Spring Break
NBA Development League President Discusses Careers in Sports and Life in the NBA
By Will Boland (NA), Contributing Writer
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: News
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While many students consider themselves huge sports fans, HBS has not traditionally been a breeding ground for sports executives. In fact, outside of making fortunes in other industries and later buying their own professional sports teams, few MBAs have made successful careers in the business of sports. According to Dan Reed, President of the NBA Development League, that bias may be changing.
On November 7, Mr. Reed addressed a packed classroom in Aldrich on behalf of the Business of Sports Club as part of the HBS Sports Industry Week. His speech centered on how to approach the job search in sports as well as his rise through the NBA just three years after walking Aldrich's halls for the last time as a Section C student. Mr. Reed noted that though they are highly competitive and difficult to find, opportunities for MBAs in the sports industry are emerging. Leagues such as the NBA are seeking professional management practices to centralize strategic planning, improve operations, enhance customer service, and achieve growth, both domestically and through international markets. As a result, teams and leagues have become more receptive to recruiting MBAs into leadership development programs in their front offices.
Mr. Reed discussed some of these budding opportunities for MBAs and offered advice to students interested in pursuing careers in sports. Because opportunities are limited and are not part of traditional campus recruiting, Mr. Reed stressed the importance of patience, networking, and humility. "The sports world is scarily small, but this can be an advantage."
With success driven as much by relationships as by performance, Mr. Reed suggested using classmate connections and the alumni database to begin making contacts in the industry. "Talk to as many people as possible. When hard-to-find opportunities arise, you want your name to spring to mind." Mr. Reed also suggested subscribing to the Sports Business Journal to stay current on the sports business and to monitor the job board on www.workinsports.com for available opportunities. If opportunities for a specific team, league, or sport don't arise, Mr. Reed recommends targeting a desired function and finding the best possible company for which to work. Developing the right functional skills, if not for the sport for which you are passionate, will help you achieve your dream job somewhere down the road. "I'm living proof that following your passion, despite the pain of getting there, despite the murky prospects of advancement, pays huge dividends."
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