Jose Diaz is the Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Communications at SMAC Entertainment, where he leads talent management, brand partnerships, content development, and media strategy. With more than a decade of experience across entertainment, sports, and consumer culture, Diaz plays a central role in shaping how modern athletes and personalities build enduring brands beyond the field.
At SMAC, Diaz works closely with high-profile talent to develop multi-platform initiatives spanning television, digital media, and branded ventures. His work sits at the intersection of storytelling, commerce, and cultureâhelping translate talent vision into scalable businesses and long-term partnerships while navigating an increasingly complex media landscape.
In this episode, Diaz shares insights into building athlete-driven IP, managing talent at the highest level, and how SMAC approaches content, partnerships, and growth in todayâs sports and entertainment economy. A University of Southern California graduate, Diaz brings a strategic, operatorâs perspective on what it takes to create relevance, longevity, and impact in modern sports media.
Podcast Chapters:
00:56 Jose's Journey: From Intern to EVP
03:33 The Evolution of Smack: Talent Management to Content Creation
07:58 Identifying Athletes Worth Investing In
11:25 Protecting the Athlete's Core Responsibilities
14:30 Navigating Brand Partnerships and Authenticity
19:32 The Rise of Flag Football and Deanna Flores
23:43 Leveraging Major Events for Talent Exposure
26:17 Building Community Around Athlete Brands
28:18 Memorable Projects and Impactful Moments
29:45 Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Industry
Jose Diaz:
đ Website: https://www.smac-ent.com/
đź LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jdiaz021
Scott Garber:
đ Website: https://profluence.com
đź LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgarber40/
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