November 2, 2022 • 14 mins
Thomas begins a special series of podcasts focusing on NFL management's rising stars who are a product of the initiative to champion diversity and inclusion in the NFL.
This episode features a rising star picked by GM Les Snead of the Rams. Kassandra Garcia joins Thomas and Les to discuss the importance of what diversity can bring to an NFL organization.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My name is Ariel custom Baun and I am the
founder of Fair Meals five oh one C three status
nonprofit that focuses on easy, healthy, and affordable meal solutions
for families of all walks of life. On our website,
fair meals dot org, you can find free of charge
tons of tips, tricks and recipes that encompass our three
(00:21):
pillars of health, ease, and affordability. To help continue to
make our programming the best it can be, please consider
donating to this amazing initiative at fair meals dot org
forward slash donate. All right, welcome back to the g
(00:43):
M journey. We have completed our journey with the general
Managers so far. That said, we have some special surprises
along the way, and they happen to be some of
our meetings with the underrepresented rising stars from a number
of the NFL teams we visited. So think about this.
I met with my GM buddies. They brought to the
(01:03):
table some of their underrepresented rising stars who are going
to make a massive difference in the NFL in the future.
Diversity and inclusion such an important part of the NFL,
we thought we would jump on board and check out
these interviews I think you will be very impressed with
the future of the NFL. Welcome to the GM Journey
(01:26):
with Thomas Dimitrov. All right, we are going to start
our Rising Star series with Cassandra Garcia, coordinator of football
Administration with the Los Angeles Rams. Check it out. You'll
be very impressed. The league is doing some really good
stuff with regard to UH diversity and inclusion. Right, we're
(01:51):
making strides. That said, we're not exactly where we need
to be. We have a long way to go. Still.
What's your stance on that? Where are you from a
team perspective? And as we normally do in these in
these think tanks, we we bring on the set a
rising under represented star within the organization. And I can't
wait for you to introduce um Cassandra Garcia and we
(02:16):
can talk about her, and then we'll bring her on
set here and we'll have a few questions and chat
a little bit. To be succinct, I think you're exactly right.
It's a it's a this is this is a long term.
This is not an overnight situation we're going to solve.
There's an element it may take another generation or to
to truly get it right. But the best thing that
(02:39):
has occurred that it is become a heightened issue. And
now it's right, it's on us. It's our time. Now,
it's our responsibility UH to do something with the issue
and make sure that the generations that follow us. AH,
that's that problem is solved and the Cassandras of the
(02:59):
world that will bring on at a moment or the
reason that we take on this problem. But again, I
think it's a long term issue. How do we solve it?
Don't know. I think number one is we have to
do a better job of identifying AH diverse candidates and
(03:21):
do a better job of when there becomes an opening
of probably slowing down the timeline because you're always on
to the next thing. Things happen fast and sports, right,
there's the next season, there's the next game, there's a
you know, the off seasons aren't long, and sometimes we
do so many things fast. But how do we identify
(03:44):
how do we slow down the hiring process so that
you take the time to talk to different people and
and and that would probably you know the top two
And there's an element in there. Once you identify, how
do you develop? But and then what you'll find ideas
and when we bring on Cassandra Garcia, so yes, we
(04:05):
meet the criteria of diversity in terms of okay, female,
in terms of Hispanic. But I think when you meet
guard I mean Cassandra in an interview, then getting the
bunker with her female Hispanic is irrelevant. The diverse, emotional, intelligent, diverse, creativity, diverse, uh,
(04:33):
just skills she brings to the job is why we
do this. And that's that's what we're getting diverse thought
from her, not just because she's female or Hispanic, right,
but we took because it was an initiative. You took
the time to go meet her, then say yea, bring
(04:53):
her in. And then while the compound interests of that
higher is awesome, Well, just how the opportunity to chat
a little bit before before our conversations here with Cassandra
instantly impressed of course personality and communication skills and just
that element that you're looking for within your organization. I
(05:15):
just I think it's it's the start to it, and
we still have a long way to go. I love
to bring Cassandra on the set um. Why don't we
do that and then we'll have a good conversation and
uh get get Cassandra's opinion of where we are and
how we're evolving in the league. That would be fantastic.
All right, here we are, Cassandra Garcia, Coordinator of Football Administration,
(05:37):
Los Angeles RAMS. How does that sound to you? By
the way, it sounds like I'm living in a faery,
terrible world. To be honest with you, I I still
pinch myself most days, almost going on two years with
the organization. But um, I mean, sounds great to me. Really?
Oh well, I mean to have an opportunity to come
on board here you're from Tucson, right, and you're here
(05:58):
in beautiful Malibu today, but you know, with the RAMS
and to be with someone like less as as your leader,
you're very very fortunate, of course, someone who's very open
minded and forward thinking, and that's such an important part
of what LESS is and what the organization is about.
Kevin dem Off, right, he has a really strong understanding
and belief of that, as well as your owner of course,
(06:19):
and Stan Cronky. You know, the league. As I mentioned,
the LESS is making moves and strides as part of
the underrepresented group within the National Football League. Any you
know rising underrepresented star for this organization I know that's
a little humbling to hear that, But where do you
think we are with the league right now? You know,
(06:40):
I'll start by saying, just sharing the space with you
guys is humbling in general. Um, I would say just
my story on how I got here shows how progressive
the league has been right obviously trending in a great direction,
yourself being a huge advocate, being a part of the
NFL is Woman's Career Football Forum. I know that's something
that I remember seeing you my self there, and um,
(07:01):
that was something that I think has helped an underrepresented
group a lot, because without that opportunity, I wouldn't even
know what this world looks like, coming from collegiate athletics
thinking that that was basically where I was going to be. Um,
I didn't understand what this world really looked like. And
(07:21):
the NFL giving us that opportunity not only to network
with people like your self, executives, coaches to gain that understanding,
but also my peers and we can kind of see, hey,
what does your world look like and get that education,
I mean that kind of programming. I believe they're going
in their fifth or sixth year, the group of forty
women just annually, you just grow and that knowledge is power.
(07:44):
So I think the NFL has done a tremendous job.
What do you think right now is the biggest misconception
with regard to this topic, Um, for women in college
sport right now and and women who are interested in
the NFL all. You know, I'd probably take it a
step further for diversity and inclusions really tough for me, honestly. Um.
(08:07):
You know, we like to focus on Hispanic female, which
is great, you know, gives us the opportunity. Hey, if
you're gonna open the door, I'm gonna walk through it.
I think there's more of a diversity and experience that
I think is key to what would make someone great
at an organization. Being able to take what you've learned
from a small town of power five school, things like that.
(08:28):
I think getting diversity of background, um is what makes
diversity great an organization. I think it's it's a great answer.
Samantha rapt before. Right. We we all love Samantha. She's
done a great job with the league. And what is
where do you think Samantha is in again with regard
(08:48):
to you and some of your contemporaries within the league,
how does someone like Samantha help you all? Are you?
Is she mentoring you? Uh indirectly? Still? Yeah, I mean
I still talk to Samantha. I guess when you think
about what she has done, it's her vision to create
this program, to go up to the commissioner and be like,
(09:09):
this is something that I know can be successful and
can open doors and make us better, make all the
organizations better because you're bringing in different diverse candidates. Let's say,
but she's a visionary that's opened this door from us.
But also if I were to reach out for at
any moment, she would answer me and be very honest, candid.
(09:30):
And she's also our biggest advocate with each team. I
know she spoke to Tony directly when he was considering
myself and they have just such a great resource away.
I understand it is everyone that's run through that program
that's shared with all the teams. So she's she does
it all relish from a visionary to uh the day
to day one on one. I mean she I can't
(09:50):
say enough great things about her. There's something wonderful about
having her involved in the league, and I think she's
going to help open up a lot of doors and
I've had some great discussions with her and the league
about the importance of being very direct and very candid
about what's expected within the organizations, you know, from women
who are getting into the scouting side, the captain contract side.
(10:11):
I mean, there are there are a lot of elements
there that that need to be understood. And back to
the lessest point earlier, there are massive jealousy is within
this league and insecurities from people outside. So when you
get that job and you start climbing through you know,
the organization, and you're sitting on a set like this
with someone like less and we're talking football at a
(10:34):
at a big, high level like that's that's not always
as easily accepted by certain people. And you have the
personality I think you've seem pretty damn resilient and and
you're gonna take a head on. You're gonna you're gonna
be mindful of it, which I think is important. How
do you think you will deal with some of the
jealousies in the league given your upward mobility? You know,
(10:55):
I try to think to myself more often, right, I
really can't control what others thing of me or wish
on me. They have voodoo dolls of some sorts. Shure,
I can wear an evil eye on my bracelet and
and and feel that way. All I can control is
really what I do and focus on that on a
day to day, because if I start thinking about that,
you know, my job is hard enough. Right. I'm coming
into the league with no experience completely in college. I'm
(11:18):
still learning from a day to day and as I
always think, as long as I dominate what's in front
of me and do it to the best of my ability,
things will kind of work themselves out. So um, of
course it's natural. I mean, you guys feel it the most,
the bullets, the blood, money, let's say. But I mean,
you guys take the direct fire. I'm I've been fortunate
enough to be behind the scenes, but I definitely hear
(11:38):
what you're saying. But I don't know. I have such
great colleagues in this league that I just feel the
support from them, and I try to feed off of
that energy as opposed to the flip side of that, cause,
uh saunds of emotional intelligence. All all all buildings are
going to have some element of politics, drama, losses or
(12:03):
what happy that the neat thing I said post her
child wrote the manual in boy, the emotional chelligence to
handle that drama. Not let's call accelerate that drama and
somehow diffuse the drama. And meanwhile, in that right we
define a role responsibility like whenever we how are the
(12:26):
next is that big title of years and it'll be
a totally new job. I think it's easy, it's easy
to squash insecurity. Like I'm the type of person where
like I'm not going to pretend like I know everything
or maybe anything, And I'm excited when you meet new
people and what they can bring to the table, and
you kind of meet them where they're at, and you
(12:47):
just feel like, hey, we're in this together. As much
as maybe that's cliche, you know what you guys are
talking about earlier a little bit like, but for me,
I truly believe that. And as long as I operate
that way, I feel like those walls and those insecure
because we have all have those. I have those most.
I battle those every day. Right, So I think if
you're honest and open with people, I think they react
and hey, if we're in this together, why are we
(13:09):
fighting one another? It is hard enough we're in one building.
Might as well make it easier on each other sagacious
advice from from from a rising star for sure. Last
question might not be the easiest question. What is your
ultimate goal in this league? You know, I've been asked
at a couple of times, especially in the forum more recently,
and it's something that I think about quite often. Um,
(13:31):
I am very taipe a. I tend to plan and
for some reason, of course, you have your lofty dreams
that Kevin Warren would have called it the dream chuckle
right back in my forum right now. I just want
to focus on and being great at what I do
and I got a long way to go. Um. And
just I've noticed in my career so far, even just
being here right something that I still don't believe to
(13:54):
this day. Hey, if I just do the little things fright,
I'll end up for I'm supposed to be. That's a
great answer, nothing more to say. I mean get emotional
thinking about it. God, bless you. Thank you for being
here with us. You have been listening to The GM
(14:17):
Journey with Thomas Demitrop. Continue to follow Thomas as he
interviews gms from your favorite NFL teams. The GM Journey
has been produced by Alan Castenbaum, Thomas Demittrop an Octagon Entertainment.
Don't forget to download and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
(14:38):
or wherever you get your podcast from. The GM Journey
is distributed by the eight Side Network
My name is Ariel custom Baun and I am the
founder of Fair Meals five oh one C three status
nonprofit that focuses on easy, healthy, and affordable meal solutions
for families of all walks of life. On our website,
fair meals dot org, you can find free of charge
tons of tips, tricks and recipes that encompass our three
(00:21):
pillars of health, ease, and affordability. To help continue to
make our programming the best it can be, please consider
donating to this amazing initiative at fair meals dot org
forward slash donate. All right, welcome back to the g
(00:43):
M journey. We have completed our journey with the general
Managers so far. That said, we have some special surprises
along the way, and they happen to be some of
our meetings with the underrepresented rising stars from a number
of the NFL teams we visited. So think about this.
I met with my GM buddies. They brought to the
(01:03):
table some of their underrepresented rising stars who are going
to make a massive difference in the NFL in the future.
Diversity and inclusion such an important part of the NFL,
we thought we would jump on board and check out
these interviews I think you will be very impressed with
the future of the NFL. Welcome to the GM Journey
(01:26):
with Thomas Dimitrov. All right, we are going to start
our Rising Star series with Cassandra Garcia, coordinator of football
Administration with the Los Angeles Rams. Check it out. You'll
be very impressed. The league is doing some really good
stuff with regard to UH diversity and inclusion. Right, we're
(01:51):
making strides. That said, we're not exactly where we need
to be. We have a long way to go. Still.
What's your stance on that? Where are you from a
team perspective? And as we normally do in these in
these think tanks, we we bring on the set a
rising under represented star within the organization. And I can't
wait for you to introduce um Cassandra Garcia and we
(02:16):
can talk about her, and then we'll bring her on
set here and we'll have a few questions and chat
a little bit. To be succinct, I think you're exactly right.
It's a it's a this is this is a long term.
This is not an overnight situation we're going to solve.
There's an element it may take another generation or to
to truly get it right. But the best thing that
(02:39):
has occurred that it is become a heightened issue. And
now it's right, it's on us. It's our time. Now,
it's our responsibility UH to do something with the issue
and make sure that the generations that follow us. AH,
that's that problem is solved and the Cassandras of the
(02:59):
world that will bring on at a moment or the
reason that we take on this problem. But again, I
think it's a long term issue. How do we solve it?
Don't know. I think number one is we have to
do a better job of identifying AH diverse candidates and
(03:21):
do a better job of when there becomes an opening
of probably slowing down the timeline because you're always on
to the next thing. Things happen fast and sports, right,
there's the next season, there's the next game, there's a
you know, the off seasons aren't long, and sometimes we
do so many things fast. But how do we identify
(03:44):
how do we slow down the hiring process so that
you take the time to talk to different people and
and and that would probably you know the top two
And there's an element in there. Once you identify, how
do you develop? But and then what you'll find ideas
and when we bring on Cassandra Garcia, so yes, we
(04:05):
meet the criteria of diversity in terms of okay, female,
in terms of Hispanic. But I think when you meet
guard I mean Cassandra in an interview, then getting the
bunker with her female Hispanic is irrelevant. The diverse, emotional, intelligent, diverse, creativity, diverse, uh,
(04:33):
just skills she brings to the job is why we
do this. And that's that's what we're getting diverse thought
from her, not just because she's female or Hispanic, right,
but we took because it was an initiative. You took
the time to go meet her, then say yea, bring
(04:53):
her in. And then while the compound interests of that
higher is awesome, Well, just how the opportunity to chat
a little bit before before our conversations here with Cassandra
instantly impressed of course personality and communication skills and just
that element that you're looking for within your organization. I
(05:15):
just I think it's it's the start to it, and
we still have a long way to go. I love
to bring Cassandra on the set um. Why don't we
do that and then we'll have a good conversation and
uh get get Cassandra's opinion of where we are and
how we're evolving in the league. That would be fantastic.
All right, here we are, Cassandra Garcia, Coordinator of Football Administration,
(05:37):
Los Angeles RAMS. How does that sound to you? By
the way, it sounds like I'm living in a faery,
terrible world. To be honest with you, I I still
pinch myself most days, almost going on two years with
the organization. But um, I mean, sounds great to me. Really?
Oh well, I mean to have an opportunity to come
on board here you're from Tucson, right, and you're here
(05:58):
in beautiful Malibu today, but you know, with the RAMS
and to be with someone like less as as your leader,
you're very very fortunate, of course, someone who's very open
minded and forward thinking, and that's such an important part
of what LESS is and what the organization is about.
Kevin dem Off, right, he has a really strong understanding
and belief of that, as well as your owner of course,
(06:19):
and Stan Cronky. You know, the league. As I mentioned,
the LESS is making moves and strides as part of
the underrepresented group within the National Football League. Any you
know rising underrepresented star for this organization I know that's
a little humbling to hear that, But where do you
think we are with the league right now? You know,
(06:40):
I'll start by saying, just sharing the space with you
guys is humbling in general. Um, I would say just
my story on how I got here shows how progressive
the league has been right obviously trending in a great direction,
yourself being a huge advocate, being a part of the
NFL is Woman's Career Football Forum. I know that's something
that I remember seeing you my self there, and um,
(07:01):
that was something that I think has helped an underrepresented
group a lot, because without that opportunity, I wouldn't even
know what this world looks like, coming from collegiate athletics
thinking that that was basically where I was going to be. Um,
I didn't understand what this world really looked like. And
(07:21):
the NFL giving us that opportunity not only to network
with people like your self, executives, coaches to gain that understanding,
but also my peers and we can kind of see, hey,
what does your world look like and get that education,
I mean that kind of programming. I believe they're going
in their fifth or sixth year, the group of forty
women just annually, you just grow and that knowledge is power.
(07:44):
So I think the NFL has done a tremendous job.
What do you think right now is the biggest misconception
with regard to this topic, Um, for women in college
sport right now and and women who are interested in
the NFL all. You know, I'd probably take it a
step further for diversity and inclusions really tough for me, honestly. Um.
(08:07):
You know, we like to focus on Hispanic female, which
is great, you know, gives us the opportunity. Hey, if
you're gonna open the door, I'm gonna walk through it.
I think there's more of a diversity and experience that
I think is key to what would make someone great
at an organization. Being able to take what you've learned
from a small town of power five school, things like that.
(08:28):
I think getting diversity of background, um is what makes
diversity great an organization. I think it's it's a great answer.
Samantha rapt before. Right. We we all love Samantha. She's
done a great job with the league. And what is
where do you think Samantha is in again with regard
(08:48):
to you and some of your contemporaries within the league,
how does someone like Samantha help you all? Are you?
Is she mentoring you? Uh indirectly? Still? Yeah, I mean
I still talk to Samantha. I guess when you think
about what she has done, it's her vision to create
this program, to go up to the commissioner and be like,
(09:09):
this is something that I know can be successful and
can open doors and make us better, make all the
organizations better because you're bringing in different diverse candidates. Let's say,
but she's a visionary that's opened this door from us.
But also if I were to reach out for at
any moment, she would answer me and be very honest, candid.
(09:30):
And she's also our biggest advocate with each team. I
know she spoke to Tony directly when he was considering
myself and they have just such a great resource away.
I understand it is everyone that's run through that program
that's shared with all the teams. So she's she does
it all relish from a visionary to uh the day
to day one on one. I mean she I can't
(09:50):
say enough great things about her. There's something wonderful about
having her involved in the league, and I think she's
going to help open up a lot of doors and
I've had some great discussions with her and the league
about the importance of being very direct and very candid
about what's expected within the organizations, you know, from women
who are getting into the scouting side, the captain contract side.
(10:11):
I mean, there are there are a lot of elements
there that that need to be understood. And back to
the lessest point earlier, there are massive jealousy is within
this league and insecurities from people outside. So when you
get that job and you start climbing through you know,
the organization, and you're sitting on a set like this
with someone like less and we're talking football at a
(10:34):
at a big, high level like that's that's not always
as easily accepted by certain people. And you have the
personality I think you've seem pretty damn resilient and and
you're gonna take a head on. You're gonna you're gonna
be mindful of it, which I think is important. How
do you think you will deal with some of the
jealousies in the league given your upward mobility? You know,
(10:55):
I try to think to myself more often, right, I
really can't control what others thing of me or wish
on me. They have voodoo dolls of some sorts. Shure,
I can wear an evil eye on my bracelet and
and and feel that way. All I can control is
really what I do and focus on that on a
day to day, because if I start thinking about that,
you know, my job is hard enough. Right. I'm coming
into the league with no experience completely in college. I'm
(11:18):
still learning from a day to day and as I
always think, as long as I dominate what's in front
of me and do it to the best of my ability,
things will kind of work themselves out. So um, of
course it's natural. I mean, you guys feel it the most,
the bullets, the blood, money, let's say. But I mean,
you guys take the direct fire. I'm I've been fortunate
enough to be behind the scenes, but I definitely hear
(11:38):
what you're saying. But I don't know. I have such
great colleagues in this league that I just feel the
support from them, and I try to feed off of
that energy as opposed to the flip side of that, cause,
uh saunds of emotional intelligence. All all all buildings are
going to have some element of politics, drama, losses or
(12:03):
what happy that the neat thing I said post her
child wrote the manual in boy, the emotional chelligence to
handle that drama. Not let's call accelerate that drama and
somehow diffuse the drama. And meanwhile, in that right we
define a role responsibility like whenever we how are the
(12:26):
next is that big title of years and it'll be
a totally new job. I think it's easy, it's easy
to squash insecurity. Like I'm the type of person where
like I'm not going to pretend like I know everything
or maybe anything, And I'm excited when you meet new
people and what they can bring to the table, and
you kind of meet them where they're at, and you
(12:47):
just feel like, hey, we're in this together. As much
as maybe that's cliche, you know what you guys are
talking about earlier a little bit like, but for me,
I truly believe that. And as long as I operate
that way, I feel like those walls and those insecure
because we have all have those. I have those most.
I battle those every day. Right, So I think if
you're honest and open with people, I think they react
and hey, if we're in this together, why are we
(13:09):
fighting one another? It is hard enough we're in one building.
Might as well make it easier on each other sagacious
advice from from from a rising star for sure. Last
question might not be the easiest question. What is your
ultimate goal in this league? You know, I've been asked
at a couple of times, especially in the forum more recently,
and it's something that I think about quite often. Um,
(13:31):
I am very taipe a. I tend to plan and
for some reason, of course, you have your lofty dreams
that Kevin Warren would have called it the dream chuckle
right back in my forum right now. I just want
to focus on and being great at what I do
and I got a long way to go. Um. And
just I've noticed in my career so far, even just
being here right something that I still don't believe to
(13:54):
this day. Hey, if I just do the little things fright,
I'll end up for I'm supposed to be. That's a
great answer, nothing more to say. I mean get emotional
thinking about it. God, bless you. Thank you for being
here with us. You have been listening to The GM
(14:17):
Journey with Thomas Demitrop. Continue to follow Thomas as he
interviews gms from your favorite NFL teams. The GM Journey
has been produced by Alan Castenbaum, Thomas Demittrop an Octagon Entertainment.
Don't forget to download and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
(14:38):
or wherever you get your podcast from. The GM Journey
is distributed by the eight Side Network
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