Hustling with purpose:

While at Howard University, Jamesha was introduced to Keith Stevens, the CEO of Team Takeover, by Ed Hill, the Howard University Sports and Information Director. Team Takeover, a top AAU basketball program sponsored by Nike, has produced multiple NBA players, including Victor Oladipo, Jerami Grant, Jalen “Stix” Smith, Josh Hart, Luka Garza, and Trevor Keels. Jamesha volunteered to assist with team travel, administration, and management. This helped her build connections and relationships in the sports industry with colleges and brands. Apart from working for Team Takeover, she also worked as a game day intern for the Washington Wizards. Jamesha consistently volunteered to build her awareness, skill sets, and network. Having an open mind towards opportunities and different paths to reach your goals is crucial. Jamesha, for instance, performed numerous unpaid tasks and volunteered extensively. Facing challenges in the past has helped her navigate high-pressure situations effectively today.

Transitioning from Accounting to College Sports:

After graduating, Jamesha started working in a small accounting firm in Washington, DC, which gave her a lot of flexibility to maximize her time and pursue her passion for sports. She remained connected with Team Takeover and worked towards building skills and a network in the sports field. However, after a couple of years at the accounting firm, Jamesha's boss retired, and she had to find a new company. She joined KPMG and quickly learned that the job was demanding, and she couldn't pursue her passion anymore. She felt like something had to change, and that’s when she started looking for other opportunities and found a financial analyst position at the George Washington Athletic Department. She took a significant pay cut to join the department and managed eight sports and seven athletic administration budgets. Jamesha worked at GW for two years, but after her mother passed away, she wanted to be closer to home in North Carolina. She saw a job posting for the assistant director of operations at UNC Football and applied. They called her the next day, and she got the job after multiple interviews. Jamesha joined the team at the beginning of the season, replacing someone who had held the position for forty years. She had to figure out a lot on her own, but her poise, passion, and proactive problem-solving skills helped her find success. By implementing monthly meetings, optimizing systems, and breaking down expenses, Jamesha was soon promoted to director of business operations for bringing accountability, efficiency, and organization to the program.

Running Operations for Georgetown Basketball:

Over the years, Jamesha has consistently stayed connected with her network. Her persistent approach paid off when Ryan Flood, who worked at Team Takeover, contacted her in May 2023. She asked her to work at the DMV live event in June. She managed the coaches and interacted with many college basketball personnel, including the Georgetown staff, with whom she immediately developed a good relationship. In September 2023, Darnell Haney, Georgetown coach, texted Jamesha to inform her that the Director of Operations position had become available. He was impressed with their interaction in June and offered her the job. Jamesha brings years of experience to the Georgetown basketball program, where some of her daily responsibilities are managing, organizing, and executing men's basketball activities related to team, office, and staff operations. During challenging situations, Jamesha remains focused on "her why" - providing the best possible experience for her student-athletes. Finally, Jamesha emphasizes that the future may only sometimes be clear for aspiring individuals who want to work in sports. However, she pursued her passion out of love. “Gather as much information as possible to eliminate doubts and to reaffirm that you are on the right path for figuring out the next steps.”

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