The global licensing community is powered by an incredible group of professionals whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. We profile one of these professionals each week, and in this special edition of the People Profile series we are introducing one of the 2024 Rising Stars Award recipients to shine a spotlight on their success.

How did you get into licensing (or how did licensing find you)?
My path to the licensing industry started out as being a part of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program back in 2016 when I interned in Charlotte, NC at NASCAR. I went on to become a licensing intern with a racing team based out of Concord, formerly known as Roush Fenway Racing. Licensing within the racing industry has such rich history with the multitude of sponsors and throwback paint schemes that resonate in today’s world.

What’s a “typical” day in your current position?
A typical day for me kicks off with a strawberry and banana smoothie and taking about 30 minutes to sort through my list of priorities for the day. My day is spent conducting internal and external meetings to discuss ways that our organization can assist licensees with utilizing NFL players to promote and amplify licensed products in the marketplace. The highlight throughout the day is being able to brainstorm with my teammates on how we can set the bar and develop new concepts that we can utilize to help build the brands of NFL players off the field.

What’s your biggest personal or professional accomplishment?
The biggest professional accomplishment that I’ve had was being named a 2024 Licensing International Global Rising Star. Being named a rising star means the world to me. This industry became a gateway for me after my football career in school, which can sometimes be tough for student athletes. Ever since that day, it’s been a goal of mine to excel in a different field other than the gridiron.

What are the most significant trends or changes that you’ve seen in the business in recent years?
The most significant trend that I’ve seen in recent years in the licensing industry is our adaptability to produce hot market items on a weekly basis after each week in the NFL season. An example would be the partnership we have with Angry Runs & Homage, where a new running play is crowned each week on the segment of Good Morning Football. Once the segment goes live, a licensed product of that play goes on sale. That goes to show the strides that have been made to meet the demand of hot market items, in conjunction with being able to promote it in real time on television.

What keeps you up at night? What’s your biggest challenge these days?
The biggest challenge in my world is figuring out who will be the next up-and-coming superstar in the NFL. Each week throughout the season you never know which player will have that breakout moment, where they showcase their skills and set themselves apart from other players. Our job is to keep up with the retail demand of those players and ensure we have product ready and approved to capture those moments throughout the season. One way we’re looking to overcome that challenge is by compiling a rising start list, which identifies top Rookies and Veterans poised to have breakout seasons, gain fan support, and ultimately rank among the top-sellers of all officially licensed player merchandise.

In your opinion, what is the top skill every licensing executive should have in order to succeed?
Relationship building is by far one of the top skills to have within this industry. Strong negotiation skills go together with building positive relationships with both licensors and licensees, which is vital for long-term partnerships in the industry.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, or what’s your favorite quote?
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen,” by Michael Jordan. In this line of business, you sometimes have to travel down the road less travelled to accomplish goals that you set for yourself.

What is your favorite licensing deal of all time?
My favorite licensing deal of all time was collaborating with JetLife while at NASCAR. Being able to merge the racing industry with a hip-hop culture staple was one for the ages. I’ve always been deeply passionate about driving diversity in the licensing world and using platforms that I am part of to promote inclusion.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing now?
If I weren’t in the licensing industry, I’d either be on the pathway to become a collegiate athletic director or a director of football administration for a college football program. I’ve always had a passion to help the next generation of student athletes excel outside their playing careers, especially when it comes to career development. That is a passion of mine, as I was in those shoes of having to remove the pads and focus on life after playing sports.

The last licensed product I bought was…
The last licensed product I bought were the Air Jordan Retro Olive 9s.

What does it mean to you to be named a Rising Star?
Being named a rising star means the world to me, especially if you knew my path to getting to this point in my career. This industry became a gateway for me after my football career in school, which can sometimes be tough for student athletes. To be a recipient of this award means that I’m on the right track of being a student of the game yet again.

The Rising Star Awards recognize the next generation of leaders around the world for their commitment, passion, and contributions to their company and the licensing industry. This year’s Rising Stars were recognized and celebrated at the Hall of Fame Gala Luncheon in New York City on December 4th, 2024.