Growing sports business at Kellogg, Northwestern
As the global dynamics of sports business continue to change, Kellogg has emerged as a leading business school in terms of strategic thinking and marketing in this field. The Sports Business Club (SBC) and Sports Business Conference are the two primary passageways for the industry at our school.
As Chair of the Sports Business Conference and Vice President of Careers for the SBC, it is important for me (and the rest of our great second year leadership) to develop a coherent and consistent plan for all of our future leaders. Combining the resources of faculty, classmates, administration, and leaders from other schools at Northwestern, has been a critical mission for the club and the Sports Business Conference. If we want Kellogg and Northwestern alumni to become leaders in sports business, it is vital we all work together.
In the past two years alone, Kellogg has hosted professionals from all of Chicago’s major sports teams, as well as national and international organization representatives from VISA, Wasserman Media Group, YouTube Sports and more. The SBC, in particular, has grown in membership each year and continues to attract incoming students who view sports business as a viable career path.
Most recently, on Thursday, October 16, the SBC worked in collaboration with Medill to present a Sports Business Careers Panel to more than 45 students. Panelists came from US Soccer, Gatorade, ESPN, Intersport and NASCAR. Talking about strategic marketing, new developments in media and opportunities for MBAs proved truly valuable for both the Kellogg and Medill students in the room, many of who stuck around well after the presentation to talk to the panelists. Themes of networking, internships and “hustle” emerged as key drivers of entry and essential for future success in the industry.
The SBC continues to work with many areas of sports at Northwestern and beyond, from sending teams to case competitions at UCLA and MIT to working with the Athletic Director’s Office on internal projects. Last year, Kellogg’s own team finished in second place at the MIT Conference out of fifty domestic and international business schools.
In the future, panels such as the one on Thursday will be emphasized in collaboration across all Northwestern schools. As law, medicine, journalism and other areas continue to intertwine with business, we hope that Kellogg will be at the forefront of the business side of sports. The future looks very bright for the school and the industry.
Sandeep Satish is a second-year student in Kellogg’s Full-Time Two-Year Program. Prior to moving to Evanston, he worked in investment banking at Citigroup in New York City. This summer, he interned with Major League Baseball at the Commissioner’s Office and hopes to stay in sports business after graduation.