Sep 2, 2021
College athletics are going to look a lot different this year, thanks to the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules that were signed into effect earlier this year. Joining us this week on Building While Flying is Mike Neligan, CMO of VaynerSports, to answer the question we’re all asking: what does all this mean?
Mike joined VaynerSports two years ago, after 15 years in sports management at places like Excel Sports Management and BSE Global. He’s worked with household names like Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, and Danica Patrick. At VaynerSports, he leads all things sales, marketing, and PR across baseball, football, e-sports, and combat.
In his conversation with Mickey, Mike discusses the importance of athletes building their personal brands. Many want careers after their time in sports, so, Mike says, they’re starting to think like entrepreneurs. Mike stresses the importance of authenticity in partnerships with athletes, and cautions against hiring a big-name athlete just to make a quick buck. Most importantly, Mike dives into NIL: what it means for college athletes, the opportunities it presents for brands and SMBs, how athletes can leverage it for professional experience, and much more.
Other in-flight topics:
- History and evolution of VaynerSports
- How VaynerSports differs from traditional sports management agencies
- Why authenticity matters
- The difference between sponsorships and partnerships
- What the new NIL rules allow college athletes to do
- Opportunities for brands and SMBs
- ...and more!
Relevant Links:
VaynerSports website: https://vaynersports.com/
VaynerSports Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaynersports
Mike LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-neligan-70a54a1/