Students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business have several opportunities for growth outside the classroom. One opportunity available to them is the twice-yearly professional development trips offered by the college’s Office of Access and Community Connections (OACC). In the fall of 2024, 25 students participated in the OACC’s Business Side of Sports Professional Development Trip to Nashville, Tennessee.
Sports-Centric Professional Development
During the three-day trip, students visited the Tennessee Titans’ headquarters, the Nashville Predators Major League Hockey Fan Club, the Nashville Soccer Club, the Nashville Sports Council and Pinnacle Financial Partners. At each site, the students toured the facilities, heard presentations on operations and interacted with the organizations’ representatives.
Some of the trip participants pose in front of the Titans logo.
The trip wasn’t all business, though. At the Nashville Soccer Club, the students participated in a YouTube video show called “Off The Pitch.” They also enjoyed an Alumni Engagement Dinner at Germantown Pub and attended a Nashville Predators NHL game at Bridgestone Arena.
According to Nayasha Farrior, the OACC’s assistant director for academic support and partnerships, the entire experience is geared toward immersing the students in the full spectrum of the business of sports and ancillary fields.
“From the inner workings of sports organizations to the on-field experience, the students gained an in-depth understanding of professional sports as a business,” she said. “At the same time, they connected with alumni in Nashville and visited a business like Pinnacle, which employs several of our graduates, giving the participants Important networking opportunities.”
Meaningful Learning Opportunities
The students who participated in the OACC trip expressed appreciation for the experience, with some finding certain aspects extremely fulfilling. For sophomore ZhiHang “Sean” Li, a finance major, visiting Pinnacle was especially relevant.
“As a finance major, it was an awesome opportunity to hear from high-level professionals and ask them questions about what they do, and learn more about subjects that interest me, like risk management,” Li explained. “We talked about how they protect themselves from interest rate changes, credit risk and their use of quantitative modeling. Those aren’t things I hear much about in my sophomore classes, so it was really cool to get some exposure. Everybody was very enthusiastic and the guidance they provided was invaluable.”
Bridget Cassidy, a junior majoring in marketing, was thrilled to expand her professional connections during the trip.
“The most important thing I learned during the trip was the value of growing my network and building meaningful connections within the sports industry,” she said. “This experience allowed me to deepen my knowledge of the business side of sports while also forming a diverse network that will support my growth and success within the field.”
Silas Cole, a sophomore finance major, believes other students would benefit from participating in future professional development experiences because this particular trip exposed him to the many jobs available in the sports world.
“We had the unique opportunity to meet and learn from successful professionals who were once in our shoes, and they shared invaluable tips on navigating college and building a successful career in the sports industry,” Cole said. “This trip offered both inspiration and practical advice that will stick with me for years to come.”
Haslam’s next professional development trip will be held in spring 2025. To learn more about professional development trips, contact the OACC.
CONTACT:
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Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
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