Redbirds Making it in the Big Leagues

NORMAL, Ill. – Redbird Alumni Brian Weber recently came back to his alma mater at Illinois State University to provide students with aspirations of working in the world of sports with an idea of what the industry is like.

“When I was looking to graduate I really didn’t know where I was going to end up,” said Weber. “It was definitely difficult at first, but I knew all it would take was that one opportunity to capitalize on all the skills I knew I had.”

Weber graduated from ISU this past spring and was able to land a job with the Chicago Bulls as an Inside Sales Representative. He credits his time here at ISU as being invaluable to his job search and making him more attractive as an applicant.

“I learned so much here during my time at ISU,” said Weber. “The things I learned through ISU athletics and through my professors really set me apart from my peers.”

Weber spoke with Sports Business Society, an RSO which he worked to found alongside some of his friends who were passionate about being involved in sports.

“We really founded this with the goal of giving people an opportunity to decide if they wanted to be in sports as a career,” said Weber. “It really is a great place which has given me and a lot of former members of the organization a chance to connect with sports professionals and make some really great connections.”

Weber attributes this experience as well as his many internship opportunities at ISU to his smooth transition into the workforce. Weber current job duties include promoting ticket packages to clients looking to become season ticket holders or buying exclusive guest experiences at the United Center, among various other tasks that come with his entry level position.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Weber to listeners at the SBS panel. “We got to sit courtside for team warmups for the preseason and that was really when it started to set in for me. I really just want you guys to know that this can be something you eventually do too if you put your mind to it.”