The students traveled to NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, for a day of observation, facility tours, and conversations with executives.
“It was an incredible day of learning and motivation,” says John Papa, director of the sports management program at the Barney School of Business. “Giving students these types of opportunities both on and off campus is what we strive for. It takes great partners like NBC Sports to make it possible.”
NBC Sports has an exciting string of recent commercial wins, such as being awarded the rights to broadcast the Olympics through 2036 and to air next year’s Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.
Trip co-organizer Susan Cardillo, associate professor in the School of Communication, says she first reached out to NBC’s human resources department to ask how best to tailor the curriculum to help students get jobs in sports production. “That developed into a wonderful relationship,” she says. “Three of my students actually interned for the Paris Olympics, and we now have at least six alumni employed by NBC Sports.”
Cardillo and Papa continue to build an outstanding sports business-and-communications program at UHart. They have established good relationships with other sports broadcasters including ESPN, CBS Sports, the National Football League, Major League Baseball and, most recently, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Jaiden Loudon, a sophomore who is studying digital media and journalism, was pleasantly surprised at just how massive the NBC Sports operation was in Stamford. “From the moment we arrived, it was a place like none I’ve ever seen,” he says. “I knew right away we were in for something special. It truly opened my eyes to what working for a major broadcaster could be like.”
The best part, adds Loudon, who has a WWE internship, was the question-and-answer session with NBC Sports executives. Officially called a Career Journey Panel, it included Kevin Callahan ’07, vice president of system engineering, and Susan Saladino ’02, senior director of Olympic operations—both UHart graduates—in addition to representatives from the legal, business, and partnership development departments. All the executives shared their career journeys that led to NBC. Internships played a role in many of those journeys.
“Frankly, I didn't know what to expect at first. But I was super excited, especially since I hope to work in sports media,” says Elizabeth White, a junior who is majoring in digital media & journalism. “Speaking with the NBC Sports executives was very inspiring. We all received great advice that we’ll take with us into the workplace.”
Jaiden Loudon, UHart Digital Media and Journalism MajorI knew right away we were in for something special. It truly opened my eyes to what working for a major broadcaster could be like.