Chip Hall’s Post

In just a few weeks, over 100,000 NCAA student-athletes will celebrate their college graduations. Yet, the question remains: where will their next chapter unfold? 🔷 Are they equipped to present themselves beyond their name, sport, and alma mater? 🔷 Does their resume truly showcase the diverse skills they've cultivated through athletics? 🔷 If granted an interview, are they poised to engage in a meaningful dialogue beyond the realm of sports? 🔷 How are they managing the transition, as a pursuit they've dedicated 15+ years to come to a close? 🔷 Can they craft a compelling thank-you email? 🔷 Do they understand the art of networking effectively on LinkedIn? 🔷 With the absence of a structured athletic schedule, are they ready to seize each day to its fullest? While the spotlight currently shines on the transfer portal and athletes' moves to new schools, there's an even more crucial transition getting nowhere near the attention that is needed: from school to career. To those who genuinely care about our young adults beyond their athletic prowess, let's connect. We're building a ground breaking program designed to empower the entire student-athlete community, preparing them for life beyond sports, while helping them discover their identity beyond an athlete. More than graduation rates, what truly matters is placement rates. We have two university partners already locked in to be part of the build out of this game changing program and looking for 3-4 more.  If your college or university is interested in joining our task force to help change the game, email me at [email protected] and let’s talk. #earlycareer #mentalhealth #studentathlete #transition #lifeaftersports ZIYNX

Celsius' NIL strategy is a masterclass on how to effectively engage with Gen-Z and college students. CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. takes a multi-faceted approach - activating both macro and micro-level ambassadors to tap into culture on college campuses across the country. Starting with macro, Celsius announced partnerships with the biggest names in college sports, at the perfect time. Right when football season kicked off, they launched partnerships with college football stars Bo Nix, Michael Pennix and Blake Corum. And with March Madness right around the corner, they just announced partnerships with college basketball stars JuJu Watkins, Jared McCain, Cody Williams and Kwame Evans. These macro-level names not only create buzz on social, but also organically generate incredible amounts of free PR. No matter how much money a brand spends on Facebook ads, no reporter will cover it (obviously). But teaming up with Heisman candidates and 5 star recruits absolutely will get you covered by Forbes, Sports Illustrated, and On3 - picking up hundreds of thousands of extra impressions to build awareness around the brand. While Celsius uses the biggest names in college sports to drive hype and brand awareness, they layer in micro-level ambassador marketing to hyper-target their Gen-Z fanbase. They know that taking a macro-influencer only approach by itself doesn’t always work - just look at BioSteel going bankrupt after partnering with star athletes like Pat Mahomes, Luka Doncic and Connor McDavid. Celsius has 170 college ambassadors nationwide and "seeds the sh*t" out of their product - placing an average of 67,000 cans of its product on college campuses each month. Launching their own "Celsius University" ambassador program helps them leverage word-of-mouth marketing and activate its fans as faces for the brand across college campuses. Their college ambassadors humanize the brand and bring authenticity and trust to the forefront - which is incredibly important as authenticity and relatability are two of the most important factors that influence what companies Gen-Z supports. Overall, the brand’s partnership with the biggest names in college sports amplifies its presence and awareness, while their ambassador program fosters deep connections and authenticity. #nil #celsius #sportsmarketing

LET US COMMENCE!   Today is the commencement for Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and the 3rd (not attending due to illness) since I joined as Faculty Director/Associate Professor of the Practice for the Sports Industry Management MPS program in 2020. More significantly for me, it is also the final commencement under my leadership of the SIM program. It’s time to reimagine my ambitions and aspirations and, once again, reintroduce myself.   Given that the business of sports is my passion, my profession, and my purpose, I am ready to seize new ideas and opportunities, engagements and experiences, as well as new collaborations/partnerships. As a sports educator, executive, and entrepreneur, I hope to continue with sincere intention and strategic action harnessing and leveraging the power of sports as a catalyst to amplify and to ignite as well as to empower and to inspire to make a difference in the world. Plus, I'm ready to run it back on my areas of experience and expertise spanning branding, marketing, communications, cause marketing, social impact, as well as event planning and management.   As a HS student, I aspired to Georgetown University for UG. As an UG, I aspired to Georgetown Law School. However, as I evolved and explored, I ultimately chose NC State University for UG - the best decision ever. Then, I headed to Ohio State for grad school - second best decision ever. So, joining Georgetown in January 2020 was a 360-circle manifestation with momentum.   As a college student many moons ago, I also always wanted to study abroad but never had the opportunity. Since then, I’ve leaned into my love of travel – locally, nationally, and globally. BUT…the synergy of my brand with the  Georgetown brand opened doors to global collaborations here and abroad with international sports teams, presenting/speaking at international conferences, and my favorite, teaching as a guest professor to international students.   The past four and a half years have evolved and stretched me in ways I could not have ever imagined - the breadth and depth of my experience, expertise, and exposure have all been enhanced and expanded exponentially. Like any four-year college experience, I experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and everything in between. Time spent here has not been without challenge, but it’s also been without regret. In that spirit, like the graduates crossing the stage today, this moment marks both the end of one journey and the beginning of another for.   When I think of the journey of the past four years, I, too, am graduating from Georgetown in some ways literally and in other ways metaphorically. I’m ready and it’s time. Excited to explore, to ponder, and to pursue my next adventures, collaborations, opportunities, possibilities, and, most importantly, my next chapter. So, let us all commence…including me! New chapter loading...   “Go forth and set the world on fire.” –St. Ignatius of Loyola

As I start entering the workforce, I thought it was a good time to introduce myself to many of my connections who may not know me beyond my About section. I grew up in Albany, Georgia, and have been in Birmingham, Alabama for the past four years obtaining my Bachelor's degree from Samford University where I will graduate in April. Let's rewind to my senior year in high school, a time when the path to my future was undefined. As I worked to find a major, a guiding mantra emerged: "I want to help others live the life they want to live and deserve to live."This mantra has stayed with me and grown to fit my current passions.  After various major, minor, and concentration changes, I choose Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS). Why HDFS? It's all about the intricate network and pathway of human lives. I have learned complex theories and life span development stages and was intrigued by how individuals bidirectionally shape their communities. This major would provide me with an understanding of people that I needed to live out my mantra. While at Samford I became an Orientation Leader. Managing six Orientation Sessions for over 1,000 participants, I discovered a profound passion for crafting events to make campus feel like home to new students – I was living out what I had always wanted to do. Concurrently, a newfound interest in the business side of events prompted me to embrace a Business minor, creating a harmonious blend of studies that perfectly complemented my ambitions. Growing up amidst sports, my family immersed itself in every facet – from participating in sports to attending college and professional games. The memories formed during these events became things of strength during challenging times. To me, sports mean more than competition; they offer individuals something to identify with, something to cheer for, and something to hope for – essential components for positive personal development and relationships. Driven by the profound impact of sports and my educational background, my sights are set on a career in sports-related roles, specifically focusing on Fan Engagement and Fan Experiences in the years to come. I hope to be a part of creating spaces where families create bonds, where hope reignites, and where individuals find something oddly familiar in times of change. Sports possess this unique ability, and I am armed with the tools to turn this vision into reality. As graduation approaches, my gaze is fixed on a career where I can embody the guiding phrase that has resonated within me since high school – the commitment to helping people live the life they deserve by orchestrating events that linger in the hearts and minds of those who attend. The mantra that a senior in high school developed remains with the senior in college as I look forward. I am eagerly prepared to bring my distinctive blend of education and passion into the realm of sports, creating experiences that leave people feeling encouraged.

Educators will find a way. The team has been featuring work this month that we've done across education ranging from pre-school to higher ed. Among the tactics and insights the team will be sharing, one of the foundational challenges to acknowledge are the following truths: 1. While linked to each other by the overarching brand, different schools within the same university have different audiences, different value props, different content. (You'll see in some of our posts this month that student choice goes way beyond the overarching brand & reputation these days.) 2. To compete with other universities, each school needs communications and a digital presence that is more than university level, they need something specific to them, their audiences, and the impact they are making. 3. If you don't provide the means for the schools & academic programs you support to do this, they will find a way to do it themselves. Like any business, rogue digital efforts can lead to all kinds of challenges (brand inconsistency, vulnerabilities, support challenges, etc). The universities doing it right are arming the different academic programs they support with either technology that allows that flexibility (not just a department template on the main website), or service providers who understand their university level goals/guidelines, but can deliver something unique within them.

Caitlin Clark and Tim Tebow are two names that have become synonymous with the magic and allure of college sports. Both blessed with extraordinary talent and an uncanny ability to captivate audiences, these athletes rewrote record books, electrified crowds, and became larger-than-life icons. However, in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and skyrocketing sports marketing opportunities, the question remains: is Caitlin Clark making the right decision by going pro, or could one more year at the University of Iowa have been a financial catapult that launches her into unparalleled success? In the article, I jump into the captivating parallels between these two legendary athletes, examining the monumental impact they had on their respective sports and the million-dollar question that will forever intertwine their legacies. The rise of Caitlin Clark coincides with the dawn of the NIL era, where a single year in college can translate to millions in earnings. In contrast, Tim Tebow's legendary status was cemented at a time before athletes could monetize their fame during their college careers. What are your thoughts on this? With college athletes being semi-professional now, did she make the right choice? Is Clark a college star only? Does her marketability transfer in the professional arena? This is one of the first times this topic has appeared on a large stage. The rapidly evolving landscape of sports marketing in college athletics is reshaping the trajectories of young superstars in unprecedented ways. As we witness this transformative shift, we can now examine the potential financial implications for athletes like Caitlin Clark and how their decisions could impact their long-term success off the court or field. #CaitlinClark #TimTebow #CollegeSports #NILDeals #SportsBusiness #Marketing #finance #sportsfinance Joseph A. Donato Chase Munkholm https://lnkd.in/emDib6mi

What does your LinkedIn photo say about you? This was one of several interesting questions debated last night in the Nottingham Trent University 'Go' Programme. This is a new initiative aimed at recent graduates, and I was honoured to lead the first session on 'Building your digital presence'. Many thanks to Hannah Stafford for organising the event and for the contributions from delegates on the night, including Adele Werner who joined us from New York! I hope you found the session interesting and I look forward to seeing the results in your profiles! #WeareNTU #Careercoaching

Everything about this program has truly been life changing for me and I always speak highly of it and the benefits to any peers and future college students. If you’re thinking of working in sports, this is THE program to be in!! #GMG #SportsManagement

It’s an age-old tale that the jock gets the girl, experiences immense school popularity, and makes prom king. Meanwhile, the nerds often endure their high-school years being sidelined with the promise that they’ll get the last laugh—perhaps, by going on to become a Fortune 500 CEO. But as it turns out, it’s all a lie. Really, being that sporty kid at school is more likely to result in bringing home $220,000 more in cumulative wages than your nerdy peers. At least, that’s according to a new study that followed the career outcomes of 400,000 athletes and non-athletes attending America’s notoriously competitive Ivy League colleges, like Harvard University, from 1970 to 2021. Read more about how athletic students bank skills that are highly desirable in the corporate world, in Fortune 👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/edsQKDCu #leadership #success #ceomindset