Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged
Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.
In 2015 Ishveen Jolly brought to market her dream of an open
marketplace for brands and athletes to do business.
Brands have messages they want to get out in support of
their products, athletes of all levels are great spokespeople – let's bring
them together in a transparent and accessible way.
Simple right?
Not exactly. There is a lot that goes into taking an idea
and making it a reality, a reality that businesses like Anheuser Busch,
Groupon, The Vitamin Shoppe Draft Kings, Verizon and thousands more feel is
reputable and credible enough to do business with.
The first 4-5 years were about growth and expansion, both of
credibility and business opportunity. Then as the business matures, you get
into a “what’s next” mentality. Do we need to cross into other verticals outside
of sports, like entertainment? Is there new technology we need to develop? Do
we need to change our staffing and our process?
Leading a business as the CEO requires a constant mindset of
“where are we going, vs. Where we have been. There is no such thing as
comfortable. Challengers emerge, technology changes – it's all fluid.
And then, the biggest change of them all. Names, Images and
Likeness legislation.
Think about this for a second, Ishveen’s business
OpenSponsorship, was dependent on a limited number of professional athletes
able to leverage who they are to generate business for other brands.
Now, enter in 460,000 new collegiate athletes able to do the
same.
As of July 1st, college athletes can use their
name, their image, and their likeness to earn money! This opened up a huge opportunity
for Ishveen and the great folks at OpenSponsorhip.
And, amazingly, it isn’t just the big stars and the big
brands who are making money, for example, Jackson State DE Antwan Owens struck
a deal with 3 Kings Grooming! Hadn’t heard of either before I recorded this,
but I love this, every bit of it.
For long-time listeners you know I had Ishveen on the show
two years ago, she is amazing, I learned so much then. Now we’re checking back
in to learn more about what has happened in the NIL world over the first couple
months of wild west action!
Here’s my good friend, Ishveen Jolly...
