July 1, 2024 • 43 mins
Discover the inspiring journey of Samantha Macias, a dynamic professional who's making waves in marketing, social media, and event management! From coordinating NBA Summer League operations to leading dance teams to national championships, Samantha's diverse experiences showcase the power of passion and versatility. In this episode, we'll explore how her unique blend of skills in content creation, customer service, and event operations has propelled her career to new heights. Be inspired by Samantha's story and learn how you can leverage your own talents to create a multifaceted, fulfilling career. Whether you're a budding marketer, aspiring event planner, or creative soul, this episode will ignite your ambition and show you the endless possibilities that await when you pursue your dreams with determination and enthusiasm.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
This episode is brought to you by Tina's vodka.
(00:02):
Hi, my name is Samantha Messias and I'm the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Whole Pass Media and this is her table.
Now you see her.
You are magnificent!
Welcome to her table, the podcast that shines a spotlight on the badass women who are redefining the game.
(00:24):
Join hosts Kate Foley and Megan Martinez as Pay On Lock the Secrets of Success in the brightest female pioneers in the industry.
Hi everyone, welcome back to another amazing episode of her table.
I am so excited to welcome in Samantha Messias onto the show today.
She is the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Whole Pass Media.
(00:46):
She is also the woman in charge of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
I see her all the time in the office crushing it and I see her in Vegas soon outstanding job.
I'm really excited to learn about the behind the scenes of NBA Summer League and what she does with Whole Pass Media.
So Samantha pull up a seat and let's get started at her table.
(01:07):
I am so excited to welcome Samantha Messias on her table today.
Welcome to the show.
Thanks Megan, I'm so excited. It was a long time coming.
My style is a very very special guest.
She works at Whole Pass Media.
She is basically the woman behind NBA Summer League.
(01:30):
I mean I've seen you in action before and you do it all.
So we are really excited to have you on.
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
This is my workplace but I'm excited to be talking to you and coming on the pod.
Yes, well let's start let's dive into your role.
You're the marketing and social media coordinator, Whole Pass Media.
(01:51):
Let's talk about what you do for the company and how you really got started.
Yeah, for the for the company.
I mean I feel like I should start off by saying we're a small business.
So internally every day of the week, you know, there's about five to six of us in office.
So I have a title but while working here, you're pretty much a Swiss Army knife.
(02:12):
So you know, you do whatever you have to do, whatever needs to get done.
So whether that's marketing, video production, podcast production, event.
So it's a really fun and an exciting place to work.
No days ever the same.
But as far as how I got started, it's kind of funny.
Albert, you know, was basically my neighbor's uncle.
(02:37):
So growing up, he was kind of around the neighborhood.
And when I was a senior in high school, I knew that he did events and basketball tournaments and summer league, obviously.
So he's like one of the co-founders of summer league.
And also the president of Whole Pass Media.
So he's my boss times two.
But I just texted him.
It was my senior year and it was an edidas nation's camp, I think, in La Dera Ranch, California, which is not far from my house.
(03:05):
So I asked if he needed any help.
He texted me an address to a gym. I drove over there and my first job was washing all the sweaty jerseys and sweats.
I've never been to laundry mat.
So I went to a laundry mat, washed the clothes, came back, folded them all nicely, put them out, and just did that again all week.
(03:27):
And I also helped with checking and some other things.
But yeah, I was 18. So I was my first event/thing I'd ever done. And I loved it. I just loved getting a task and then getting it done.
Like, you know what I mean? Just one after the other. That was something that really was fun for me.
So then I started college, didn't hear from him.
(03:51):
And then my freshman year, it was after my first semester, I got a text from Alan. He was like, hey, would you be interested in interning in the office?
And he had said, you know, he'd reach out. But I didn't expect him to or anything like that.
So when he did, it was an immediate yes. And so I interned there basically the rest of my college career and come my senior year, I was offered a full time position.
(04:19):
And I thought, yeah, this is going to be my second year working full time coming up.
Yeah, that's awesome. And it kind of just shows in it, like how hard working you are.
Because not a lot of people would be wanting to wash dirty jerseys at a camp for like young kids or whatever it is.
So like obviously, I'll stop potential new there. And you're like, we'll do anything to like just do a great job. So that's a huge testament to you.
(04:42):
I love that.
Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that.
And you touch on what hall pass media is before we get into like MBA summer league.
I know when I first worked at and early call pass media and even showed up at the building.
I'm like, they're agency, they're marketing. They run summer league. They kind of do it all.
So let me let me know what's going on. What is the company all about?
(05:04):
Yeah. And I feel so lucky to work here first and foremost.
And Al is just such an awesome guy. The whole team honestly makes it just an amazing workplace.
But basically we're a sports marketing agency at first glance. But he, I mean, our whole team specializes in web design, event management, brand management, graphic design, video production, podcast production.
(05:30):
I'm sure I'm missing something, but pretty much all aspects of a media company we do in house.
Obviously MBA summer league. We have a couple different properties. So MBA summer league is our pride and joy.
It's one of our biggest properties. We work on year round. However, there's also a ton of other properties like sports business classroom, which you know takes place at summer league.
(05:55):
But we also have a podcast that runs year round and et cetera. We work with brands like second round foundation, which is Jalen Brunson's charity golf.
Whoops.
Charity.
And we're doing a charity golf tournament within this summer.
But yeah, we do a lot of fun things here. And it's fun for me. And even as an intern, you know, I just got to like dip my toes in each and every property.
(06:24):
And each one has taught me so much and given me so much experience. But yeah, that's a little like in hindsight. That's what the background of hall pass, I would say everyone again. It's just so great to work with.
No, it's so true. I love going out there at the orange county and seeing you guys and like everyone is so friendly, so hard working. And it just is such a good environment. And it just shows how great I'm like, people you guys are and I love it.
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No, before I even get even more into NBA summer league, why did you even want to get into sports in the first place? What was your passion? Were you always love basketball?
Kind of yeah, touch on that.
It's so funny because my mom actually tells me like you used to say that you wanted to work in sports. And I don't even remember.
(07:10):
I think because I've just been not doing it for so long because I really haven't but like I really don't remember ever saying that I never played a sport in my life. I was a dancer.
I was a competitive dancer my whole life. So my siblings did soccer, but I will say I definitely grew up in a sports loving family. So we were raised to love all L.A. team.
(07:31):
So my teams are the Lakers Dodgers, the Rams, even when they went to St. Louis, we were still Rams family. So yeah, we had season tickets to the Rose Bowl when I was younger.
We went to a couple Laker games, but it was definitely more football driven as far as like what I was exposed to as a child, but like I mentioned, I was a dancer.
(07:53):
So in high school, I cheered and danced at the basketball games and football games and basketball was definitely more entertaining for me. I mean, I was just drawn to it more.
And it wasn't even just the sport itself, but like the crowd aspect and just the passion that everyone has for the game.
I just feel like basketball is really special in that sense. So when I got the opportunity to work with Albert and hall pass, which is primarily a basketball driven.
(08:22):
I just really it was full circle moment and just fell in love with the game.
Can't play can't play, but love working in the environment of the basketball industry.
I love it. And the one thing that's nice about like NBA and basketball compared to NFL and football, which is like your first love is that you can always guarantee that there's not going to be bad weather in an NBA.
(08:45):
Right. You might like you're good. You're set.
We'll be swaying. Yeah. Yeah. Good. So now I'm really excited to learn more about NBA summer league. I know it is the one of the biggest events in the summer.
My younger brother has been going to Las Vegas for this event for like, I don't even know how long at least 10 years he's going back this year.
(09:08):
It's just such a fun time. Can you walk me through what your day today. I've seen you in action, doing everything.
You're too kind. And that's crazy about your brother also that 10 years. That's a long time as you know this is going to be our 20th year 20th anniversary.
So that's super special. But it is it's a lot. I've been lucky enough each year.
(09:34):
You know, I've been given a little bit more responsibility. So this year has definitely been really great and compared to years past, I just feel super prepared and you know experienced.
But the job definitely does not start when we touch down in Vegas. You know, we are planning months and months and months before. So it really just starts with organizing our staff and making sure that we contact everyone, making sure they're available.
(10:02):
Because it's a 11 day tournament and then our staff is out there anywhere from 12 to like 20 days in Vegas. So just making sure you know people are available and all of that fun stuff.
We oversee booking travel and getting in hotels. So our hotel partner is something that I lead which the last year was my first year. And it's been a lot of fun working with hotels.
(10:30):
I always thought maybe because I was majored in hotel, but tourism in high school, which is a little bit of like the hotel industry in college. I said high school in college. I majored in tourism.
And so I was always interested with the hotel industry, which is fun that I get to work with them at Somerleague because it's such a huge event.
So there's lots of rooms being booked and all of that. But as far as on site, I also am the hospitality lead. So pre event, we're obviously booking people. But at Somerleague, we create all these VIP packages for guest teams, VIPs.
(11:09):
So whether that includes a suite or they want a reception area, they want to do a dinner, press conferences, the list goes on and on. So just making sure that spaces are available to be booked.
I have an awesome team that has helped with this and just you know, keep everything on schedule and in line and keeping all of our clients happy.
(11:32):
And yeah, it's like that times 11 since there's 11 days of Somerleague and you know, because we transfer a lot from our office in Costa Mesa to Vegas, there's also a lot of just connecting with our internal team and making sure everything's going correctly and everyone's good.
So although, you know, we have our own responsibilities, hall pass members are kind of in charge of just making sure that their groups are there, you know, interns are just all good and not feeling overwhelmed and making sure we can help out where we can.
(12:08):
So it's like when you say wherever it's like we do have our own responsibilities, but then we also have to have to lend a helping hand. And so it's like you are always busy. There's always something you can be helping out with, whether it's in arena outside of arena.
And we also have parties as you know that are at the hotel. So I feel like I could go on and on. So I should probably just stop. So we can we can dive in, but it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun.
(12:37):
No, first I was going to Vegas and experiencing some really for the first time last year. And I'm like counting down the days is like go back this year.
And I'm curious because I've also watched the summer league on MBA TV. How does the post meeting? How do you guys coordinate with one the MBA schedules releases and then working with those different broad class.
(12:59):
Yeah, that's a great question. So hall pass media. So MBA summer league is obviously a property for hall pass media. And we are VSL properties.
So VSL properties is a partnership with MBA. So the MBA in VSL properties LLC has a partnership and with that we have the MBA summer league, which is why we can put MBA in front of summer league because years ago it was not the MBA summer league.
(13:29):
It was just summer league or Las Vegas summer league. So that's a fun fact that I learned early on is where the only kind of small business or just third party or company that has a partnership with the MBA on the scale that we do, which is really impressive and you know,
it's a plot to Albert and Warren, but it is just a well oiled machine like everyone has their own responsibilities. We meet with the MBA every week. So we have a weekly weekly meetings with event summer league MBA staff members. So there's MBA staff members that are specifically assigned to work on summer league.
(14:09):
And they're amazing like they're so great to work with and it's a lot of fun. And then ESPN broadcasts it's ESPN slash MBA TV. So then ESPN also is we're working with nonstop. I don't work with them as much. They're more in charge of you know like broadcasting schedules and making the game schedules and working with us to make sure that there's no
(14:37):
problems with you know the event schedule and sometimes there's a couple games that are tweaked and edited, but for the most part it's it's yeah all done by MBA TV and then they work with VSL properties, which is our self, all pass media and the MBA.
That's awesome. No, I've definitely been interested in that because I'm like so it's astounding that Albert and all pass media are able to work with such high and companies like ESPN and MBA TV because I don't ever see that like ever. So it's really it's really a cool experience and I love that.
(15:12):
For interns and somebody who like wants to get in, I know it's really competitive. Yeah. What is the process? What would that look like and what advice would you give those you know young students young people that are trying to get into this industry.
Yeah, well I would definitely say to it, you know, depends on the person. I would say to contact because a lot of people know people.
(15:37):
So whether like, oh my roommate went through the program and I'm really interested right off the bat, we would ask for a resume and any works if they have a portfolio if they have like a specific interest will ask for any portfolios to show.
And then we just have basically like a waiting list and we review and it's very, very competitive. So I don't even I couldn't even tell you how many people were accepted this year because we do accept a lot of returners.
(16:08):
So as far as first year incomers, very competitive. So resumes we look at experience with whether I mean since this is a basketball tournament, we look for involvement in the college teams, whether you're graduated and you're working with the team or you're wanting to work with it like you're interning with the team.
(16:33):
So we really look for any basketball or you know video editing depending what it is that you're wanting to come in for any experience, which I know is so hard because everyone's looking for experience and technically an internship would be experience.
But yeah, we definitely look for some sort of experience in the basketball industry.
(16:56):
At a lower scale, we're not expecting them to have like full time jobs, obviously not right. No, for sure. And the expectation I know when you guys bring in these interns and these staff members is very high.
I've seen I've met a lot of the you know staff members and interns in there, you know, very hard worker is very responsible and you can tell that they're very passionate about what they do.
(17:18):
Can you speak on the interns that you've had in the past and the success that they've now found in the real world getting jobs with MBA teams with NFL teams, whatever it may be because I know you guys have a very high successful rate.
Yeah, yeah. It's honestly it's it's so great because they come from all over the country all over the world actually.
(17:41):
So we have as far as like all of the interns that have gone through VSL and SPC, which we'll touch on later.
There's about over 1300 people and I believe with this new year of SPC students that will be pushed up to around 1400.
So 1400 people have gone through our program, whether that was our internship or our SPC school.
(18:04):
And the we never promise that you're going to you know get hired by MBA team, but this except three is through the roof like it's really just an awesome place in Vegas is you know if you're looking for a job, Vegas is the place to be if you're looking for a job in the basketball industry because so many people are there and it's just such a great networking opportunity.
(18:25):
I wish I had more time to network honestly because it's so special, but I remember hearing a story of one of the interns her name was she does and I think she was for overtime now, but she like she was an older intern so she's I believe she's like 30 or inner 30s and like Alan Warren and Sergio just loved her drive her passion and they just saw how hard she was working like I think she was selling programs and she was like I'm going to be the best program seller out there.
(18:54):
She be we keep records you know who's what sells the most programs and she like had the record and they I don't remember who, but they was like they called her up and was like hi she you're interviewing was so and so in sweet 30 go go in there and she got an interview on the spa and was hired.
I know she was for overtime now she's been there forever I couldn't tell you it where she was hired to but some like suddenly just makes things happen whether it's on site or then you put it on your is may afterwards it has such a great reputation I mean Albert and Warren just built this amazing community and summer you know it's just we're all the basketball fans want to be in the summertime at least so it's such a such a great opportunity for someone looking to gain not only experience.
(19:43):
But just like I don't know like real live job experience and if you're wanting to meet people then whether your intern returning or not summer like just a great place to be.
I absolutely agree and I think that's if somebody is looking to get into the industry just be there because every single team is there coaches video editors like producers whatever it is like trainers they're all in Vegas for the for the experience and the environment and it is so much fun and that's a huge.
(20:12):
Again, testament to your guys is you know staff and your company and everything as well.
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(21:13):
Now with the interns I was going to ask what even without the interns but what has been your most rewarding experience with MBA summer league could be involved with interns could be you when you know doing your thing on your own.
But yeah even there for a few years now so I'd love to hear that.
Yeah I know this will be my fourth MBA summer league. That's a great question. I would have to say personally like emotionally it would probably be the interns everyone's an intern like people are it's like your 20s you know but the staff members really make it so great it's it's so funny because obviously summer league is next month and we're with you know those people for the first time.
(22:00):
So those people for over 10 days and you just get so close within those 10 days working those long hours and being at the hotels together it's just you really create a family out there won't even say friendships you just make so many family members out there and I have made so many friends and I was born and raised in Southern California and my whole family lives in Southern California but summer league has really given me a network of people worldwide especially on the east coast.
(22:29):
But it's yes like now I can go to New York and be like hey can I can I come see you can you launch or so it's it's so much fun and again I with a lot of different states and then some people get jobs and move to LA so like I have my friends Quinn and Anna shout out but after summer league one of them was hired with the clippers and then the other one was hired with the lakers and so then they both moved to LA and I got to see them all the time which was so much fun so I would definitely say just a little bit more about it.
(22:58):
I would definitely say just the networking and the people that I that I meet but I will answer this also professionally and just say professionally I'm just really thankful for the experience and I don't know my best memory there's so many good there's so many good ones but I'd probably say last year was just really special with Wembee and you know all of the hype and crazy like it was crazy people were going great
(23:26):
because there was a lot of talk of like he wasn't going to come he is going to come he wasn't going to come and you know we prevailed but he was there and so that was really exciting just to be still be on the inside of that and see his first game so that was crazy the the mac was packed.
That was fun I remember hearing about it and there was a lot of questions if he was going to play or not I'm like when the better play like he need to and I know I know I was happy about that.
(23:53):
And finally I'm based on really how have you seen it grown in the last few years I know even for four years but from when you first started to where it is now I'm kind of touch on the growth of the the whole entire experience yeah I mean honestly it's great timing because our documentary was just aired a couple weeks ago and so getting to see that you really put it into perspective to see how far it's come overall but I every year it just I'm just happy.
(24:22):
Every year it just elevates like I don't know if you saw it but the graphics and like just back in the day like everything was so like the technology we have now is just so crazy.
When you look at what it was in the past because it was still awesome in the past but now with everything at our fingertips like the graphics look so cool and our merch looks so cool and everything just gets like.
(24:47):
I'll ask back to skip better and better each year but.
Something that I've personally worked on probably just probably just getting what was the question again repeated because I don't want to just how you've seen like summer link grown over the last year.
(25:10):
I don't know like that is definitely not like not like I've helped a grown at all but just seeing seeing it bigger and better and I would say breaking those like attendance records and most you gain records you know we're really.
Albert is just always working to be bigger and better so I would just say from from like a viewer standpoint just the all of the media aspects are just great like we send out so many emails and so many social media posts pre event and just each year everything is really elevating and I'll say that with our staff to our staff is like elevating and each year some people have been working there for all 20 years.
(25:58):
But our staff is is growing because obviously summer league is growing and we've been able to accomplish a lot and I'll say we've been able to execute things in just just better if that makes sense I'm not sure if I can find a better word to describe.
I'm so excited I just think the world of NBA so I'm like it is the best experience and I literally want every single person just to go do experience that you have.
(26:34):
Like a past past couple guests have been to summer league you're her table guests yes and so I actually want to touch on the fact that we had Sandra Brunson on the show yeah absolutely amazing I hope she's back in Vegas for NBA summer league to know that you guys work with with Jalen Brunson's charity so what's going on there what goes into different events that all past when it goes on and yeah let's talk about Jalen Brunson's charity because Sandra filled us in and it's a lot of work.
(27:03):
Yeah she's they're amazing the whole Brunson family is just amazing to work with so we started working with Jalen's foundation second round foundation last year and initially they were you know wanting to do their first charity golf tournament and so Sandra actually reached out from Albert reach out to Albert work and we made it happen so we worked with them we helped build their brands like I mentioned before
(27:31):
help us media specializes in brand management so we really helped build the brand they had a logo but we helped build out a second round foundation website and we got you know monthly newsletters going out and so we just kind of helped them not get started but just continue on to and like help them achieve their vision I guess I should say and so last year we did the first charity golf tournament in Chicago and it was so much fun I'd never I'm
(28:00):
also getting into golf I'm a little golf girl so it was a lot of fun for me I got to meet Mike Wilbon who was so cool and yeah it was just such a special thing to be a part of especially for the first year so we're running it back this year and we are working with Sandra and the rest of the Brunson family and second round foundation family to pull off their second annual charity golf tournament which will be in New York this summer so if anyone wants to
(28:29):
buy a four-sem or participate go to second round foundation org but it's been so great to work with them and again just like someone like Jalen who so and Sandra too but so down to earth and just like really at the core of people person a genuine person and seeing Jalen in action at the golf tournament and just you know
(28:55):
speak to everyone who attended and see him play golf it was just it was so much fun so I'm really looking forward to another year of working with second round foundation yeah that's amazing and I was definitely cheering for the next because I know I know when he was on the
mouth even I was like oh my gosh who is this guy he is so good he kind of came out of nowhere and I will say I've learned way more about him since working with him as I feel most people do but yeah 10 out of
(29:24):
like 11 out of 10 guy player guy husband also I want I want to add last year he was playing for you to say basketball he was getting married and he had his golf tournament all
after summer like he's just so dedicated and he never he was always there you know whatever we need him to to film like hey can you promote this can you
(29:46):
promote that he's just so sweet and just is you know obviously wanting to help wherever he can because he's got a he's got a busy life obviously especially with his podcast now but yeah they're awesome to work with yeah he does it all great family I don't
know how it balances it but I don't even know how Sandra balances it but I'm all for it and they are an inspiration for me absolutely did I did I know something else that help
(30:12):
us again you guys work on his spc no what is that I know you guys have podcasts with that but for the people who don't know what it's about let's let's hear about and learn about spc
yeah so spc's great and I've learned so much about the industry and just breaking into the industry from spc so sports business classroom is a educational program for people who are wanting to break into sports specifically basketball so we
(30:41):
specialize in the cba so we teach anyone who's interested in the salary cap and the new updated cba we have lessons online courses as well as an immersive experience where you can attend and be a summer
league in Vegas for a week and just learn from the best of the best so like I said we have virtual year round courses and then we have one immersive in person experience that takes
(31:10):
place in July and it's actually I should say not just for the salary cap people and the cba people but we also have a median broadcast major so if you're wanting to you know be on air anchor etc it's a great opportunity to get hands on
experience at a studio similar to the one I'm at now you as you know you filmed some her table podcast there and then we also have a scouting video and analytics major so between those three majors there's also obviously
(31:42):
like general education of basketball and guest speakers will come in and share their stories but we really just are creating the stars of tomorrow the basketball stars of tomorrow and it really goes along with summer league because
summer league one of summer leagues models is creating the stars of tomorrow today so it kind of goes hand in hand and yeah you mentioned the podcast we have a podcast that started my first year in turning here so is my freshman year of
(32:12):
college we started the sbc audio experience and guests are just they come on and explain how they broke into sports and being I mean listening to those
episodes since I was you know 19 has really taught me a lot I mean I was listening to these episodes and although I was doing my job I was working and working on production the production
(32:36):
side I also was learning just a ton of great advice and just put me in a really great head space to be in the industry that I'm in and yeah if anyone
hasn't listened to it I'm sure you'll find a guess that relates to you so go check it out.
How does somebody get involved or like how does somebody get the world with sbc take that course was a process so if you go to sports business classroom
(33:04):
you can kind of see the different courses that we have year round unfortunately sbc 2024 registration is closed we do have a waiting list but yeah there is an application process where students go to our
website and sign up and then our GM and lead instructor review everyone and you know send out congratulations emails to those of them who made it and there's not a ton of
(33:32):
criteria it's very rare we don't let someone in as long as there you know genuinely wanting to learn then we have a spot for you.
Nice no I think that's incredible and you guys do such a good job like for our younger audience and the people that are listening like you guys need to
tap into this because you guys really do work like work with young adults young students even older students I wanted to break this
(33:57):
up and you guys have such a unique opportunity you know at how fast we think it's absolutely amazing so people tap in type in all those things we'll put that on girls we need more girls more women
I guess for you to when we're talking about women now have you had any experience I know that's such a great company maybe working with MBA summer league or working at different events that you have
(34:22):
ever had any time where you have to prove yourself like you're a woman you're working in sports you know you don't play basketball but you're still knowledgeable have you ever had
anything like that or is everyone pretty like pretty up to date with you know today's the same I would say both it's funny because like I thought that and then I
actually did have an experience once where I was like oh like this is real life what people treat people like this so which was totally fine you
(34:50):
just gotta keep working you know keep your head down keep working or keep your chin up and move past it but it's out there not everywhere I mean not not even at summer league I
would say it's very it's very rare at least with our internal team but it's yeah not gonna lie it definitely it definitely exists just you
(35:11):
know thinking people are better than you because you're a man and you're a person so yeah I've had some experience but nothing that's broken my spirits or nothing that I couldn't handle
yeah what would you tell a young woman who have had experiences like that because I think we all have had somebody be like that or talk
down to us or not think that we're working in sports what would you tell those young women who are like what the heck is going on
(35:37):
I would just say to stay strong honestly like keep keep going keep doing your job to the best of your ability that's all you can do obviously you're there for a reason
and so I would seriously just say try try your best to you know put it in the past forget about it I wouldn't say forgiven forget I would say
(36:01):
forgive I'm not saying you have to forget but it's good to keep those with I feel like to keep those with you because they make you stronger at the end of the day and it's also a reminder like no one should be treated like that so like remembering how you felt
because regardless even if it's like a woman verse man you know argument or interaction it could be woman on woman and you didn't have a great
(36:22):
interaction so just like being kind to everyone in any situation because let's be real the sports industry is not I mean it's huge but it's it's small at the same time like people know people
and so word travels and so you know some person might end up being your boss one day and you just you don't want bad blood nobody wants bad blood in the sports
(36:43):
industry so be kind and you know if you ever encounter someone who isn't kind just be strong and remember why you're in the position that you are
yeah I love that I think it's it's so important for young women to hear that because it does still exist where you know people women are treated differently
because maybe they're not a man in sports but it is important to say strong and say true to yourself and know that you're there for a reason and I think that's that's great
(37:10):
and I think that's great advice now with your degree in college we always want the younger audience or listeners to kind of you know if there's something that they want to get into or have the role that you have today
was there a certain class or certain things that you pulled from each class that really helped you in your role today
(37:31):
I like hate answering this question at schools because like you should say yes school is so important at least at Cal State Fullerton there was no major like you know nothing that I wanted to do so I mentioned
earlier I was an entertainment and tourism major in college so and nothing was sports driven because I was interning here and like the classes that I wanted to take I couldn't because it was like seven
(37:58):
o'clock at night on campus and I worked two jobs while in college while interning here so like I after COVID I actually opted for doing all classes online so that was my junior year and I did school from here so honestly I will say I will say I did take
this one marketing class and my co-workers here actually helped explain certain concepts and just I couldn't even point out what it was specifically but where hall pass is actually helping me explain this and like my experience at hall pass is actually helping me
(38:38):
at school because I'm like oh like I know this because of XYZ so it's actually reverse for me and I do think that there's some great programs out there I know like San Francisco has a great sports management program for your
masters but as far as me I was just so lucky with getting experience at hall pass media to us I really valued this not that my degree does not not that I don't value my degree but I honestly say the I just got really lucky with the experience that
(39:16):
I really wanted to do that experience is really important and that if you are looking for a job and you might not have like an amazing college on your resume like honestly as long as you can do the job and you know have people devouch for you and on your resume and you have you
experience on your resume or a lot of experience I think that even goes further than your degree depending on the industry and you know on the job you're applying for but as far as like like I said with the NBA
(39:49):
similarly in turns like someone can go to Harvard and then someone can have gone to like I don't know maybe just a state school and they have more experience we'd probably go for the person with more experience versus like the bigger school
now that's great I think that's great advice to for somebody who's wanting to you know work with NBA or work in this industry so that's great my final question as we wrap this interview up what is next for Samantha what is the five year goal I cannot wait to hear honestly that's a great question I I love where I'm out right now and I I remember Kate had a rule like three years and go like or something like that and technically I've been here for a while but I was an intern for three years so I still got my
(40:33):
three years so five year plan I mean honestly I will stay here as long as they have the ice still feel like I'm growing and so as long as I am in a position where I'm constantly learning and constantly getting you know to put my hands in new projects I am I'm happy here so catch me 20 what is that what is in five years 20
(40:57):
nine yeah catch me it's a really 2029 and then I'll come back on and we can ask this again yeah since you the next time no Samantha it has been amazing heavy on the show I love learning more about NBA
summer league about what your job and your role is with all past media you have been an incredible guest I've seen you out in the field working you're such a hard worker and I just think it's absolutely amazing to have you on the show so thank you for joining us today.
(41:27):
Thank you and thank you for your sweet words I know we miss you Kate miss you so much Kate but love both of you guys love her table love what you guys are doing and I can't wait to listen to the episode.
Me too we miss you cable will see you will see you in Vegas soon.
Perfect I loved having Samantha on her table she is such a joy I have seen her around the office at senior in Vegas she really does it all from working with the
(41:58):
interns working with the staff to working with me and Kate she does such an amazing job and it was such an incredible experience just
learning about how much goes into Las Vegas summer league how much goes into different charity events like working with
Jalen Brunson's foundation and then what else she does with whole past media something that was so cool about Samantha was the fact that she started working at an
(42:23):
adidas basketball camp she was washing the basketball players clothes checking people in and nobody wants to do that and she did such an incredible job it's crazy that I'll
word offered her a full-time job at all past media and it's just a true testament of how hard she works but I think something that was really cool and
something that I took away from this interview is all the opportunity that comes with going to NBA summer league working with whole past media learning about SBC I think there's a lot of
(42:54):
opportunity and for a lot of the young listeners that watch our show I think that's something to tap into it was so great having Samantha on the show today I know we missed Kate but we'll all reconnect and
Las Vegas very soon thanks again for watching her table and we'll see you guys next time
(43:15):
[Music]
This episode is brought to you by Tina's vodka.
(00:02):
Hi, my name is Samantha Messias and I'm the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Whole Pass Media and this is her table.
Now you see her.
You are magnificent!
Welcome to her table, the podcast that shines a spotlight on the badass women who are redefining the game.
(00:24):
Join hosts Kate Foley and Megan Martinez as Pay On Lock the Secrets of Success in the brightest female pioneers in the industry.
Hi everyone, welcome back to another amazing episode of her table.
I am so excited to welcome in Samantha Messias onto the show today.
She is the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Whole Pass Media.
(00:46):
She is also the woman in charge of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
I see her all the time in the office crushing it and I see her in Vegas soon outstanding job.
I'm really excited to learn about the behind the scenes of NBA Summer League and what she does with Whole Pass Media.
So Samantha pull up a seat and let's get started at her table.
(01:07):
I am so excited to welcome Samantha Messias on her table today.
Welcome to the show.
Thanks Megan, I'm so excited. It was a long time coming.
My style is a very very special guest.
She works at Whole Pass Media.
She is basically the woman behind NBA Summer League.
(01:30):
I mean I've seen you in action before and you do it all.
So we are really excited to have you on.
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
This is my workplace but I'm excited to be talking to you and coming on the pod.
Yes, well let's start let's dive into your role.
You're the marketing and social media coordinator, Whole Pass Media.
(01:51):
Let's talk about what you do for the company and how you really got started.
Yeah, for the for the company.
I mean I feel like I should start off by saying we're a small business.
So internally every day of the week, you know, there's about five to six of us in office.
So I have a title but while working here, you're pretty much a Swiss Army knife.
(02:12):
So you know, you do whatever you have to do, whatever needs to get done.
So whether that's marketing, video production, podcast production, event.
So it's a really fun and an exciting place to work.
No days ever the same.
But as far as how I got started, it's kind of funny.
Albert, you know, was basically my neighbor's uncle.
(02:37):
So growing up, he was kind of around the neighborhood.
And when I was a senior in high school, I knew that he did events and basketball tournaments and summer league, obviously.
So he's like one of the co-founders of summer league.
And also the president of Whole Pass Media.
So he's my boss times two.
But I just texted him.
It was my senior year and it was an edidas nation's camp, I think, in La Dera Ranch, California, which is not far from my house.
(03:05):
So I asked if he needed any help.
He texted me an address to a gym. I drove over there and my first job was washing all the sweaty jerseys and sweats.
I've never been to laundry mat.
So I went to a laundry mat, washed the clothes, came back, folded them all nicely, put them out, and just did that again all week.
(03:27):
And I also helped with checking and some other things.
But yeah, I was 18. So I was my first event/thing I'd ever done. And I loved it. I just loved getting a task and then getting it done.
Like, you know what I mean? Just one after the other. That was something that really was fun for me.
So then I started college, didn't hear from him.
(03:51):
And then my freshman year, it was after my first semester, I got a text from Alan. He was like, hey, would you be interested in interning in the office?
And he had said, you know, he'd reach out. But I didn't expect him to or anything like that.
So when he did, it was an immediate yes. And so I interned there basically the rest of my college career and come my senior year, I was offered a full time position.
(04:19):
And I thought, yeah, this is going to be my second year working full time coming up.
Yeah, that's awesome. And it kind of just shows in it, like how hard working you are.
Because not a lot of people would be wanting to wash dirty jerseys at a camp for like young kids or whatever it is.
So like obviously, I'll stop potential new there. And you're like, we'll do anything to like just do a great job. So that's a huge testament to you.
(04:42):
I love that.
Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that.
And you touch on what hall pass media is before we get into like MBA summer league.
I know when I first worked at and early call pass media and even showed up at the building.
I'm like, they're agency, they're marketing. They run summer league. They kind of do it all.
So let me let me know what's going on. What is the company all about?
(05:04):
Yeah. And I feel so lucky to work here first and foremost.
And Al is just such an awesome guy. The whole team honestly makes it just an amazing workplace.
But basically we're a sports marketing agency at first glance. But he, I mean, our whole team specializes in web design, event management, brand management, graphic design, video production, podcast production.
(05:30):
I'm sure I'm missing something, but pretty much all aspects of a media company we do in house.
Obviously MBA summer league. We have a couple different properties. So MBA summer league is our pride and joy.
It's one of our biggest properties. We work on year round. However, there's also a ton of other properties like sports business classroom, which you know takes place at summer league.
(05:55):
But we also have a podcast that runs year round and et cetera. We work with brands like second round foundation, which is Jalen Brunson's charity golf.
Whoops.
Charity.
And we're doing a charity golf tournament within this summer.
But yeah, we do a lot of fun things here. And it's fun for me. And even as an intern, you know, I just got to like dip my toes in each and every property.
(06:24):
And each one has taught me so much and given me so much experience. But yeah, that's a little like in hindsight. That's what the background of hall pass, I would say everyone again. It's just so great to work with.
No, it's so true. I love going out there at the orange county and seeing you guys and like everyone is so friendly, so hard working. And it just is such a good environment. And it just shows how great I'm like, people you guys are and I love it.
(06:49):
No, before I even get even more into NBA summer league, why did you even want to get into sports in the first place? What was your passion? Were you always love basketball?
Kind of yeah, touch on that.
It's so funny because my mom actually tells me like you used to say that you wanted to work in sports. And I don't even remember.
(07:10):
I think because I've just been not doing it for so long because I really haven't but like I really don't remember ever saying that I never played a sport in my life. I was a dancer.
I was a competitive dancer my whole life. So my siblings did soccer, but I will say I definitely grew up in a sports loving family. So we were raised to love all L.A. team.
(07:31):
So my teams are the Lakers Dodgers, the Rams, even when they went to St. Louis, we were still Rams family. So yeah, we had season tickets to the Rose Bowl when I was younger.
We went to a couple Laker games, but it was definitely more football driven as far as like what I was exposed to as a child, but like I mentioned, I was a dancer.
(07:53):
So in high school, I cheered and danced at the basketball games and football games and basketball was definitely more entertaining for me. I mean, I was just drawn to it more.
And it wasn't even just the sport itself, but like the crowd aspect and just the passion that everyone has for the game.
I just feel like basketball is really special in that sense. So when I got the opportunity to work with Albert and hall pass, which is primarily a basketball driven.
(08:22):
I just really it was full circle moment and just fell in love with the game.
Can't play can't play, but love working in the environment of the basketball industry.
I love it. And the one thing that's nice about like NBA and basketball compared to NFL and football, which is like your first love is that you can always guarantee that there's not going to be bad weather in an NBA.
(08:45):
Right. You might like you're good. You're set.
We'll be swaying. Yeah. Yeah. Good. So now I'm really excited to learn more about NBA summer league. I know it is the one of the biggest events in the summer.
My younger brother has been going to Las Vegas for this event for like, I don't even know how long at least 10 years he's going back this year.
(09:08):
It's just such a fun time. Can you walk me through what your day today. I've seen you in action, doing everything.
You're too kind. And that's crazy about your brother also that 10 years. That's a long time as you know this is going to be our 20th year 20th anniversary.
So that's super special. But it is it's a lot. I've been lucky enough each year.
(09:34):
You know, I've been given a little bit more responsibility. So this year has definitely been really great and compared to years past, I just feel super prepared and you know experienced.
But the job definitely does not start when we touch down in Vegas. You know, we are planning months and months and months before. So it really just starts with organizing our staff and making sure that we contact everyone, making sure they're available.
(10:02):
Because it's a 11 day tournament and then our staff is out there anywhere from 12 to like 20 days in Vegas. So just making sure you know people are available and all of that fun stuff.
We oversee booking travel and getting in hotels. So our hotel partner is something that I lead which the last year was my first year. And it's been a lot of fun working with hotels.
(10:30):
I always thought maybe because I was majored in hotel, but tourism in high school, which is a little bit of like the hotel industry in college. I said high school in college. I majored in tourism.
And so I was always interested with the hotel industry, which is fun that I get to work with them at Somerleague because it's such a huge event.
So there's lots of rooms being booked and all of that. But as far as on site, I also am the hospitality lead. So pre event, we're obviously booking people. But at Somerleague, we create all these VIP packages for guest teams, VIPs.
(11:09):
So whether that includes a suite or they want a reception area, they want to do a dinner, press conferences, the list goes on and on. So just making sure that spaces are available to be booked.
I have an awesome team that has helped with this and just you know, keep everything on schedule and in line and keeping all of our clients happy.
(11:32):
And yeah, it's like that times 11 since there's 11 days of Somerleague and you know, because we transfer a lot from our office in Costa Mesa to Vegas, there's also a lot of just connecting with our internal team and making sure everything's going correctly and everyone's good.
So although, you know, we have our own responsibilities, hall pass members are kind of in charge of just making sure that their groups are there, you know, interns are just all good and not feeling overwhelmed and making sure we can help out where we can.
(12:08):
So it's like when you say wherever it's like we do have our own responsibilities, but then we also have to have to lend a helping hand. And so it's like you are always busy. There's always something you can be helping out with, whether it's in arena outside of arena.
And we also have parties as you know that are at the hotel. So I feel like I could go on and on. So I should probably just stop. So we can we can dive in, but it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun.
(12:37):
No, first I was going to Vegas and experiencing some really for the first time last year. And I'm like counting down the days is like go back this year.
And I'm curious because I've also watched the summer league on MBA TV. How does the post meeting? How do you guys coordinate with one the MBA schedules releases and then working with those different broad class.
(12:59):
Yeah, that's a great question. So hall pass media. So MBA summer league is obviously a property for hall pass media. And we are VSL properties.
So VSL properties is a partnership with MBA. So the MBA in VSL properties LLC has a partnership and with that we have the MBA summer league, which is why we can put MBA in front of summer league because years ago it was not the MBA summer league.
(13:29):
It was just summer league or Las Vegas summer league. So that's a fun fact that I learned early on is where the only kind of small business or just third party or company that has a partnership with the MBA on the scale that we do, which is really impressive and you know,
it's a plot to Albert and Warren, but it is just a well oiled machine like everyone has their own responsibilities. We meet with the MBA every week. So we have a weekly weekly meetings with event summer league MBA staff members. So there's MBA staff members that are specifically assigned to work on summer league.
(14:09):
And they're amazing like they're so great to work with and it's a lot of fun. And then ESPN broadcasts it's ESPN slash MBA TV. So then ESPN also is we're working with nonstop. I don't work with them as much. They're more in charge of you know like broadcasting schedules and making the game schedules and working with us to make sure that there's no
(14:37):
problems with you know the event schedule and sometimes there's a couple games that are tweaked and edited, but for the most part it's it's yeah all done by MBA TV and then they work with VSL properties, which is our self, all pass media and the MBA.
That's awesome. No, I've definitely been interested in that because I'm like so it's astounding that Albert and all pass media are able to work with such high and companies like ESPN and MBA TV because I don't ever see that like ever. So it's really it's really a cool experience and I love that.
(15:12):
For interns and somebody who like wants to get in, I know it's really competitive. Yeah. What is the process? What would that look like and what advice would you give those you know young students young people that are trying to get into this industry.
Yeah, well I would definitely say to it, you know, depends on the person. I would say to contact because a lot of people know people.
(15:37):
So whether like, oh my roommate went through the program and I'm really interested right off the bat, we would ask for a resume and any works if they have a portfolio if they have like a specific interest will ask for any portfolios to show.
And then we just have basically like a waiting list and we review and it's very, very competitive. So I don't even I couldn't even tell you how many people were accepted this year because we do accept a lot of returners.
(16:08):
So as far as first year incomers, very competitive. So resumes we look at experience with whether I mean since this is a basketball tournament, we look for involvement in the college teams, whether you're graduated and you're working with the team or you're wanting to work with it like you're interning with the team.
(16:33):
So we really look for any basketball or you know video editing depending what it is that you're wanting to come in for any experience, which I know is so hard because everyone's looking for experience and technically an internship would be experience.
But yeah, we definitely look for some sort of experience in the basketball industry.
(16:56):
At a lower scale, we're not expecting them to have like full time jobs, obviously not right. No, for sure. And the expectation I know when you guys bring in these interns and these staff members is very high.
I've seen I've met a lot of the you know staff members and interns in there, you know, very hard worker is very responsible and you can tell that they're very passionate about what they do.
(17:18):
Can you speak on the interns that you've had in the past and the success that they've now found in the real world getting jobs with MBA teams with NFL teams, whatever it may be because I know you guys have a very high successful rate.
Yeah, yeah. It's honestly it's it's so great because they come from all over the country all over the world actually.
(17:41):
So we have as far as like all of the interns that have gone through VSL and SPC, which we'll touch on later.
There's about over 1300 people and I believe with this new year of SPC students that will be pushed up to around 1400.
So 1400 people have gone through our program, whether that was our internship or our SPC school.
(18:04):
And the we never promise that you're going to you know get hired by MBA team, but this except three is through the roof like it's really just an awesome place in Vegas is you know if you're looking for a job, Vegas is the place to be if you're looking for a job in the basketball industry because so many people are there and it's just such a great networking opportunity.
(18:25):
I wish I had more time to network honestly because it's so special, but I remember hearing a story of one of the interns her name was she does and I think she was for overtime now, but she like she was an older intern so she's I believe she's like 30 or inner 30s and like Alan Warren and Sergio just loved her drive her passion and they just saw how hard she was working like I think she was selling programs and she was like I'm going to be the best program seller out there.
(18:54):
She be we keep records you know who's what sells the most programs and she like had the record and they I don't remember who, but they was like they called her up and was like hi she you're interviewing was so and so in sweet 30 go go in there and she got an interview on the spa and was hired.
I know she was for overtime now she's been there forever I couldn't tell you it where she was hired to but some like suddenly just makes things happen whether it's on site or then you put it on your is may afterwards it has such a great reputation I mean Albert and Warren just built this amazing community and summer you know it's just we're all the basketball fans want to be in the summertime at least so it's such a such a great opportunity for someone looking to gain not only experience.
(19:43):
But just like I don't know like real live job experience and if you're wanting to meet people then whether your intern returning or not summer like just a great place to be.
I absolutely agree and I think that's if somebody is looking to get into the industry just be there because every single team is there coaches video editors like producers whatever it is like trainers they're all in Vegas for the for the experience and the environment and it is so much fun and that's a huge.
(20:12):
Again, testament to your guys is you know staff and your company and everything as well.
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(21:13):
Now with the interns I was going to ask what even without the interns but what has been your most rewarding experience with MBA summer league could be involved with interns could be you when you know doing your thing on your own.
But yeah even there for a few years now so I'd love to hear that.
Yeah I know this will be my fourth MBA summer league. That's a great question. I would have to say personally like emotionally it would probably be the interns everyone's an intern like people are it's like your 20s you know but the staff members really make it so great it's it's so funny because obviously summer league is next month and we're with you know those people for the first time.
(22:00):
So those people for over 10 days and you just get so close within those 10 days working those long hours and being at the hotels together it's just you really create a family out there won't even say friendships you just make so many family members out there and I have made so many friends and I was born and raised in Southern California and my whole family lives in Southern California but summer league has really given me a network of people worldwide especially on the east coast.
(22:29):
But it's yes like now I can go to New York and be like hey can I can I come see you can you launch or so it's it's so much fun and again I with a lot of different states and then some people get jobs and move to LA so like I have my friends Quinn and Anna shout out but after summer league one of them was hired with the clippers and then the other one was hired with the lakers and so then they both moved to LA and I got to see them all the time which was so much fun so I would definitely say just a little bit more about it.
(22:58):
I would definitely say just the networking and the people that I that I meet but I will answer this also professionally and just say professionally I'm just really thankful for the experience and I don't know my best memory there's so many good there's so many good ones but I'd probably say last year was just really special with Wembee and you know all of the hype and crazy like it was crazy people were going great
(23:26):
because there was a lot of talk of like he wasn't going to come he is going to come he wasn't going to come and you know we prevailed but he was there and so that was really exciting just to be still be on the inside of that and see his first game so that was crazy the the mac was packed.
That was fun I remember hearing about it and there was a lot of questions if he was going to play or not I'm like when the better play like he need to and I know I know I was happy about that.
(23:53):
And finally I'm based on really how have you seen it grown in the last few years I know even for four years but from when you first started to where it is now I'm kind of touch on the growth of the the whole entire experience yeah I mean honestly it's great timing because our documentary was just aired a couple weeks ago and so getting to see that you really put it into perspective to see how far it's come overall but I every year it just I'm just happy.
(24:22):
Every year it just elevates like I don't know if you saw it but the graphics and like just back in the day like everything was so like the technology we have now is just so crazy.
When you look at what it was in the past because it was still awesome in the past but now with everything at our fingertips like the graphics look so cool and our merch looks so cool and everything just gets like.
(24:47):
I'll ask back to skip better and better each year but.
Something that I've personally worked on probably just probably just getting what was the question again repeated because I don't want to just how you've seen like summer link grown over the last year.
(25:10):
I don't know like that is definitely not like not like I've helped a grown at all but just seeing seeing it bigger and better and I would say breaking those like attendance records and most you gain records you know we're really.
Albert is just always working to be bigger and better so I would just say from from like a viewer standpoint just the all of the media aspects are just great like we send out so many emails and so many social media posts pre event and just each year everything is really elevating and I'll say that with our staff to our staff is like elevating and each year some people have been working there for all 20 years.
(25:58):
But our staff is is growing because obviously summer league is growing and we've been able to accomplish a lot and I'll say we've been able to execute things in just just better if that makes sense I'm not sure if I can find a better word to describe.
I'm so excited I just think the world of NBA so I'm like it is the best experience and I literally want every single person just to go do experience that you have.
(26:34):
Like a past past couple guests have been to summer league you're her table guests yes and so I actually want to touch on the fact that we had Sandra Brunson on the show yeah absolutely amazing I hope she's back in Vegas for NBA summer league to know that you guys work with with Jalen Brunson's charity so what's going on there what goes into different events that all past when it goes on and yeah let's talk about Jalen Brunson's charity because Sandra filled us in and it's a lot of work.
(27:03):
Yeah she's they're amazing the whole Brunson family is just amazing to work with so we started working with Jalen's foundation second round foundation last year and initially they were you know wanting to do their first charity golf tournament and so Sandra actually reached out from Albert reach out to Albert work and we made it happen so we worked with them we helped build their brands like I mentioned before
(27:31):
help us media specializes in brand management so we really helped build the brand they had a logo but we helped build out a second round foundation website and we got you know monthly newsletters going out and so we just kind of helped them not get started but just continue on to and like help them achieve their vision I guess I should say and so last year we did the first charity golf tournament in Chicago and it was so much fun I'd never I'm
(28:00):
also getting into golf I'm a little golf girl so it was a lot of fun for me I got to meet Mike Wilbon who was so cool and yeah it was just such a special thing to be a part of especially for the first year so we're running it back this year and we are working with Sandra and the rest of the Brunson family and second round foundation family to pull off their second annual charity golf tournament which will be in New York this summer so if anyone wants to
(28:29):
buy a four-sem or participate go to second round foundation org but it's been so great to work with them and again just like someone like Jalen who so and Sandra too but so down to earth and just like really at the core of people person a genuine person and seeing Jalen in action at the golf tournament and just you know
(28:55):
speak to everyone who attended and see him play golf it was just it was so much fun so I'm really looking forward to another year of working with second round foundation yeah that's amazing and I was definitely cheering for the next because I know I know when he was on the
mouth even I was like oh my gosh who is this guy he is so good he kind of came out of nowhere and I will say I've learned way more about him since working with him as I feel most people do but yeah 10 out of
(29:24):
like 11 out of 10 guy player guy husband also I want I want to add last year he was playing for you to say basketball he was getting married and he had his golf tournament all
after summer like he's just so dedicated and he never he was always there you know whatever we need him to to film like hey can you promote this can you
(29:46):
promote that he's just so sweet and just is you know obviously wanting to help wherever he can because he's got a he's got a busy life obviously especially with his podcast now but yeah they're awesome to work with yeah he does it all great family I don't
know how it balances it but I don't even know how Sandra balances it but I'm all for it and they are an inspiration for me absolutely did I did I know something else that help
(30:12):
us again you guys work on his spc no what is that I know you guys have podcasts with that but for the people who don't know what it's about let's let's hear about and learn about spc
yeah so spc's great and I've learned so much about the industry and just breaking into the industry from spc so sports business classroom is a educational program for people who are wanting to break into sports specifically basketball so we
(30:41):
specialize in the cba so we teach anyone who's interested in the salary cap and the new updated cba we have lessons online courses as well as an immersive experience where you can attend and be a summer
league in Vegas for a week and just learn from the best of the best so like I said we have virtual year round courses and then we have one immersive in person experience that takes
(31:10):
place in July and it's actually I should say not just for the salary cap people and the cba people but we also have a median broadcast major so if you're wanting to you know be on air anchor etc it's a great opportunity to get hands on
experience at a studio similar to the one I'm at now you as you know you filmed some her table podcast there and then we also have a scouting video and analytics major so between those three majors there's also obviously
(31:42):
like general education of basketball and guest speakers will come in and share their stories but we really just are creating the stars of tomorrow the basketball stars of tomorrow and it really goes along with summer league because
summer league one of summer leagues models is creating the stars of tomorrow today so it kind of goes hand in hand and yeah you mentioned the podcast we have a podcast that started my first year in turning here so is my freshman year of
(32:12):
college we started the sbc audio experience and guests are just they come on and explain how they broke into sports and being I mean listening to those
episodes since I was you know 19 has really taught me a lot I mean I was listening to these episodes and although I was doing my job I was working and working on production the production
(32:36):
side I also was learning just a ton of great advice and just put me in a really great head space to be in the industry that I'm in and yeah if anyone
hasn't listened to it I'm sure you'll find a guess that relates to you so go check it out.
How does somebody get involved or like how does somebody get the world with sbc take that course was a process so if you go to sports business classroom
(33:04):
you can kind of see the different courses that we have year round unfortunately sbc 2024 registration is closed we do have a waiting list but yeah there is an application process where students go to our
website and sign up and then our GM and lead instructor review everyone and you know send out congratulations emails to those of them who made it and there's not a ton of
(33:32):
criteria it's very rare we don't let someone in as long as there you know genuinely wanting to learn then we have a spot for you.
Nice no I think that's incredible and you guys do such a good job like for our younger audience and the people that are listening like you guys need to
tap into this because you guys really do work like work with young adults young students even older students I wanted to break this
(33:57):
up and you guys have such a unique opportunity you know at how fast we think it's absolutely amazing so people tap in type in all those things we'll put that on girls we need more girls more women
I guess for you to when we're talking about women now have you had any experience I know that's such a great company maybe working with MBA summer league or working at different events that you have
(34:22):
ever had any time where you have to prove yourself like you're a woman you're working in sports you know you don't play basketball but you're still knowledgeable have you ever had
anything like that or is everyone pretty like pretty up to date with you know today's the same I would say both it's funny because like I thought that and then I
actually did have an experience once where I was like oh like this is real life what people treat people like this so which was totally fine you
(34:50):
just gotta keep working you know keep your head down keep working or keep your chin up and move past it but it's out there not everywhere I mean not not even at summer league I
would say it's very it's very rare at least with our internal team but it's yeah not gonna lie it definitely it definitely exists just you
(35:11):
know thinking people are better than you because you're a man and you're a person so yeah I've had some experience but nothing that's broken my spirits or nothing that I couldn't handle
yeah what would you tell a young woman who have had experiences like that because I think we all have had somebody be like that or talk
down to us or not think that we're working in sports what would you tell those young women who are like what the heck is going on
(35:37):
I would just say to stay strong honestly like keep keep going keep doing your job to the best of your ability that's all you can do obviously you're there for a reason
and so I would seriously just say try try your best to you know put it in the past forget about it I wouldn't say forgiven forget I would say
(36:01):
forgive I'm not saying you have to forget but it's good to keep those with I feel like to keep those with you because they make you stronger at the end of the day and it's also a reminder like no one should be treated like that so like remembering how you felt
because regardless even if it's like a woman verse man you know argument or interaction it could be woman on woman and you didn't have a great
(36:22):
interaction so just like being kind to everyone in any situation because let's be real the sports industry is not I mean it's huge but it's it's small at the same time like people know people
and so word travels and so you know some person might end up being your boss one day and you just you don't want bad blood nobody wants bad blood in the sports
(36:43):
industry so be kind and you know if you ever encounter someone who isn't kind just be strong and remember why you're in the position that you are
yeah I love that I think it's it's so important for young women to hear that because it does still exist where you know people women are treated differently
because maybe they're not a man in sports but it is important to say strong and say true to yourself and know that you're there for a reason and I think that's that's great
(37:10):
and I think that's great advice now with your degree in college we always want the younger audience or listeners to kind of you know if there's something that they want to get into or have the role that you have today
was there a certain class or certain things that you pulled from each class that really helped you in your role today
(37:31):
I like hate answering this question at schools because like you should say yes school is so important at least at Cal State Fullerton there was no major like you know nothing that I wanted to do so I mentioned
earlier I was an entertainment and tourism major in college so and nothing was sports driven because I was interning here and like the classes that I wanted to take I couldn't because it was like seven
(37:58):
o'clock at night on campus and I worked two jobs while in college while interning here so like I after COVID I actually opted for doing all classes online so that was my junior year and I did school from here so honestly I will say I will say I did take
this one marketing class and my co-workers here actually helped explain certain concepts and just I couldn't even point out what it was specifically but where hall pass is actually helping me explain this and like my experience at hall pass is actually helping me
(38:38):
at school because I'm like oh like I know this because of XYZ so it's actually reverse for me and I do think that there's some great programs out there I know like San Francisco has a great sports management program for your
masters but as far as me I was just so lucky with getting experience at hall pass media to us I really valued this not that my degree does not not that I don't value my degree but I honestly say the I just got really lucky with the experience that
(39:16):
I really wanted to do that experience is really important and that if you are looking for a job and you might not have like an amazing college on your resume like honestly as long as you can do the job and you know have people devouch for you and on your resume and you have you
experience on your resume or a lot of experience I think that even goes further than your degree depending on the industry and you know on the job you're applying for but as far as like like I said with the NBA
(39:49):
similarly in turns like someone can go to Harvard and then someone can have gone to like I don't know maybe just a state school and they have more experience we'd probably go for the person with more experience versus like the bigger school
now that's great I think that's great advice to for somebody who's wanting to you know work with NBA or work in this industry so that's great my final question as we wrap this interview up what is next for Samantha what is the five year goal I cannot wait to hear honestly that's a great question I I love where I'm out right now and I I remember Kate had a rule like three years and go like or something like that and technically I've been here for a while but I was an intern for three years so I still got my
(40:33):
three years so five year plan I mean honestly I will stay here as long as they have the ice still feel like I'm growing and so as long as I am in a position where I'm constantly learning and constantly getting you know to put my hands in new projects I am I'm happy here so catch me 20 what is that what is in five years 20
(40:57):
nine yeah catch me it's a really 2029 and then I'll come back on and we can ask this again yeah since you the next time no Samantha it has been amazing heavy on the show I love learning more about NBA
summer league about what your job and your role is with all past media you have been an incredible guest I've seen you out in the field working you're such a hard worker and I just think it's absolutely amazing to have you on the show so thank you for joining us today.
(41:27):
Thank you and thank you for your sweet words I know we miss you Kate miss you so much Kate but love both of you guys love her table love what you guys are doing and I can't wait to listen to the episode.
Me too we miss you cable will see you will see you in Vegas soon.
Perfect I loved having Samantha on her table she is such a joy I have seen her around the office at senior in Vegas she really does it all from working with the
(41:58):
interns working with the staff to working with me and Kate she does such an amazing job and it was such an incredible experience just
learning about how much goes into Las Vegas summer league how much goes into different charity events like working with
Jalen Brunson's foundation and then what else she does with whole past media something that was so cool about Samantha was the fact that she started working at an
(42:23):
adidas basketball camp she was washing the basketball players clothes checking people in and nobody wants to do that and she did such an incredible job it's crazy that I'll
word offered her a full-time job at all past media and it's just a true testament of how hard she works but I think something that was really cool and
something that I took away from this interview is all the opportunity that comes with going to NBA summer league working with whole past media learning about SBC I think there's a lot of
(42:54):
opportunity and for a lot of the young listeners that watch our show I think that's something to tap into it was so great having Samantha on the show today I know we missed Kate but we'll all reconnect and
Las Vegas very soon thanks again for watching her table and we'll see you guys next time
(43:15):
[Music]
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