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1. What attracts you to the sports industry?
Chris Cunanan: I always knew that I had a passion for sports. If I was in a profession that I didn't love and wasn't passionate about, then I felt that I would be cheating myself in life.
Alexandra Echevarria: The sports industry has always fascinated me. With its recent growth, and the public's interest in the industry, it has become a much more respected and important sector of the working world. As I continued to follow sports, I developed a desire to learn now everything comes together behind the scenes and how the sports industry is growing so quickly. There is so much more to the industry than the athletes and the agents and that is what I wanted to explore and eventually be able to convey to others who don't understand this.
Jeron Smith: The sports industry is a broad industry with a variety of categories in which one can find their own niche. It is also a thriving and constantly evolving industry that netted approximately $213 billion last year. Most importantly it is an industry that transcends virtually every demographic.
Ian Stanley: I am interested in the dynamic nature of sports, which brings new challenges every day and the ability to work with many different people. For me personally, I am looking to explore how technology and new media are changing the sports industry in an increasingly connected world.
Beth Thrower: The sports industry is an ever-changing and ever-growing industry. I developed a love and appreciation for sports growing up through watching and participating in them, and am developing an appreciation for a completely different side of sports through learning about and working in the industry. Sports affect so many people in so many different ways and I personally wanted to work in the industry because of the unique opportunity that it presents. You are able to entertain, empower and provide people with a passion unlike any other industry. Sports have the power to transform communities and that is something I wanted to be a part of.
2. Why did you enroll in the Georgetown University Masters in Sports Industry Management program?
Chris Cunanan: I have been working in professional sports full-time for almost two years now. I started out with the Phoenix Suns in sales and the Arizona Diamondbacks in game entertainment. My ultimate goal is to be the President or General Manager of a Major League Baseball team, and I felt that to get to where I want to be, I need to advance my education. Georgetown is such a prestigious school and there was no place I would've rather gone. Georgetown has also provided me with an opportunity to do a fellowship in game entertainment with the Washington Capitals.
Alexandra Echevarria: Georgetown has an amazing reputation as being one of the top universities in the county. Living in Washington, DC was something I always wanted to experience and I saw no better opportunity than to do so while studying. The layout of the program also allows you to participate in an internship during the day while taking your classes at night. I am currently interning at Octagon, a global sports and entertainment marketing company, which I am enjoying thoroughly. The option to intern at one organization for the full year or even experience two different organizations with the two semesters is something I saw as a great opportunity.
Jeron Smith: Washington D.C. is a sports hotbed. Georgetown has produced a myriad of successful sports executives, thus the network I am being exposed to is second to none.
Ian Stanley: I was drawn to the Georgetown program because of its unique approach to learning. I was looking for a flexible graduate program that allowed me to work during the day and attend class in the evening. The classes are effective and interesting because they concentrate on applied learning. All of our faculty are current sports executives working at prominent organizations. In such a competitive field, a Master's degree is very helpful and the opportunity to network is extremely valuable as well. I also like how the program is geared towards the future and lets students customize their studies to focus on particular interests.
Beth Thrower: I was first attracted to the Georgetown SIM program because of the reputable name and image that is associated with the university, but enrolled because of many different reasons. Both the associate dean and program manager were very easily accessible and answered any and all questions I had about the program. They seemed genuinely interested in me and my personal career goals. The list of faculty members was incredible—all sports executives in the Washington, DC area—and the internship program Georgetown offered made it impossible to turn down.
3. What do you hope to gain from being in the program? What makes it different from other programs you may have explored?
Chris Cunanan: This degree will prepare me like no other to succeed in professional sports. As Sports Industry Management students at Georgetown, we get to learn from high level executives, and we are given access to some of the best minds in professional sports.
Alexandra Echevarria: With the professors in the program here at Georgetown, I hope to be able to build strong connections and learn inside information that I would not be able to learn anywhere else. Our professors are some of the top sports executives in the country which provides us with invaluable knowledge. The same goes for the advisory board of the program. The partnerships that Georgetown has with organizations in the DC area as well as outside of the area provide great opportunities to internships during your Masters as well as job opportunities after completing your Masters.
Jeron Smith: I hope to gain a thorough understanding of the concepts and theories behind the work experiences I've already had in the sports industry. I will use the knowledge I garner through the program to create more efficient and effective processes wherever I go. I do not just want to work in the industry; I want to revolutionize the industry.
This program is very different from many other programs out there, given its location. I was given an opportunity to attend the Washington Nationals Diversity Internship. This opportunity included an all expense paid trip to Melbourne, FL and an invaluable experience where I was able to enhance my knowledge in the sport of baseball as it pertains to scouting, player development, the arbitration process and contract negotiations. I wouldn't have had access to such an awesome opportunity without the networks already in place by this program.
Ian Stanley: I would like to strengthen my background knowledge in areas such as digital media and marketing while also establishing positive relationships with classmates and teachers. The internship component has allowed me to work with the NBA's Washington Wizards where I can get hands-on experience and apply what I learn in a professional setting. Georgetown distinguishes itself from other sports management programs because of the quality of faculty, the prestigious name and advantageous location in Washington, DC.
Beth Thrower: The sports industry is huge and only getting bigger. Aside from a great education and background in the industry, I hope to gain a better perspective for what exactly I want to do in the industry and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in that position or field. I chose Georgetown over other sports management programs largely because of the internship opportunity that it offers. I am gaining more from the hands-on industry experience through my internship with the NFL Players Association this semester than I could ever hope to gain from only sitting in a classroom.
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