Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience is back with a brand new “Women in Sports” series hosted by Kate Foley, President of The EPIC Consulting Group. Join us as we dive into the inspiring stories of four strong women who have made their mark in the sports industry.
In this first episode of the Women in Sports series, Kate sat down with Becky Bonner, Director of Player Development & Basketball Operations at Orlando Magic, currently in her sixth season. A Concord High School graduate, Becky went to play college basketball at both Stanford University and Boston University, followed by a professional basketball career in Europe.
In this episode, Kate and Becky discuss:
- Becky’s responsibilities as Director of Player Development & Basketball Operations
- The entire drafting process for rookies
- The three most important things to come with a job interview
- Advice for young listeners trying to break into the scouting world & sports industry
Becky returned to the United States after retiring from playing in Europe and began transitioning toward a career in basketball operations. She worked on the coaching staff of the University of Maryland and the University of Louisville, then relocated to New York to work for the NBA as part of Basketball Operations International. Becky also assisted USA Basketball and the men’s national team in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. In addition to her work with the Orlando Magic, Bonner is active in the community, participating in various charitable events and initiatives. She also serves as a mentor to young women interested in pursuing careers in sports.
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SHOW NOTES
- Kate’s introduction (1:00)
- What is the most surprising thing Becky has found while working with the Orlando Magic? (3:30)
- How was the transition for Becky switching from the corporate world to the Orlando Magic? (5:20)
- Does Becky ever feel like there’s more pressure to show up to be professional as a woman in sports? (7:00)
- Becky speaks about the entire drafting process for rookies (11:30)
- How many females are on Becky’s team at the Magic? (17:10)
- How did being an athlete help prepare you for your current role? (18:00)
- Does Becky feel like she had an awakening when realized how much really went into running an NBA team? (21:00)
- In her role, does she take opportunities to talk to educate players about thanking staff (22:50)
- What was Becky’s first job interview? And how did that go? (25:30)
- What are the three most important things to come for a job interview with? (26:40)
- What was Becky’s dream job from her athletic side and from her own side (29:20)
- What was Becky’s “AHA” moment? (30:00)
- How does Becky apply the lessons Coach K passed down to her (33:15)
- What is a day in the life like for Becky? (42:30)
- Have you ever experienced a situation at work where you felt discriminated against due to your gender? (45:40)
- What advice do you have for young women in today’s world trying to break into the scouting world and the sports industry in general? (50:20)
- Has Becky ever had a different opinion than her male coworkers (52:00)
- What does Becky have on her agenda for the rest of the day (1:14:20)
- If Becky was not working in sports, what would she be doing? (1:14:45)
- What would Becky say to her 12-year-old self?(1:18:55)
