🏆 Building your sports career

A Career in Sales

While attending Florida Atlantic University, where she initially pursued track and studied journalism, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. A shift occurred when she returned home and took a job at Universal Studios. There, she stumbled upon an article by Dr. Bill Sutton, sparking her interest in sports management. The very next weekend, she drove two hours to meet Dr. Sutton to discuss the newly established MBA program in Sports Management at the University of South Florida (USF). She enrolled and found mentors in Dr. Sutton, Dr. Michelle Harrolle, Dr. Janelle Wells, and Dr. Michael Mondello at USF, who guided her toward a career in sales.

Starting in inside sales and making 100 calls daily, Philicia rose through the ranks. Her career took her from the Miami Dolphins to roles with the Alliance of American Football and the New Orleans Saints/Pelicans, where her leadership caught the attention of senior executives. She was appointed Assistant GM for the new G League team in Birmingham, Alabama, achieving success in sponsorship and ticket sales before joining the Twins.

Working in Sales and Being Resilient

At first, Philicia wasn’t interested in sales, but she decided to try it and discovered she enjoyed it. “Life is short, so pursue what you truly want. Give 110% percent at all costs; make necessary sacrifices, knock on the doors, find solutions, and do your homework.” Her journey is a prime example. She knocked on countless doors, refused to take no for an answer, and made strategic moves to advance her career.

She says if you’re hesitant, shy, or not keen on talking to new people, follow a path outside sales. Philicia’s strength lies in her resilience–she thrives when pushing herself outside her comfort zone, consistently overcoming obstacles. You’ll hear many "no's" in sales, but she always finds ways to make things happen. Philicia encourages everyone to write down their strengths and weaknesses and figure out who they are before deciding what they want to do. She challenges others to reflect on whether they enjoy tackling obstacles and meeting new people. There will always be challenges, but it’s all about how you navigate them. Be relentless in your problem–solving.

Networking to Break Into the Industry

She advises everyone to keep their LinkedIn profiles polished and current because it’s the first place she checks when hiring. Philicia makes it a point to connect with at least three new people weekly on the platform. Actively engaging on LinkedIn, attending networking events, and reaching out to professionals at all levels have led to invaluable relationships and unexpected opportunities. She also often attends networking events. "Make sure to have fun. Networking isn’t just about working up, but also around–make sure you talk to the janitor, the president, everyone–you never know who knows who or what their job is.” Her advice is simple: use LinkedIn to your advantage, be proactive in networking, and don’t hesitate to put yourself out there.

Determined & Having a Sense of Pride

In her experience, success in sports demands a special kind of drive that is often seen in athletes. Ultimately, the people who succeed in the industry are motivated by goals and moving towards something. Successful people she's been around have high professionalism and a sense of pride in what they do and who they are. “People who are successful in the sports industry have a different type of motor. It is very similar to playing sports.” She also says that although those qualities are essential, “you cannot push someone; they need to want it. They need to be a self-starter. They beat with their drum, and it needs to be fast!”

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