For this assignment, I continued with my previously connected sport communication penpal, Lauren Rivera-Galvez. For a refresher, she graduated from ODU with a bachelor’s in strategic communication last year and is currently in her first year in a full-time position within ODU Athletics. Before this position, Lauren was an intern within the same department. Through this interview, I gained insight into how rewarding, although demanding, a career in the sports industry can be. From her game-day assignments to her day-to-day tasks, there is stress in almost every responsibility. Specifically, her responsibilities include organizing social media content, coordinating with teams and opposing schools before match/game days, and managing communications, which can often extend beyond normal office hours. One of the most significant challenges she’s faced early in her career was balancing the workload with her personal life, but she has managed this by setting boundaries and making time for herself.
A key takeaway from our conversation was that success in the sports industry requires a strong work ethic, consistency, and overall willingness to take on any task. She emphasized the importance of showing up and offering help to people whenever possible.
Overall, I wanted to learn more about Lauren’s main challenges in her position, the advice she has for aspiring sports professionals, and anything that has defined her career to this point.
Colorful-Professional-Corporate-Business-Company-Process-Timeline-InfographicIn the end, I learned more than I thought I would, and overall, I walked away with new insight into what really goes on behind the scenes in the professional world of sports communication.