98. The Wild West of NIL with Dr. Matt Bowers
This week Laura is excited to present Dr. Matt Bowers, an associate professor and the director of the Sport Management Program at the University of Texas at Austin. As an expert in athlete development and sports management, Matt is here to unravel the complexities surrounding the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations that have recently reshaped college athletics.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Bowers unpacks the history and development of NIL regulations, illustrating how they have evolved from initial concepts to the powerful influence they now exert in college athletics. He explores the various advantages NIL offers athletes, such as new avenues for personal branding and financial opportunities. But the discussion isn’t limited to the benefits; Dr. Bowers also delves into the challenges and complexities accompanying these regulations. The conversation sheds light on how NIL has transformed the way college athletes engage with and profit from their sports careers.
Additionally, the episode delves into the intricate relationship between NIL regulations and the overall infrastructure of college sports. Dr. Bowers discusses how these regulations have prompted a reevaluation of traditional collegiate sports models and spurred inclusivity, opening doors for diverse revenue streams. However, he also highlights the challenges in valuing athlete contributions and the urgent need for consistent, national-level guidelines to ensure fair practices across all college sports
Whether you're a current or future college athlete, parent, coach, or just a sports enthusiast, this episode offers a critical perspective on navigating the new landscape of college sports thriving within the NIL era.
Episode Highlights:
Breakdown of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and its origins in summer 2021.
The fluctuating dynamics between NIL deals and their influence on college selection.
Trends in NIL partnerships, with an emphasis on social media leverage.
NIL's indirect and direct benefits for colleges and universities.
Collective’s role in fundraising and balancing resources for athletic departments.
Potential changes in athlete retention and graduation rates with NIL.
Comparing NIL environments between different division levels in the NCAA.
Aspects concerning athletes transitioning from college to professional sports.
Ensuring alignment of NIL opportunities with personal values and genuine interests.
Quotes:
"Sports are this incredibly powerful context, not inherently good or bad, but one of the most powerful contexts for human development."
"I think long-term happiness and fulfillment and wellbeing come from really having a clear sense of who you are, and then how you pursue that."
"There are a number of lawsuits in process right now that I could see fundamentally altering the relationship between student athletes and universities here in the not too distant future."
“I recognize this could be transformative for some families… for their kid to be able to pursue an NIL deal in high school that could change the trajectory of an entire family.”
“We've jumped the shark in terms of what we require of an athlete to even be able to put themselves in a position to get to a school like Texas. And so now we're layering on, on top of that.”
Links:
Episode 76: Developing a Competitive Mindset with Sports Psychiatrist Dr. T
Episode 83: Growing into a Leader with Swimming Olympic Medalist Elizabeth Beisel
Episode 89: Fall in Love with Failing with 3x World Champ Softball Player Haylie McCleney
Episode 91: Think Big, Act Small with 2x Olympic Medalist Skier Shannon Bahrke
Episode 95: Courage is a Learned Skill with High Diver David Colturi
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Matt:
81. Building Your Athlete Brand with CG Sports CEO Cejih Yung
Cejih Yung, Founder and CEO of CG Sports Company, one of the premier sports marketing firms in the industry, joins Laura for a fascinating conversation on this latest episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast. Having developed his love for sports at a young age growing up as a competitive swimmer in the greater Seattle area, Cejih has gone on to earn an MBA from the University of Washington and a certificate in Negotiation Mastery from Harvard Business School. He has been leading CG Sports since 2016 and writes a weekly blog called Cejih Explains about all things athlete branding, sponsorship, and sports marketing. Given his unique ability to break all these things down into simple, easy, doable steps, Laura has invited him onto the podcast to show everyone exactly how they can get started building their own brand.
Together, Laura and Cejih explore various themes, including the art of building a personal brand as an athlete and seizing the recent name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for college athletes. Along the way, Cejih details how his team empowers athletes to thrive not only in sports but also as influential figures in their field by strategically telling their story, creating an engaging social media presence, and using email marketing to forge meaningful connections with followers and sponsors Throughout their conversation, they unravel the significance of athlete branding, delve into the benefits of crafting a unique brand identity, and share practical tips to grow a dedicated audience and engage with potential sponsors. Cejih also recounts the journey of his CG Sports Company, the comprehensive services it provides to athletes, and highlights its advice to athletes to maintain consistent effort and authentic connections while avoiding the fleeting allure of viral social media posts. Listen in today as this undisputed leader in his field reveals absolutely all that sports professionals need to know about redefining their sports journey by building a brand that reflects their unique story and purpose.
Episode Highlights:
Cejih Yung and CG Sports Company
The significance and power of athlete branding
Leveraging NIL opportunities
Strategic storytelling
Power of email marketing
Growing an audience
Success beyond virality
Mental strength in sports
Quotes:
"Your brand is how you are perceived by the market and how you want the market to perceive you and understand you."
"It's not about going viral; it's about consistency and building authentic connections."
"The value of mental skills in sports can bring confidence during pressure-packed moments."
"The more valuable you can make your product, the better it's going to be for potential sponsors or partners or paid deals and things like that."
"Think of there's you, the person, and then there's you, the product, in the market. And think about those two things."
"Building an audience is important because you are taking people on the journey with you."
"The most effective way that we have found to get audience engagement and really make a connection with an audience is through email marketing."
"You as a person are the most important thing, more than your brand or your identity or any of this stuff."
Links:
Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Cejih: