SPORTS SERIES – This April, we’re casting a spotlight on T. Howard Foundation (THF) alumni who are working and/or pursuing careers in Sports. Each week we will highlight an alumnus who will share their experience(s) working in the industry, how they got started and advice for others interested in pursuing a career in sports.
Denise Dorotheo (THF ’17)
Please describe your role.
Currently, I am the Studio Manager for the North America Creative Studio at DAZN, a global sports streaming company. In this role, I manage the projects for our designers who produce incredible animations, graphics, and illustrations for our social, marketing, and broadcast teams.
What do you enjoy most about your company?
DAZN is an exciting and innovative place to work. I am constantly learning new things about the streaming business and how various sports leagues work due to the company’s global scale.
In what way did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
I have always loved the creative marketing side of sports media and how design and video can really help sports companies establish their brands and communicate both internally and externally. Being involved in the creative process from ideation to creation to delivery of the final product has always been very exciting to me.
How has your affiliation with the T. Howard Foundation influenced your career?
The T. Howard Foundation helped me figure out the direction I wanted to go in with a job in the sports media industry by giving me the opportunity to try out new roles and see what my strengths were. It opened up many doors for me when I was able to intern for Bleacher Report as a T. Howard Foundation intern. From there I was able to go on to work for an NBA team and ultimately find my strengths as a project manager for creative teams before moving on to work for DAZN.
What personal attributes have been essential to your career success?
An ability to solve problems quickly has been essential to a career in the sports industry and is a great skill to have in your personal toolkit. You often have to think on your feet, so it’s important to be able to adjust as needed.
If you were entering this career today, how would you prepare to facilitate entry?
I would remind myself that no role is too small. No matter how you start out in the sports industry, your role is an essential part of the bigger picture and the more you’re willing to do and go above and beyond to contribute, the most success you’ll see in the long run. A lot of people want to be working in the sports industry, so it’s important to be thankful and give every task your all!
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird, I like waking up early to workout, etc. before work so that when I get home after a long day, I can just relax!
How do you re-charge at work?
I like to take walks around the office and chat with coworkers in other departments. Our office also has a ping pong table so that’s a nice way to take a break from staring at the computer!
What’s your favorite sport?
Basketball all the way. I’m a proud Orlando Magic fan!