“When you’re a student, getting into the sports industry can seem like trying to get into a terrarium,” said Rohan Sharma, a senior majoring in business management at Indiana University Bloomington. “It can seem like a sealed ecosystem, and it’s hard to know how to become a part of it.”
For Indiana University students dreaming of a career in the sports world, TEDSports Indianapolis — sponsored at the founding partner level by IU — offered insights and connections that brought them one step closer to realizing their professional ambitions.
TED events, which are famous for their mix of thoughtful talks, workshops and discovery sessions from well-known speakers, can seem out of reach for most college students. But IU faculty advisors and program administrators who are committed to student success made certain that students like Sharma could attend.
From Sept. 9 to 11 in Indianapolis, Indiana Sports Corp. assembled a TED event centered on sports, with talks from leading figures like internationally renowned cricket player Firooza Afghan and World Wrestling Entertainment champion Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
Sharma also attended a panel discussion on mental health in sports that featured Indianapolis Colts owner Kalen Jackson, IU professor of sport and performance psychology Jesse Steinfeldt and World Cup champion Hope Solo.
“What makes an event like this stand out for me is that I’m sitting next to Olympic athletes, and hearing from people like Hope Solo, who is one of my childhood heroes,” Sharma said. “It’s so cool to see all the people I’ve grown up admiring and to realize that at the end of the day, they’re human too. They’ve got emotions; they’re under a lot of pressure.”
Ethan Klinghofer, a junior majoring in sport marketing and management at IU Bloomington, also said he appreciated the vulnerability that the speakers shared, especially former World Cup champion Gilberto Silva, who spoke about the need for better mental health protection for athletes in online spaces.
Olivia Branstetter, a senior majoring in sport management IU Indianapolis, attended the event at the invitation of her faculty mentor David Pierce, a professor of sport management and chair of the Department of Tourism, Event and Sport Management in the School of Health & Human Sciences.
“I loved listening to the different stories,” she said. “But even though everyone has completely varied experiences, we’re all here to improve sports and make it more equal, transparent and unified.”
The attendees do more than just listen to talks at a TED conference. Just outside the event space, IU sponsored a food truck court and activities tent that facilitated many of the event’s networking and learning opportunities.
Klinghofer and fellow sports enthusiast Owen Reifel, a junior finance major at the Kelley School of Business at IU Bloomington, lead the Indiana University Sport Business Conference, a student-run organization within the Sport Marketing and Management Program at the School of Public Health-Bloomington. Their faculty advisor, Beinner Family Professor in Sport Marketing and Management Antonio Williams, made sure they made the most of the TED conference networking time by connecting with industry professionals.
“Networking is such an important part of the sports world,” Klinghofer said. “Opportunities like this help me create connections that can open doors for future growth and success.”
Beyond TED
Providing opportunities like TEDSports is just one way IU supports students in reaching their career goals.
Reifel said he appreciates the internship and volunteer opportunities available through the School of Public Health-Bloomington, as well as the strong relationships the university maintains with organizations like the Colts.
Through the Indiana Sport Business Conference, Reifel, Klinghofer and other students can connect with sports industry professionals via panel discussions and networking opportunities.
“I might be biased because I’m a part of the organization, but I think it’s truly special because many of the students involved have made connections that ultimately led them to getting internships or other opportunities in sports,” Klinghofer said.
Sharma participates in the Kelley School of Business’ Sports Industry Workshop, a one-year program that teaches students about different aspects of the sports business industry. The workshop connects students with professionals like Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks.
“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be able to attend an event like this and appreciate the IU professors, mentors and staff who have helped me throughout my time at IU Indy,” she said. “Many of my IU classes have encouraged volunteer work outside of class. This has helped students, including me, get hands-on experience and learn what goes on behind the scenes. It has also helped introduce me to different professionals in the sports industry.”
Klinghofer agreed, saying, “Sports is an industry that can be pretty hard to break into and where you’ve got to be connected to succeed. Being able to expand my network here at the TED event, but also through other opportunities at IU, has really given me a leg up in terms of my career goals.”