Shahryar Shahamat
Carrie Skillman
Vice President, Scout Sports and Entertainment
Born: Trenton, Mich.
Education: Central Michigan University, B.S., business administration
When Carrie Skillman was entering the professional workforce in 2005, diving into the sports industry was never on the top of her mind, much less eventually becoming a leader at a high-profile sports marketing agency.
Skillman, now with Scout Sports and Entertainment, began her career working on an auto dealer account at a Detroit marketing firm. She was a sports fan but didn’t think of it as a professional pathway until she saw an opening with the Chicago Fire. Her agency experience intrigued the MLS team enough to hire her in 2007, and Skillman immediately knew sports was her calling.
“I loved it from the get-go and realized that I never wanted to leave,” she said.
Skillman’s eventual journey to Scout came after a stint with Momentum Worldwide, which helped strengthen her brand-building power. Scout was only about 2 years old in 2012 when Skillman joined, affording her a great opportunity to make her mark.
“I found Scout at the perfect point,” she said. “And we’ve been able to grow together.”
Skillman has been instrumental in many of Geico’s league-level official partnerships while guiding Scout’s sponsorship teams. She is monitoring how brands change philosophy in the sports betting space and how that affects her team at Scout. — David Rumsey
Getting to know...
Favorite day-off activity: When I take time away from the office I like to travel. Nothing is more rewarding than to experience new places, from the history to the culture and, of course, the food.
Guilty pleasure: Still love listening to boy bands from the ’90s.
Something your friends would consider "so you": Making to-do lists.
Attribute I look for when hiring: Culture fit.
Woman in sports business you’d like to meet: Billie Jean King. She’s an icon in our industry for her determination and passion to demand equal rights and inclusion, paving the way for female athletes everywhere.
Role of sports in social issues: Adidas says it best: “Through sports, we have the power to change lives.” Sports has the ability to unite people and communities, transcending all social, political and ethnic barriers. Whether you’re a league, team, athlete or brand, sports offers a platform to promote positive social responsibility and change in our world.
