work baseball games, concerts, the 2016 MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, Comic-Con, and so many of the other great events put on at Petco Park.”
Is the Sports Business Initiative open to all majors or is it major specific?
SBI is open to all majors. We have members majoring in business, psychology, journalism, communication, political science and kinesiology. The only requirement is wanting to pursue a career in the sports industry.
When it comes to finding new members for your organization, what type of students are you looking for?
We look for students who have a passion for working in sports. We provide many opportunities for students to connect with business professionals and executives in the industry.
When are your meetings and is there a membership fee?
Our meetings are at 7 p.m. every Thursday in the Pride Suite of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. We have a basic membership fee and premium membership fee. The basic membership, which costs $30 each semester, includes an SBI t-shirt, pad-folio and priority registration for our site visits. The premium membership, which is a yearly fee of $50, includes the basic membership and exclusive access to networking events and notification of volunteer, internship and job opportunities with local sports teams and sports-related companies.
What kind of activities does your organization plan and attend? Do you have any events coming up?
Our organization hosts guest speakers, networking events, development workshops, social outings and organizes on-site visits. The guest speakers that are brought in are business professionals and executives in the sports industry who interact with our members and give insights on how to make it in this competitive industry. In the coming weeks, we will host the following guest speaker: Linsey Bahl, marketing coordinator at Fox Sports San Diego; Nick Ennis, director of baseball operations with the San Diego Padres; Matt Savant, president of business operations with the San Diego Gulls; and SDSU alumnus David Brickley, founder and CEO of STN Digital.
Recently, we visited ESPN Los Angeles, SKLZ Headquarters, the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, and Petco Park. Every year, we organize the Sports Business Summit, which is a networking event for both students and community members to listen to panels and keynote speakers. The proceeds from the drawing go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides support to people with physical challenges so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.
How can students find more information about your organization?
Students can find more information about SBI by visiting our website or by following our Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter.
What can students gain from joining this organization?
By joining this organization, students will learn about different areas of sports and how to get their foot in the door into the sports industry. Our members in the past have had experiences working for the San Diego Padres, SDSU Athletics, Fox Sports, National Sports Forum, Los Angeles Clippers, and many more.
What impact have SDSU faculty made on your organization?
Many SDSU faculty members have had an impact on SBI, but the ones that have done the most for our organization are Kristie Dock, Tita Gray and Jason Tan. Kristie and Jason currently work in the Business Advising Center on campus and have been advisors to SBI. They have done a lot to help us with paperwork, put together funding proposals and support our goals as an organization. Tita Gray previously worked in the Fowler College of Business at SDSU, but was the most supportive person we have worked with. She truly cares about all of her students and always took the time to meet with us if we had any issues or difficult situations.
