Mentorship: Kansas City Chiefs

In May of 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to get involved with the Kansas City Chiefs—an experience that combined my academic learning with real-world exposure to sports marketing and brand partnerships. I applied for a mentorship through UMKC’s Professional Career Escalators program, which connects students with professionals in fields they’re interested in. I was welcomed and supported by members of the Chiefs’ partnership development team, who guided me throughout the experience.

Through this mentorship, I gained firsthand exposure to partnership development and game-day marketing. I toured partnership suites, observed tailgate activations, and spent time in the marketing “penthouse” learning about social media strategy and execution. The team also gave me exclusive access to several special events, allowing me to see how partnerships are managed and activated in a professional sports environment. This experience provided a valuable insight into sports marketing—knowledge I continue to apply in my own professional and entrepreneurial work.