Jessica Reveruzzi: Dallas Stars Senior Account Executive

Jessica Reveruzzi, Senior Account Executive of Corporate Partnerships, for the Dallas Stars talks about taking advantage of relocating in the sports industry. 

1. In sports, just like any industry you have office politics and different personalities. How can interns and entry-level personnel stay away from that stuff and focus on their job?

Find a way to connect with each person in your daily life and create a personal relationship based on your experiences and not what the office gossip is. The best way to a good reputation and being liked is by being good at what you do so – first and foremost – do what is asked of you and try to anticipate needs.

If you are not busy or want more, then communicate. Do not be scared to strike up a conversation with someone you have not spoken with. Being willing to go above and beyond will make you stand out.

2. The sports industry is a fast paced environment and requires you to adapt to change all the time. How did you prepare yourself to perform in this environment?

I think the best preparation (and what has worked well for me) is working on general organizational skills. In sports, you are constantly pulled in different directions, and no day is ever the same. It is a lot of fun but can be overwhelming unless you stay organized. Just developing a system of a to-do lists and writing things down as they come in will help immensely because a person can quickly fall behind.

3. In the sports industry relocating is a huge factor in career success. How can one take advantage of the opportunity of relocating?

In the case of an intern and those new to the sports world, it is important to be willing to take whatever position you can to work with an organization. Then prove yourself while there to change departments and grow from there.

Relocation is all part of the adventure so someone wanting to get into this career should apply any and everywhere to maximize their chances of being hired. Once a person has a few years under their belt, he/she can start to get more selective with what city they would like to end up in.

Also – the sports world is VERY small so – as with most industries – try not to burn bridges and use your network to your advantage.

4. The misconception about sports is that you get to watch all the games and hang around the players all the time. In your opinion, what can be done in the classroom to educate people about the reality of sports business professionals?

I think having people in the sports business come in to speak to classes is important and – when they do – make sure the reality of the business is communicated. As a woman in sports, it is extremely important that females understand the need to separate themselves from the players and not let their personal life mix with business.

I think teams are often leery of hiring young women for this very reason, so it is necessary that female candidates understand this and make sure they want to work in the business for the right reasons. Starting to date a player is a quick route to career suicide.