Episode 5 of “The Sports PR Huddle” focuses on rising in the ranks of communications roles and reflections on the journey. The focus of this conversation is on Gabriela (Gaby) Lozada, the Director of Communications for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. She helps give insight to our title this week: “From Coordinator to Manager: Building Your Leadership Skills”

Gaby’s ascension from a coordinator to a managerial role (and then director and beyond), delivers insights on navigating career goals, the significance of feedback and the balance between professional aspirations and personal life. 
The honesty of the episode shines through as the conversation highlights the challenges and rewards of working in sports PR, offering valuable lessons for aspiring professionals. 

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Some listener takeaways should you tune-in:
1.   The importance of adaptability in career paths.

2. Leadership requires showing others your potential and taking ownership.

3. Transitioning from hands-on roles to management can be challenging.

4. Learning to hold staff accountable is a work in progress.

5. Being open to feedback is important for personal growth.

Notable Timestamps:

0:00              Introduction to Leadership in Sports PR

01:11:                 Gaby’s Journey in Sports Communications

04:58                  Transitioning from Coordinator to Manager

08:41                  Finding Your Path in Sports PR

12:45                  The Importance of Networking in Sports

16:30                  Developing Leadership Skills

21:24                  Navigating Feedback and Self-Awareness

24:06                  Balancing Career Goals and Personal Life

30:38                  The Intersection of Career and Personal Timelines

31:39                  Balancing Career Aspirations and Personal Life

34:06                  Transitioning from Coordinator to Manager

39:40                  Navigating Leadership Styles in Sports PR

43:49                  The Challenges of Managing a Team

50:18                  Learning and Growing as a Leader

56:49                  Celebrating 50 Years of the Rowdies

Episode 4 is a professional development episode centered around Molly Gallatin, Vice President of Communications for 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
Molly shares her journey to her current role, the unique challenges of managing timelines for large events, and the importance of simplifying complex information for effective communication. 
We all can strive to be more like Molly: she discusses the significance of people-centric leadership, the balance between perfection and timeliness in decision-making, and the importance of effective meeting management. 

Throughout the discussion, she shares insights on how to navigate challenges and prioritize relationships in a demanding work environment.

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Some listener takeaways should you tune-in:

1.    Pressing pause can enhance productivity and strategic thinking.

2.    Perfectionism can hinder progress; sometimes it's better to just be done.

3.    Building a personal brand is vital in the competitive sports industry.

4.    Being present and nurturing relationships is key to long-term success.

5.    Diversity in thought is as important as diversity in appearance.

Notable Timestamps:

00:00: Introduction to Effective Time Management

01:29: Molly's Journey to Special Olympics

05:52: Understanding the Unique Timeline of Events

10:28: Shifting Mindsets in Sports Communication

15:25: Navigating Governance and Communication Challenges

20:17: Simplifying Complex Information for Effective Communication

23:25: The Importance of Pressing Pause

24:42: The Importance of People-Centric Leadership

27:16: Balancing Perfection and Timeliness

30:42: Effective Meeting Management

33:11: The Power of Saying No

39:16: Agility in Time Management

42:17: Building Your Personal Brand in Sports

Summary:

 In this episode of the PR Sports Huddle, host Tim Miller speaks with Kyle Sheldon, CEO and founder of Name and Number, about the importance of brand identity and storytelling in sports PR. They discuss Kyle's journey in the industry, the significance of understanding business impacts in PR, and the role of brand across different departments. Kyle shares valuable advice for young professionals looking to break into the field and reflects on the challenges and successes of rebranding sports teams. You’ll hear discussion the intricacies of brand evolution in sports, emphasizing the importance of transparency, community engagement, and understanding fan dynamics. They explore the successful rebranding of the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders, highlighting the need for open communication and collaboration between marketing and PR teams. The discussion also touches on the significance of storytelling in the branding process and the necessity of involving fans and stakeholders in shaping a brand's identity.

Listener Takeaways:

1.    Brand ownership should be a company-wide initiative.

2.    Rebranding requires careful consideration of history. The process of brand evolution is as crucial as the final product.

3.    Effective storytelling is essential in communicating brand changes. Transparency in rebranding fosters greater fan connection and trust.

4.    Engaging with fans throughout the rebranding process is vital. Understanding the local culture and visual language enhances brand identity.

Episode Milestones:

00:00: Introduction to Brand Identity and Storytelling

01:36: Kyle Sheldon's Journey in Sports PR

04:16: Advice for Young PR Professionals

10:31: Understanding Business Impact in PR

14:17: The Role of Brand in Sports Organizations

18:18: Navigating Brand Changes in Different Teams

25:54: The Importance of Brand Evolution

30:19: Transparency in Rebranding

36:16: Starting Fresh: Building a New Brand

40:53: Understanding Your Fan Base

44:36: Collaboration Between Marketing and PR

In this episode of the Sports PR Huddle, host Tim Miller engages with Joshua Reynolds, CEO and Founder of Rob Roy Consulting. They discuss the importance of storytelling, the journey to becoming a trusted advisor, and the necessity of understanding the audience's emotional experiences. 
Reynolds shares insights from his personal journey, emphasizing the significance of asking the right questions and asserting one's truth in professional settings. The conversation highlights the timeless nature of storytelling and its critical role in effective communication within the sports industry. In this conversation, Reynolds and Miller explore the intricacies of storytelling within the sports industry, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, authenticity, and understanding brand identity. 
They discuss the role of communication in business strategy, the significance of transparency, and the need for leaders to ask the right questions. The conversation also delves into the four pillars of persuasion, the importance of finding heroes in adversity, and learning from storytelling mistakes. 

Key takeaways:

Everyone has a unique truth to assert in communication.

Asking smart questions is more valuable than being the smartest person in the room.

Acting like a trusted advisor is essential for professional growth.

Storytelling is a fundamental human experience that transcends time.

Understanding the audience's emotional experiences is crucial for effective storytelling.

Empathy is key in connecting with the audience.

The five-act structure of storytelling can enhance communication.

Notable Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Sports PR Huddle

02:28 Joshua Reynolds' Journey and the Birth of Rob Roy Consulting

04:50 Becoming a Trusted Advisor

14:25 The Importance of Storytelling in Sports PR

24:22 Understanding Your Audience for Effective Storytelling

27:36 The Power of Simplicity in Storytelling

29:04 Understanding Brand Identity and Audience Connection

30:29 The Role of Communication in Business Strategy

32:55 Asking the Right Questions in Leadership

36:10 The Four Pillars of Persuasion

39:54 Authenticity in Communication

42:28 The Importance of Transparency in Storytelling

45:25 Finding Heroes in Adversity

46:07 Learning from Storytelling Mistakes

50:27 Rob Roy Consulting and Its Mission

In this episode of the Sports PR Huddle, host Tim Miller and guest Katie Paine (CEO and founder of Paine Publishing) discuss the importance of measurement in public relations, particularly in the sports industry. They explore Katie's journey in measurement, the challenges PR professionals face in proving their value, and the significance of understanding business priorities. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective metrics, the concept of 'champagne moments' as indicators of success, and the importance of collaboration in establishing measurement systems. Katie shares practical advice for PR pros to start measuring effectively and stay curious about data, ultimately aiming to enhance their contributions to organizational goals.

Listener Takeaways:

• Measurement is crucial for proving ROI in communications work.
• Understanding business priorities is essential for effective PR measurement.
• The concept of 'champagne moments' helps define success in PR.
• PR can measure its contribution, not just attribution.
• Starting with pilot projects can help build confidence in measurement.
• Avoid introducing bad metrics that mislead senior leadership.
• Effective measurement requires collaboration with senior leadership.
• Awareness alone is not enough; trust and engagement matter more.
• Using acceptable proxies can help demonstrate PR's impact.
• Continuous learning and curiosity about data are vital for PR professionals.

Notable timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Sports PR Huddle

03:00 The Journey of Measurement in PR

10:21 Understanding PR Measurement and Attribution

19:30 The Champagne Moment: Defining Success in PR

27:18 Starting Your Measurement Journey

35:36 Acceptable Proxies in Measurement

41:00 Staying Curious About Measurement

Keywords:

Sports PR, Measurement, Communication, ROI, Public Relations, Marketing, Data Analysis, Audience Engagement, Metrics, PR Strategies