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Degree and Year: BJ '89 Company: ESPN ABC Sports Company Web Site: http://www.espn.com/ Title: Senior Director for Multimedia Sales for ESPN ABC Sports City: New York City
As director for multimedia sales, I manage a team of account executive specialists who focus on television, print, online, digital and radio advertising sales. How does this compare to what you thought you'd be doing after graduation? This is similar to what I thought I would be doing. You chose to go straight to New York to work. What are you thoughts on starting "big time" versus getting your feet wet in a smaller city? It's much easier to make the move to a big city right after graduation. If it's an option, then I advise going for it. What is the best part of your job? What is the worst part? The best part of my job is getting new challenges each day from marketers. The worst part of my job is the paperwork; but I would have this to do anywhere. What are some thoughts you have about management? To be a good leader, you must have followers. Treat everyone equally and with respect. Describe a typical day for you in trying to balance motherhood, work and travel. Chaos, utterly chaotic! I have no set schedule; everyday is different. I can't have structure because of changing demands of home and work. The balance is definitely challenging, but I thrive on challenges. What do you think is the one characteristic or trait that the most successful people in your area have? People in media sales must be great listeners. You can't solve a client's challenges unless you hear what they are. Too many sales people want to do all the talking; the most successful must be apt at listening. What is your best professional lesson learned at the J-School? "Use your resources." I heard this piece of advice a thousand times from Professor Henry Hager. It is an invaluable piece of advice. Do you wish you had taken any other classes at J-School or MU? If so, which ones and why? I wish I had taken more business-related classes, such as business law and math classes. These courses are both extremely relevant in the business world. What is your favorite J-School memory? My favorite memory has to be all of the brainstorming sessions at The Heidleberg. What is your advice on establishing a career to current students? You must network. Each person you come in contact with could be the one that gets you in the door. Other than networking, do you have any other advice for students starting their careers? Take the job offer you are given. You may not be able to be too selective when you first graduate. If you have a choice between two jobs, you are lucky. Because more people are going to college and getting degrees, many graduates will have to work in entry level, basic-level positions or even an assistant-type position. What has been your greatest accomplishment? My greatest personal accomplishment is being a mother. My greatest professional accomplishment was knowing when to make a career move. I was recruited out of college to work for Gannett, and I worked there for eight years before making the move to ESPN. What is your favorite sport to watch and who is your favorite athlete? Since I work at The Worldwide Leader in Sports, it is difficult to pick just one. Top two, though, would be football and college hoops. I have too many favorite athletes to pick just one. What person has had the most impact on your life, and why? My Mom has had the most impact on my life. She taught me how to listen and gave me the groundwork to succeed. 
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| Revised: 20 April 2007. Copyright © 2008 The Curators of the University of Missouri | Contact the J-School | |
Lori Taylor, BJ '89, and her daughter Olivia.