Today we’d like to introduce you to Walter Holland.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Raised in Sacramento, California, I was introduced to a man who worked for the Sacramento Kings in a position that seemed really cool. After urging from my mom, I got the chance to shadow him for a couple of games and at that time knew that I wanted to work in sports.
I moved across the country to attend Hampton University, where I would major in Sport Management. After completing my Bachelor’s, doing several unpaid internships, and getting my Master’s in Sports Administration with a focus in Organizational Behavior, I got a call from the Sacramento Kings which was my full-circle moment.
Having a growing daughter and working in the WNBA over the last few years, I started to find my sense of purpose. The goal is to use this vehicle that I’ve dedicated so much of my life to – sports, in order to change the life of my daughter who is inherently disadvantaged. After learning the hierarchical landscape of professional sports organizations, I figured out that I’d have to do more in order to get to where I want to be long-term. The trend now is that sports teams are hiring people from sports agencies to run their teams. So, I started a sports agency.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been as smooth as I make it look! I’ve had to endure homesickness, gain experience in a field that doesn’t pay you for the work that you do, and attempt to raise a human being while having to move states away in order to gain that experience.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started a sports agency for my daughter and I that only represents women who are athletes and focuses on giving them a voice and platform to allow them to excel beyond sports. Understanding that sport is a male-dominated field and that the inequities are blatant, we aim to change that through business intelligence, financial literacy, branding, and community.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Follow the steps that are laid out. There has to be someone that you look up to. Look at their path and take the steps necessary to get there.
I knew that I wanted to work in sports, so I looked at job requirements for sports jobs. I first got the degree requirement, then I started to get the experience requirements.
I knew that I wanted to start an agency, so I Google searched “How to start a sports agency”. That lead me to an application process to become certified. I followed those steps. Then I searched “How to start a business”. Followed the steps necessary to legitimize my business, and here I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hollandsportsllc.com
- Instagram: Hollandsportsgroup
Image Credits:
David Sherman
