Co-written by Christina Colistra and Graice Stubblefield
Girls Club has officially kicked off the LeadHer Panel Series, with special guests coming on each month to discuss their experience working in sports. September’s panel featured Kasey Funderburg, Alexis Beckett, and Olivia Eisenhauer, with MaryKate Siegel hosting.
This panel is more than a showcase of incredible women in sports speaking about their careers, but a way to connect those aspiring to have a job in the sports world and have genuine conversations. It opens up conversations about female empowerment and female progress in a field mostly dominated by men.
Alexis Beckett is a sports reporter at WCVB Boston, covering sports all around the area such as the Celtics, Red Sox, and more. She graduated from Temple University where she majored in Media Studies and Production with a minor in Journalism.
Beckett’s love for sports started from a young age and she has wanted to be a sports journalist from the very beginning. Being at an award-winning station is an impressive career feat, but it took time to get to where she is today.
The Boston Reporter’s first internship didn’t even involve sports and was instead for a wedding production company. There is no right way to get involved in this world, and the most important thing is experience.
Beckett’s main advice was simple: get involved! She stressed the notion that no one has the same journey, and what matters is the end goal, working in sports. She even expressed that some of her most impactful work came from working at lower levels.
Beckett claimed she looks up to all women when asked about her role models. From producers, reporters, anchors, and any position in the sports world, women can all look up to each other as inspiration in achieving their dreams.
Kasey Funderburg has had an interesting trajectory to get to where she is now in the sports world. Her career began with working as a team reporter for Tennessee Volunteers. Her days look a little different now, as she works as a Rivalry Thursday Sideline Reporter for high school football.
Working in a lower-level sport such as high school, Funderburg has the opportunity to get up close and personal with the coaches and players. While sports can feel disconnected at times, it’s important to remember the overall goal to tell a story.
Her biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of any opportunity that is presented and to be well-rounded in the sports field. Trying out different things helps build up a resume and the extra details can be the deciding factor into getting a job.
Olivia Eisenhauer is a Sports Broadcaster, a Reporter and a Production Assistant at NBC. Her favorite sports are baseball and football. She said that baseball is more relaxed and there is more storytelling involved. You need to be more on your feet for football, the same goes for basketball. Eisenhauer explained the difference between working for a local network and a big network. Local networks are more emotionally driven. Big networks are more fast-paced and on-go mode. They need to be experts on the subject.
Eisenhauer had some tips for starting your career and landing your dream job. It is good to get involved, get involved in anything! Being well-rounded and networking is so important. You should not wait for doors to open, open the doors for yourself and take advantage of opportunities. What makes it all worth it for Eisenhauer is about being involved in something that is bigger than yourself. If it is your dream, the long hours are worth it. Eisenhauer said, “Never give up for that little girl in you.” She explained that there was once a version of you that would kill to be this current version of you and to stay persistent.
Eisenhauer explained how important it is to know and have supportive women in the industry. It is important to have a supportive circle in general. She has a very supportive best friend and parents. Her parents are her role models. She looks to them for perseverance and to chase after her dream. Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge are Eisenhauer’s women in sports role models.
Each of these women were able to share their experiences and share advice for others who are seeking out roles in the sports world. Through these conversations, female inclusion into this community can expand and pave the path to success.
The LeadHer panel is more than a networking opportunity. It is a place to feel connected as a woman working in sports and finding community. There is a place for women in the sports world, and it starts with a conversation.
Edited by Breanna Ebisch
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