Student Organization Spotlight: Sports Business Initiative
Tyler Jones, President of SBI.
The Fowler College of Business is highlighting the Sports Business Initiative (SBI), a student organization that is helping students prepare for a career in the sports industry. SBI plans weekly meetings with guest speakers from various sports organizations and holds an annual Sports Business Summit at Petco Park. Tyler Jones (Senior, Management), President of Sports Business Initiative describes how SBI helps members build their network, shares why students interested in sports should join, and more!
About the Sports Business Initiative (SBI)
Q: What is the goal/objective of the Sports Business Initiative?
Our mission is to offer students interested in sports business the opportunities to network, professionally develop, and grow.
Q: What events, gatherings, and activities does your organization host?
SBI holds general body meetings every Thursday where we have a guest speaker from a different sports team or organization talk about how they have been successful in the industry. This year we will be having speakers from the Padres, Wave, Gulls, SDSU Athletics, and many more. Our biggest event of the year is our Sports Business Summit that is held at Petco Park. We also hold social events, play intramurals, and go to SDSU games together.
Q: Why should students join your organization?
SBI is the ideal organization for any sports fan! We are able to provide valuable information about the sports industry from successful sports business professionals working for a wide range of organizations. While all of us strive to work in the sports industry, we are all always fans of the game at heart. We watch games together, play intramurals, and may even partake in a little friendly trash talk surrounding our favorite teams. It is an amazing balance of work and play!
Padres Event Crew that consists of 7 current and former SBI members.
Q: How can a student get involved with your organization?
Join our Slack! There are many different ways to get involved with SBI, and the easiest way to keep track of them is by being in our Slack channel. The link to join our Slack is in our Instagram bio. Students can also get involved by attending our meetings or social events, playing intramurals with us, or simply following our Instagram @sbisdsu.
Q: How does your organization connect with the community outside of SDSU?
SBI has a big reach within the sports industry in San Diego. Aside from having guest speakers at our meetings every week, many of our current and former SBI members work in the sports industry. The Padres alone have 10 current and former SBI members employed with them. Having this kind of network allows students to have a wide reach outside of SDSU.
Q: When does your organization meet?
SBI meets every Thursday at 6:00 pm in Storm Hall 104.
Q: What are your organization’s social media handles?
@sbisdsu on Instagram.
Q & A with Tyler Jones, SBI President
Q: As a student leader involved with an organization at SDSU, can you share why you got involved and what your experience has been like so far?
Getting involved with SBI was the best decision I’ve made at SDSU. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many great people who have similar values as I do, and learn so much more about the sports industry. I chose to join the SBI Executive Board because I want to be able to share my passion and knowledge of the sports industry with the rest of the SDSU community. I have loved sports my entire life and have felt such a great connection with this organization.
Q: What experience with your organization has been the most impactful?
3 members of SBI and President Tyler Jones at the 2022 Sports Business Summit put on by SBI and Women in Sports.
The 2022 Sports Business Summit at Petco Park has definitely been the most impactful experience so far. Getting the chance to hear from and network with speakers from companies such as the Padres, Gulls, and Fox Sports was an amazing experience. I was even able to network with one of the speakers from Blast Motion and gain an internship with them. Watching the Padres win after was also a big plus!
Q: Why is getting involved on campus important to you?
I believe that college is a time to find out what you are most passionate about, and one way of doing that is putting yourself out there and getting involved. Since college is such a different atmosphere than anything else, It’s important to get involved on campus and find the community that you fit in the most. Getting involved in SBI was the best thing that I’ve done both personally and professionally. I have been able to make many friends in this organization and learn a significant amount about the sports industry that will help me for my future.
Q: What has been your favorite SDSU memory so far?
My favorite SDSU memory occurred this year with the opening of Snapdragon Stadium. I had the opportunity to work the game with JMI Sports and it was so amazing to see SDSU in what felt like a real college football atmosphere. I had the chance to collaborate with so many people that I have gotten to know over the past year, and it was really special to share this memory with all of them. It was also so cool to see everyone come together within the SDSU community to open this stadium and start a new era for SDSU.
Q: What is the best advice you have for future Fowler College of Business students?
As great as a Business Degree from SDSU is, getting involved and being active in the SDSU community is what is going to set you apart going forward. SDSU offers you an amazing opportunity to grow your network and gain valuable experience for your future career. Whether it is getting involved in an organization like SBI, joining Greek Life, or participating in any other extra curricular activities, the experiences you create here will greatly outway the value of your degree.
Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at SDSU?
The best advice that I have received during my time at SDSU is that everything will get done eventually, so be patient and enjoy the moment. I have always been a person who stressed out about needing to get things done, but one thing that I have tried to focus on is enjoying the moment because it only happens once.
Q: What career aspirations do you have following your time at SDSU?
Following my time at SDSU, my goal is to work within the Baseball Operations Department for an MLB team, primarily within Baseball Administration.
The SBI Savages after winning the 7v7 Football IM Championship last winter.
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS
Q: Pancakes or Waffles? Waffles
Q: Instagram or TikTok? Instagram
Q: Favorite band? Brooks & Dunn
Q: Action or comedy movie? Action
Q: Panchos or Trujuillos? Trujuillos
Q: Favorite show to binge watch? Community
Q: Fun Fact? I watched a Pixar movie at Walt Disney Studios two months before it was released.
