How these women are inspiring students to pursue their passions and pivot into their dream industry.
On Tuesday, February 17, DePaul held a special event in partnership with the Chicago Bears. Bears sideline reporter Lauren Screeden organized an all-women panel, inviting a variety of colleagues. Panelists included Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer Laura Anderson, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Global Affairs Tanya Dressen, and Sarah Smith, Vice President of Fan Development and Brand Marketing.
The panelists shared their experiences throughout the event, followed by a student Q&A session. They broke down how they landed their roles leading an iconic sports franchise, with many of the panelists sharing their career pivots into sports. Their insights were not only for the young women in the room who have long wanted to be in the sports business, but also for people who may not know there may be a spot for them in the sports industry too.
Using Your Education in a Specialized Field to Work in an Industry You Love
Anderson said she wanted to pursue finance and apply it to an industry she loved.
Anderson said: “I’m a big Chicago sports fan, so the opportunity to take my education and my background and apply it to a business that I’m so passionate about is so exciting.”
“I loved accounting and finance because it teaches you a language, and that language is business,” Anderson said. “Once I really learned that language, I wanted to take it to something that really got me excited.”
She shared her career journey from leaving her finance job to focus on motherhood, to later breaking into the sports industry working for the Big Ten Conference.
“It was a little jarring. It was my plan, for sure, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the shock of doing what that actually meant,” Anderson said.
Entering the workforce years later, she had unanticipated fear. Despite that, she re-entered in the way she wanted to, getting her career on a track she is very happy with.
When asked what shaped her career trajectory, Anderson said it was knowing she was in charge of her own path, which can often feel daunting for young adults who are used to the structure of school.
“When you’re a younger person, you kind of know those steps you’re gonna take,” Anderson said. “It kinda feels like that path is laid out for you, and you get out in the work force and you realize, ‘Now this is my life, this is what I’m doing for the next 40 years.’”
She emphasized the importance of picking a career that gets you excited to wake up in the morning and to look for something that you are truly passionate about.
“Knowing how competitive it was, was a little bit daunting to me,” Anderson said when asked what challenges she faced while breaking into a new industry. “I was certainly used to competition, but working in sports takes it to a whole new level.”
However, she maximized her opportunities by developing a circle of mentors, friends and allies who helped her along the way.
Pivoting Career Paths to Pursue Newfound Passions
Smith shared her story of graduating with a degree in broadcast when she heard another career path calling her name.
She felt inclined to pursue marketing and did not let her degree stop her. Instead, she used it to her advantage by positioning her skills in a way where she could bring value to marketing roles.
“I thought I was going to become a reporter,” Smith said,“I pivoted. I kind of used the same skill set of broadcast journalism and applied that to marketing, PR, communications. I would also tell younger students, don’t be afraid to make that change, and you’re not pigeonholed in just what your major is.”
She detailed how she built her way up to large marketing roles. Smith’s career success is a testimony to the power of starting small and building your skills. She spent 10 years working for the Chicago Bulls before her time with the Bears, making her a veteran in the Chicago sports industry.
So, how can people looking to get into sports with no prior experience build the confidence to start? You may already be a good fit considering the experience you’re working with.
“We’re looking at folks who can bring their experience, no matter what it is, and show how it applies and how it will make the club better,” Smith said. “Actually, we’re looking for people a lot of times outside of sports so they can give us more of a well-rounded business perspective.”
Establishing Yourself in the Industry
The panelists emphasized the importance of building relationships, especially mentorships. Dressen reflected on her own mentors that she takes guidance from.
She referred to these as being like a “board of directors” in her mind. An example she used was having mentors that could help her in different ways. For instance, having a mentor who is more straightforward but also having someone who is more soft spoken.
“You know, we got Linkedin, we’re hanging on by a thread there, but that is something. So for the younger, keep that going,” Dressen said. “Those relationships do end up becoming mentorships in different ways, depending on the roles and paths that people take.”
She added that applicants should consider searching for volunteer opportunities to stand out. This helps them showcase their character.
In terms of skills, Dressen believes the art of storytelling is the key to unlocking opportunities, holding conversations and meeting people.
“That’s what’s gonna spark a conversation in an elevator or sitting on the subway,” Dressen said. “The art of storytelling is underestimated, I think, in how powerful it can be. Because you will stand out.”
Lastly, panelists advised keeping a clean social media presence. Dressen warned about the risk of losing an opportunity due to posts that could negatively reflect your character and ability to positively represent a brand.
Finding Balance Between Career and Life.
Dressen argues that balance should be replaced with integration. Instead of trying to create a perfect balance between work and life, you should actually focus on how you can blend your two worlds. She shared an example regarding her family and work life. She takes moments from her work day and turns them into stories and lessons she can share with her children at the dinner table.
Smith emphasized the importance of recharging and truly being present when taking time off. This can be something many young professionals may struggle with, especially as they try to build a good reputation within their new work environment. However, in the long run, learning to take care of yourself may be more effective than overworking yourself and burning out.
She likes to uphold the importance of self care by modeling healthy habits to her team.
“Not being on email, not on Teams messaging people when I say I’m on vacation,” Smith said, “If you’re leading a team, leading by example of actually taking that time, so that way your team knows it’s cool to also take time away.”
Through this, Smith is able to be a positive influence, creating a team that is catering to their own needs before catering to anyone else.
She reiterated that your work in the long run will be impacted if you are not taking the time to rest.
The event was followed by time to network with students, faculty and the panelists, giving students a chance to share their interests and goals.
DePaul student attendees shared what they took from the messages from the panelists and how this event helped them embark on their career journeys.
Marketing major Julia Pouliat said: “I’m coming out of it feeling very inspired. It’s great to see fellow women who were once in our shoes now in these super established roles. You know, when you’re applying to jobs, it’s like a dark cloud, but now it’s a glimmer of hope.”
Header Image by Diego Yepez
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