The Internship Launchpad:

As a college athlete, Sunny knew he needed to develop the skills required to enter the competitive sports industry. He earned internships during his first and second years at Li-Ning Wade Brand and Octagon. In his junior year, he interned at Catalyst Sports and Media (remotely). Although Adidas, Nike, Amazon, and CAA offered him an internship in his senior year, he decided to gain diversity in his skillset and knowledge to better position himself post-graduation. To achieve his goal of connecting tech and sports, he took an internship at Amazon, where he worked at AWS in sales and the cloud. Sunny's determination to work with the top sports and tech brands led him to live on LinkedIn and Instagram, where he networked with individuals from various brands and with people from coordinator roles to CMOs. While many focused solely on LinkedIn, Sunny used Instagram to connect with prospective companies and leaders. He reached out to hundreds of people, and although few responded initially, he did not let that deter him from his goal. He was open to self-assessment and ultimately tailored his messaging. "If the message didn't fit without scrolling, it was too long." As he built relationships, those people became supporters and connectors who still help him today.

Navigating the Athlete Space:

During his early college years, Sunny worked with NBA legends Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade as part of his internship at Li-Ning and Way of Wade. As he became more involved in the athlete ecosystem, Sunny saw a chance to support Udonis, similar to the team surrounding Dwyane. The pivotal moment came during a late-night workout in China after Li-Ning and Way of Wade marketing campaigns. This spontaneous workout demonstrated Sunny's dedication and began a promising future. After the workout, Udonis, Sunny, and Dwayne had a lengthy discussion, cementing their bond and a shared vision for the sports business. What started as an internship assisting with marketing evolved into a strong business relationship. Sunny attributes the evolution of this partnership to trust, hard work, and the passion to develop and build together. Udonis recognized Sunny's commitment and said, "Sunny never asked me for anything; he just made it happen." Sunny's value-driven mindset positioned him as an integral part of the team, emphasizing the importance of underpromising and over-delivering. Udonis invited Sunny to play a key role in the team's expansion, responsible for securing brand deals across off-court operations. Sunny's journey demonstrates the significance of authentic connections and relentlessness. 

Building his sports business:

Sunny resides in Washington, DC, where he works directly with Udonis and manages marketing and partnerships for 4 to 5 other NBA players. Recently, Sunny launched his own company, OffTheCourt (OTC) Athlete Management, which takes care of everything off the court, including marketing, partnership, concierge, and management services. Besides building his company, Sunny also serves as a Board Advisor for The Udonis Haslem Foundation. They aim to address socio-economic and mental health issues in inner cities by partnering with programs and organizations to improve access to services and opportunities. Sunny attributes his success to the following principles: "Take your time, be strategic, and surround yourself with a great community. Invest in those you build with." According to Sunny, building genuine relationships and being a problem solver are essential skills for anyone who wants to be successful in sports. As Sunny continues to expand his team, he emphasizes that every candidate must properly answer why they want to work in sports. "Demonstrating interest is crucial. What have you accomplished to showcase your passion? Have you completed any internships or pursued opportunities demonstrating your dedication?" There are many avenues, and many people want to work in sports, so finding your niche and researching is essential. 

Stay Tuned: This Week in Sports

Controversy in College Football did not arise from the selection of Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama for the CFP semifinals but rather from the exclusion of Florida State.

NCAA Men's Basketball rankings, Arizona has taken the lead; this marks UofA’s first No. 1 ranking since 2014. Houston climbs to #2, Kansas secures #3, and Purdue slips to #4 after an upset loss. UConn drops to #5.

Is it time to start calling the Packers a playoff team? With a significant upset victory over the defending champs, Green Bay’s playoff chances surged from 45% to 66%. Their remaining schedule favors a playoff push.

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