Honoring Overtime Leaders On Behalf of Celebrate Diversity Month

April is Celebrate Diversity Month where we take time to recognize others and our differences be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation and/or other factors. To acknowledge and celebrate this, we wanted to highlight a diverse group of individuals within Overtime that are?doing incredible work and how they're making an impact.

Maisha Riddlesprigger (OTE Head of Academics)

How has your identity as a Black woman in an industry historically dominated by white men and women shaped your experience and your approach to your career??My identity as a Black woman shapes everything that I do professionally and personally.?Many of us have heard the adage that you have to be twice as good as a Black person to be seen as an equal in our society (doubly true if you're a Black woman).?And while I believe that this is true, I also acknowledge that living in that space is exhausting, unfair and difficult?to sustain over time.?However, as a Black woman in the field of education who had aspirations to ascend into leadership, I worked hard to perfect my first role in the field of education, teaching.?As a young professional, I had a relentless pursuit to be the best educator possible, because that's what my students deserved. I also knew that many of the leadership positions were occupied?by men and that in order to reach my goals, I would have to prove my value to an organization.?I found Black women leaders who served as mentors and helped me navigate through some of the racism and sexism that can be found in leadership positions.?They taught me how to professionally challenge misogyny, classism, and racism in a way that wasn't labeled as "too aggressive." I also studied the culture within the field of education and identified the values and dispositions that were rewarded and praised and found a way to stay true to my personal values, while highlighting what I could add to an organization as a leader.?I can proudly say that I have never muted myself?as a Black woman to fit?into spaces where I was not wanted or appreciated. I lead with my values and my passion for the field of education and lean on the learning from Black women education pioneers such as Mary Church Terrell, who fought to use education as a pathway to "lift as we climb", her approach to bringing along others as you reach towards your own goals.??

Who (a person) or what (an event or experience) has been a source of inspiration as you've navigated working in academics? My father, Bill Riddlesprigger Jr., has always?been a source of inspiration for me as an educator.?He was a community college professor in my hometown and a community activist.?I remember him telling me stories about how his syllabus for his English course was always filled with Black literature, specifically highlighting the work of African American women authors such as Alice Walker, Toni Morrisson, and Zora Neale Hurston.?He was frequently challenged by students who felt that there were too many Black authors?on the required reading list (because his class was a general English course, not an African American Studies course - their words, not mine!), but he refused to change his required readings and doubled down on the merit and value that African American female authors brought to the traditional literary canon. He taught me that there is no such thing as being "too Black" and that centering experiences?on people and communities not traditionally aligned with "traditional American values" was?necessary for?a society that works to erase our contributions. His relentless pursuit of expanding educational opportunities for students of color (as a member of the Fresno Unified School District School Board) while also amplifying the voices of female authors is what has encouraged me to work hard as an educator working in urban areas in Compton, CA, Washington, DC, and now Atlanta.?Helping students and communities find their voice to advocate for their future is an important part of what I consider my legacy in the communities where I have had the privilege to serve as an educator.??

What would be your walkout song? Blow the Whistle?- Too Short (When that beat drops, it's?OVER!?)

What's your favorite thing to do to unwind? Travel and watch HGTV home remodeling shows

Edward Conroy (Director, Technical Design)

How has your identity as a Latino and/or Hispanic man in an industry historically dominated by white men and women shaped your experience and your approach to your career? I have not found my industry to be dominated by any specific race, gender, or ethnicity, but rather by hard-working individuals. For me, that’s as clear as this beautiful 81-degree day in Brooklyn at the Overtime office. As a first-generation American, it’s the only mindset that has been proven time and time again to be the difference between food on the table and a day without. It is not an industry that shapes someone, but rather their outlook and determination. My teammates know that at the end of the day, I’m more interested in their well-being, sanity, and health above any metric.

Who (a person) or what (an event or experience) has been a source of inspiration as you've navigated working in this medium? My medium as a product lead allows for the opportunity of multiple collaborating teams, vendors, and relationships. My inspirations play on momentum and drive. It’s not a single source, person, or experience, but rather the common goal of “getting it done.”?

If you could teleport anywhere right now, where would it be and why? Edge of the universe would be indescribable (with proper gear of course).

What's your favorite thing to do to unwind??Playing with my two dogs, Soap & Mia.

Sascha Malas (Sr. Manager Content Ops and Talent)

How has your identity as a woman in an industry historically dominated by white males shaped your experience and your approach to your career?

There are many stereotypes that are affiliated with being a strong and successful woman. And, I am not going to lie and say that those stereotypes and words do not affect me and how I approach every day.

Ultimately, you have to develop confidence in yourself and really lean on people that support and believe in you. It can be both colleagues in the office as well as family and friends. As you evolve, gain credibility and self-assurance, you also have to remember to continue to learn and progress because there are so many talented people in this business that can help broaden your experience and knowledge, and in turn, lift your performance.

When I first started at Overtime nearly four years ago, one of my earliest projects I worked on was with Trae Young and his agency, whom I had previously worked with before. Trying to navigate a new job and project, I leaned on my managers Josh Fendrick and Marc Kohn who provided guidance along the way. Importantly, in a company-wide meeting, neither took any credit for the project’s success. I was surrounded by colleagues who had implicit trust in me and who have become mentors and champions. I knew they wanted me to succeed and they were confident in my abilities to grow within Overtime.

As a woman, while I have definitely seen progress in my time in the industry, I look forward to a time when even more women hold leadership positions. Female role models are very important to women’s progress. Indeed, I have had several and intend to be the same for future women in this industry.

When I look back at my accomplishments at Overtime and the things I have been able to achieve, from building an influencer and talent team, to working with well-known agents and athletes, to casting countless shows and working with high-profile brands, I do my best to approach everything with the mindset that I am a leader who belongs here and has a place. It’s about learning to be confident in yourself and understanding you are good enough, but at the same time, continuing to absorb knowledge, listen and learn from other leaders and professionals and remain humble.

Who (a person) or what (an event or experience) has been a source of inspiration as you've navigated working in sports?

When I graduated from the University of Wisconsin, I knew I wanted to work in sports. My first job out of college was serving as a PR Trainee at Octagon Sports. I quickly realized PR was not for me, but taking this job at Octagon was the best career move I could have ever made. My former manager and colleagues, and current mentors, Alyssa Romano and Erin Kane, have been amazing resources that I have depended on and continued to work with throughout my career. The sports industry is very small and through all of my jobs and experiences, the relationships I formed right after college have proven to be incredibly valuable.?

After Octagon, I received a few job offers including one at a large public sports company and one at Intersport (a small privately owned sports marketing agency). My manager at Intersport told me, “If you come here, you’ll be in the field, traveling and be exposed to opportunities you never could have imagined.” So, I took a leap and moved to Chicago. At Intersport, I worked with the Duke Men’s Basketball Team, the NCAA Final Four and the US Open which really kick-started my career in athlete relations.?

A fun fact I don’t share often is early in my career, I started a side hustle - a video podcast with one of my friends that was by women and for women. From being the on-air talent to pitching agents and guests to editing, it was definitely scrappy but there was clear passion in what we were doing. Eight years ago, I would not have predicted the growth and success of women’s sports. It was such a passion of mine then, and I’m so fortunate to be able to continue working in the women’s space now at Overtime.?

I look back on these experiences and web of relationships I’ve built and it’s truly helped guide me throughout my career. From that video podcast to now being with Zia Cooke throughout her WNBA draft week to watching NIL take over women’s sports to walking into a room with Paige Bueckers and her saying “Sasch, I didn’t expect to see you…so excited that you're here” - it’s all very fulfilling. I can honestly say, never did I expect my career to go in this direction, nor did I know my job existed when I was in college, but the people and experiences I had in my early development have helped me navigate into the person and business professional I am today.?

If you could teleport anywhere right now, where would it be and why??I love traveling so if I had a superpower it would be teleportation. Right now, if I could go anywhere in the world, I would teleport to Antarctica. A dream of mine is to see and explore all seven continents.?

If you had to eat one meal for one week straight, what would it be and why?Easy - Pizza! No why needed!

James Choi (Financial Planning and Analysis Director)

How has your identity as an Asian man in an industry historically dominated by white males shaped your experience and your approach to your career? My identity as a Korean-American has been a tremendous motivation for me throughout my career.?I prioritize putting my best foot forward and doing more to stand out from others to demonstrate my competence and value in the workplace. Standing out for me involves, but is not limited to, sharing my ideas and visions as long as they have been thoughtfully organized to effectively respond to questions that?may be thrown my way. What I have learned though, especially at Overtime, is that no idea is too small or too big to share because people are willing to listen and collaborate to bring these ideas to life. All of this has led me to where I am today and I am proud to represent my Korean heritage in my workspace and beyond.?

Who (a person) or what (an event or experience) has been a source of inspiration as you've navigated working in sports? I grew up watching and playing sports since childhood and knew that I eventually would want to work in this industry. What truly inspired me was playing in team sports because the mentality of "there is no I in team" has been deeply ingrained in me from a young age to work through any differences and respect the worth and role of each individual player. More so, to be supportive and hold each other accountable whether?we lose or win the game and always be ready to take on the next challenge. This mentality carries into how I approach my own work and is a constant reminder that accomplishing a big task successfully involves a team effort. Being a part of the Overtime Team has been encouraging and keeps me driven to continue to learn and grow.

If you had to eat one meal for one week straight, what would it be and why??Korean BBQ.

What would be your walkout song??All Star - Smashmouth.