PROFESSIONAL
What I like …
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Before becoming a professor, Stroman played and coached college basketball.
Photo: KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL
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■ An insight: Everybody has a story. Most people don’t take the time to listen.
■ An influential person in my career: Dr. Joseph DeSimone, innovative scientist and diversity champion.
■ An out-of-the-box idea: One game a year each pro team provides lower-level seating at a significant discount to mentors who bring their mentee.
■ A timeless idea: Giving thanks to those who have helped you along the way.
■ A business deal: Venus Williams negotiates for pay equity at Wimbledon.
Deborah Stroman
Director, Center of Sport Business, University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School
■ What I Do: Director, Center of Sport Business, University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
■ Where I’m From: I grew up in suburban Philadelphia (aka Main Line), but now call Chapel Hill, N.C., home.
■ Where I Went to School: B.S., history and social studies education, University of Virginia; M.A., sport administration, University of North Carolina; Ph.D., business, Capella University.
■ My First Job: Cleaning offices in corporate buildings during high school. First industry position: National director of the NCAA’s Volunteers for Youth program.
■ A sports facility: AT&T Stadium.
■ A sports event: College Football Playoff National Championship.
■ A strategy: Invest in students. The return in loyalty, kindness and brain power is priceless.
■ A trend: Athletic departments’ extreme interest in analytics to improve poor game attendance, marketing tactics, and team performance.
■ An innovation: Professional sport teams developing their own sport business education programs.
■ A pro league or team business initiative: NBA D-League.
■ A story that bears watching: Athletes
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Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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with their own venture funds.
■ An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: New York Yankees logo.
■ A fantasy job: All powerful czar of professional, collegiate, and interscholastic girls/women’s basketball.
■ A Thing I teach: “It’s not what you know. It’s not who you know. It’s who knows you on a favorable basis.” Relationships count.
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Stroman and Bill Rhoden with group at CFP title game
Photo: COURTESY OF DEBORAH STROMAN
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What I like about …
■ My job: I can be innovative while working on a variety of exciting projects on campus and beyond.
■ Sports: Competition is character revealing. Can’t hide who you are.
■ Sports business: Titles don’t matter; what value can you add to the team or project?
■ Sports technology: Gives nerds a legitimate and respected place in the industry.
■ Competing: Opportunity to weed out the do-nothing talkers or haters.
■ The future of sports business: Provides a major assist to foster more cultural understanding.
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Joseph DiSimone with President Barack Obama
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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Venus Williams
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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What I would like to …
■ Change in what I do: Increased time to help more students and alumni advance in their career.
■ See: Less polarization of U.S. citizens in our democracy.
■ See more of in sports business: More African-Americans with control over a budget.
■ See less of in sports: Broadcasters who think they are more important than the players or the game.
■ See less of in sports business: Championship athletes refusing to go to the White House.
■ See different: More universities valuing sport business curricula.
■ Eliminate: NCAA DI WBB Final Four on the same weekend of MBB Final Four
PERSONAL
What I Like …
■ That would surprise those who know me: I own a luxury massage chair.
■ Above all else: People who look out for the underrepresented who lack access and voice.
■ About myself: I state daily affirmations to stay positive and bolster my creative nature.
■ Heroes/Heroines: God.
■ Players: LeBron James, Serena Williams, Walt Frazier, and Wilma Rudolph.
■ Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Charlotte Hornets, N.Y. Yankees.
■ City: Athens, Greece.
■ Possession: Cross given to me by my mother.
■ Memento: Refrigerator magnets from trips.
■ Music: Gospel and jazz.
■ Books: Leadership, positivity, and history genres.
■ Authors: Maya Angelou, John Maxwell, James Baldwin, Daniel Goleman, Seth Godin, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alice Walker.
■ Websites: ESPN, SBJ, SportTechie, ESPN The Undefeated, and Reuters.
■ Chores: Vacuuming and washing dishes.
■ Hobbies: Playing basketball (National Senior Games), reading, and traveling.
■ Trips: Greece, South Africa, Dominican Republic and Hong Kong.
■ Movies: “E.T.,” “Remember the Titans,” “42,” “12 Angry Men,” “Crash,” “Midnight Express,” “Good Will Hunting,” “Spotlight” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.”
■ Artist (musical): Bob Marley; John Legend; Earth, Wind and Fire; Jill Scott; and Adele.
■ Food: Italian and Mediterranean cuisines, vegetarian dishes, green vegetables.
■ Dessert: Cookies and Cream ice cream.
■ Vacation spots: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic; Virgin Islands; Tampa.
■ Cars: Lexus SUV and Mazda Miata.
■ Quote: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all,” Aristotle.
