Activating Sports Marketing Campaigns w/Golden State Warriors’ Drew Friedman

One of the main purposes of the WorkInSports Podcast is to illustrate the many different career paths you can take within the sports industry. VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp has interviewed experts throughout the field in areas such as sports ownership, sports business strategy, and sports marketing.

Our guest for this episode is the Golden State Warriors’ Drew Friedman, who serves as the franchise’s Partnership Development Manager. Brand association is one of the many perks of working in major professional sports, which is why getting a job with any of the big four (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) North American professional sports leagues is so competitive.

Sports Marketing Partnerships

Sports venues, especially at the major professional level, are decked out with corporate logos that associate with a sports franchise’s brand. We learned from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Luke Mohamed how the sales process works with professional teams and their corporate partners. With those relationships forged, Partnership Development Managers such as Friedman collaborate with representatives from brands like Chase, Pepsi, and Verizon to pitch ideas that turn those partnerships into visible sports marketing campaigns that further both brands. Some examples of these relationships in action are social media campaigns, in-game promotions, and naming rights to specific arena sections.

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About Golden State Warriors’ Drew Friedman

Friedman joined the Warriors a month before the 2021-22 season, capping an impressive rise in the sports industry that spans the east and west coasts. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in 2015, she started her professional career with the Miami Dolphins as a Staff Assistant in Corporate Partnership and Activation. Next, Friedman pivoted to the more globally recognized football with Miami FC. She then moved out west to spend four seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes while earning her master’s degree at the University of San Francisco.

Catch the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast as Friedman and Clapp discuss:

•    How Friedman got into partnership activation
•    What Friedman’s day-to-day job entails
•    How different the culture is between the NFL, MLS, and NBA
•    The value of aggressively pursuing internships as an undergraduate

Be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. Also, be sure to check out more content on our YouTube channel.