BSBA Alumni Spotlight - Navy Smith

Navy Smith is a senior (May 2023), Health and Exercise Science major at Bethune-Cookman University. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Navy is navigating her way to become a Head Athletic Trainer in the National Football League. Read her story below to learn about her experience participating in the Black Sport Business Academy, The Kollective, and to find out what she has planned next!

1.?How was your experience going through the Black Sport Business Academy? What does it mean to you that there is a program that exists to invest in your development and ascension into this business?

My experience through the Black Sport Business Academy was nothing short of amazing! They opened numerous doors for me that I never saw myself going through at such an early point in my career. From meeting and conversing with league executives to touring two NFL stadiums, I was very grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime experiences this program brought about. To me, there are many programs out there that invest in a person's development and ascension in business. However, with the Black Sport Business Academy, it is the Founders' tenacity and dedication to their past and current students that made me proud that this program exists. As an alumna, they were and still are heavily invested in my career goals and have exceeded my expectations when it comes to helping me achieve them. I hope that this program continues to flourish and cannot wait to see it reach higher heights.

2.?What were your key takeaways from your experience in the Academy that you feel contributed to your personal and professional growth?

The biggest takeaway from my experience in the Academy that made a heavy impact on my professional growth was introducing myself and others to LinkedIn. BSBA not only emphasized the importance of being active on LinkedIn but also taught me the correct method for constructing a successful account and sustaining it. Due to the techniques introduced by a LinkedIn representative (during a BSBA workshop), I have come from having only 1 connection to now holding over meaningful 500 connections. I have been able to connect with countless individuals in the industry I strive to be in, and I owe much of that success to The Black Sport Business Academy.

3.?For the past few months you've had the opportunity to work with The Kollective - who has trained and helped prepare athletes for the NFL Combine and NFL Offseason. How did you come across this opportunity? What is your role? And what have been key takeaways from this experience that have contributed to your knowledge and understanding of the industry??

Vincent Pierson came across this opportunity and sent it to me to pursue. With my career aspirations in mind, he knew that this would be a good chance for me to network and learn from renowned sports performance coaches. I serve as an intern with The Kollective in the Strength and Conditioning department and assist with the tasks of helping the Director of Professional Sports, the famous Morgan Wells, the Director of Sports Performance, and the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.?

My first key takeaway from this experience is that in times of uncertainty, your professionalism will always be appreciated and respected by all. Another major takeaway is something that I've learned previously from sports executives, but the concept resurfaced during my time at The Kollective. It is Maya Angelou's saying: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." My first Pre-Draft class athletes are a true testament of that quote as we have formed great relationships over this short period. I wish them the best in all of their future endeavors, as they wish for me as well, and that our professional relationship does not end despite the conclusion of my internship.

4.?What area of the sports and entertainment industry do you hope to be in long-term? Why?

I hope to be in the Athletic Training area of the sports industry long-term. My end professional goal is to become the NFL's first Black woman to be appointed as a Head Athletic Trainer. From a DEI standpoint, I have the opportunity to make history in this area of the sports industry. Upon declaring that I aspire to become a certified athletic trainer, I noticed that there were not many people that looked like me in this line of business. Whenever there is a player injured on the field during an NFL game, you rarely see a Black woman leading the run to assist them. Another example of this disparity in diversity can be seen on the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) website. There are only three Black women listed on the member directory out of the thirty-two teams that comprise the NFL. In addition, there are not any Black women that sit on the PFATS leadership team. I will change that narrative by becoming the first woman, furthermore, the first Black woman, to be named, "Head Athletic Trainer" for an NFL team. I hope to inspire and encourage more Black women athletic trainers to see that their presence is necessary in this field, and they can take their seats at the table.

5.?What fascinates you about this industry?

I have a strong passion for the Athletic Training industry because it is deeply rooted in my love for learning, understanding my character, and wanting to make an impact in Black history. The enjoyment I get from providing athletic training services to athletes is the same excitement I believe I would get from actually playing the game. Therefore, I started questioning how I could work in the sports industry yet get the same thrill as if I were the one competing on the field. In eighth grade, I remembered setting my mind on becoming an athletic trainer due to discovering my interests in health science and acknowledging my two major personal strengths of showcasing compassion and determination, which are qualities of a great athletic trainer. When I started taking health science classes, I fell in love with the curriculum, because I realized that the material learned can continuously refresh and can be applied to our everyday lives and real-world problems. I have had many professors along the way voice that I will eventually reconsider choosing this occupation due to the tedious hours and labor, just to realize that they were all wrong. After working with certified athletic trainers at my institution, it further solidified my passion for the field. Despite the challenges, athletic training is a job I would do without compensation. The happiness I receive while practicing this type of medical care confirms I chose what was destined for me.

6.?What do you want to learn more about in the sport and entertainment business?

I want to learn more about the relationship the Athletic Training staff has with other league executives of the team, and how that bond contributes to the success of the athletes.

7.?What do you hope is next for you??

What is next for me is going through an internship with the Jacksonville Jaguars this summer for their Training Camp. I was selected to assist and work with their training staff as they prepare their athletes for the start of the NFL season.