Jennifer van Dijk
Age: 39
Company: Wasserman Media Group
Title: Senior vice president, digital
Where born: Cleveland
Education: Mount Holyoke College (B.A., political science)
Family: Partner, Nancy
Favorite way to unwind: Flying — helicopter or drone.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I’ve ever done: Climbed Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio with some colleagues the day after researching raves all night for a client — although some may consider flying a helicopter and turning off the engine in midair to practice autorotations (safe landings) rather adventurous.
Person in the industry I’d most like to meet: Gary Bettman.
If I could change jobs with anyone for a day, it would be: Elon Musk. The visionary position he is in is truly unique in our time.
2015 will be a good year if: I get to keep working with awesome clients like we have today.
My fellow Forty Under 40 class members would be surprised to know that I: Am very close to having my private helicopter license and am an avid pilot.
WASSERMAN MEDIA GROUP
ennifer van Dijk has found some interesting parallels between her job at Wasserman Media Group, where she is one of the agency’s digital experts, and her thirst for adventure. When she’s not climbing a mountain or piloting a helicopter out of a free fall, van Dijk is exploring the new frontiers of the evolving sports digital space, where she might be working on the latest in wearable technology, or how to use location sensors — or even drones.
{podcast}
SBJ Podcast:
Forty Under 40 editor Mark Mensheha and Executive Editor Abraham Madkour discuss this year's class, some of the more interesting stories in it and how the selection process works.
And oh the things that qualify for digital these days.
“There’s so much that’s new and cutting edge,” van Dijk said.
One day, van Dijk might find herself working with high-tech companies on ways to take their products into the sports space. Other days, she might be working with one of Wasserman Media Group’s many team or league clients on how to monetize their digital rights across social, mobile and Web. It’s a job that propels her across many aspects of the agency.
“I have truly found adventure in this job,” said van Dijk, who joined Wasserman in 2008 after nine years at IMG. “Sports business these days can be pretty thrilling.”
The thrills don’t stop away from work. She’s closing in on qualifying for a helicopter operator’s license after taking lessons at Long Beach Airport.
“A few years ago, I decided to learn something mechanical,” she said. “It was either going to be race cars or helicopters.”
Part of the training includes how to respond to engine failure: how to save the helicopter and safely get it on the ground. At work, though, she’s more accustomed to getting projects off the ground.
“I think this is the best time to be working in sports business, with all of the technology and opportunities,” she said.
— Michael Smith
