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Meet Brennan Getchell.
Brennan works in business development at Sportsdigita, a sports technology company that helps teams, leagues, and brands tell better sales stories through interactive presentation software. In a role that blends sales strategy, marketing insight, and relationship building, he works directly with organizations across the sports, media, and entertainment landscape to drive revenue growth.
Brennan's sports career started at Arizona State. As a student in the sports business program, Brennan was exposed early to a perspective that many students do not hear until much later. One of his professors, who had worked in college athletics, emphasized that the sports industry extends far beyond teams and leagues. Agencies, brands, technology platforms, data companies, and consultants all play meaningful roles in the ecosystem. He pushed and advised his students to look beyond the team side of the industry to find the path that was best for them.
Brennan took the advice to heart.
While still in school, Brennan began testing different corners of the industry. During his junior year, he joined BODYARMOR as a Brand Marketing Representative. The company was still growing at the time, and he worked on the ground executing activations across Phoenix and Denver. From sampling events to tournament appearances, he saw firsthand how brands integrate into sports culture and how experiential marketing builds real consumer impact.
At the same time, he pursued a Sponsorship Internship with SponsorUnited. There, he attended professional and collegiate sporting events to collect sponsorship data, analyze broadcast integrations, and study how brands were positioned across in-venue and digital assets. The role gave him a more analytical understanding of sponsorship value and how partnerships are measured behind the scenes.
These experiences were crucial, because by the time he graduated, Brennan had already seen the industry from multiple angles, preparing him to navigate what came next.
Brennan’s Career Path
Brennan landed his first post-grad role in Octagon’s Account Trainee program (the same program I started in). Signed to a year contract, Brenan was working on Toyota activations across the Gulf States region, traveling weekly to major college football games and supporting on-site execution from setup to recap. A demanding position, but as both Brennan and I would attest, an excellent way to kick off your career.
He likely would have stayed and grown within the agency, but when COVID hit, hiring froze and the trainee program concluded, leaving Brennan without a full time opportunity to continue in.
Instead of waiting around for the hiring freeze to be lifted, Brennan pivoted into an Inside Sales role with BSN Sports. There, he was tasked with cold calling high school athletic programs, building online fan shops, and generating new business revenue. It was a shift away from marquee events and brand activations, but it strengthened a different muscle: prospecting, objection handling, and closing - the fundamentals for sales.
Those skills prepared him for a big move, transitioning outside of the sports industry to work at Gartner in a business development role. In his new position, Brennan targeted C-suite executives, sold research and advisory services, and was responsible for sourcing new business revenue within his territory. He progressed into a senior role, mentored new hires, and consistently exceeded quota. It was a smashing success.
For many young professionals, stepping outside of sports can feel like moving away from the goal. For Brennan, it expanded the toolkit. He had the opportunity to develop rapidly, which positioned him to reenter the sports industry with a new confidence.
That opportunity to come back to sports came in the form of Sportsdigita.
What is Sports Tech Sales?
Sports tech sales sits at the intersection of technology, revenue, and the business of sports. Professionals in this space sell software, data platforms, analytics tools, ticketing solutions, sponsorship valuation tools, or presentation platforms to teams, leagues, brands, and agencies. Instead of selling sponsorships or tickets directly to fans, they sell the infrastructure that helps sports organizations operate more efficiently and drive revenue.
The role blends business development, relationship building, and industry expertise. One day might involve prospecting into a professional team’s corporate partnerships department. The next could include demoing a platform to a C-suite executive, building a tailored sales strategy for a league office, or collaborating internally with marketing and product teams to position a solution in a competitive marketplace. Success in sports tech sales requires resilience, curiosity, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of how revenue flows through the sports ecosystem.
Sportsdigita’s DIGIDECK platform helps organizations replace traditional slide decks with interactive, media-rich presentations that better communicate sponsorship opportunities, naming rights packages, hospitality offerings, and ticketing solutions. The platform is widely used across professional sports, giving Brennan the opportunity to work directly with teams and brands while operating from the technology side of the industry and leveraging his B2B sales background.
He joined the organization as a Senior Business Development Representative and later advanced into his current role as Business Development Manager. He now leads strategic revenue growth efforts, identifies and engages high-value accounts, conducts market research to inform go-to-market strategies, and collaborates across sales and marketing functions to expand the company’s footprint.
It is a role that reflects the breadth of his background.
Consumer engagement from BODYARMOR.
Sponsorship data from SponsorUnited.
Agency execution from Octagon.
Sales discipline and enterprise relationships from BSN Sports and Gartner.
All converging at Sportsdigita.
Along the way, Brennan has also been intentional about building visibility within the industry. He began investing time in LinkedIn during college, steadily expanding his network and sharing insights related to sponsorship, sales, and sports marketing. That consistency has helped him build credibility in the space and has made each of these career transitions easier, opening the door for conversations that may not have happened otherwise.
He has accumulated over 16,000 connections, but the number is less important than the habit itself. He treats the platform as an extension of his professional development, a place to learn, contribute, and stay connected to the evolving sports business landscape.
The sports industry is bigger than most students realize. Brennan realized it early, leaned into it, and now he is building his career not on the sidelines, but at the center of how the business actually runs. Pretty damn cool.
Q&A: Landing a job in Sports Tech Sales with Brennan Getchell
Q. You’ve been very intentional about building a personal brand on LinkedIn, and it’s clearly paid off, with more than 16,000 connections today. How did you approach LinkedIn early on, and what advice would you give students or young professionals who want to start building credibility and visibility on the platform?
A. Early in my career, I used LinkedIn to study other people’s paths and explore areas of the sports industry that interested me. Over time, instead of being more than a research tool, it became a relationship-building platform.. eventually leading me to have over 16,000 connections.
Instead of trying to connect with everyone, I focused on being intentional. I connected with professionals in roles and organizations I genuinely admired and engaged with their content in a thoughtful/insightful way.
I also made it a habit to share what I was learning and posting more about day to day experiences.
Examples:
A lesson from a win
A challenge I worked through
An industry trend I found interesting (overview of a cool new brand endorsement deal with the NFL and Lululemon for example)
You don’t need to be an expert to add value. Documenting your growth is often more powerful than trying to sound overly polished.
Advice for students and young professionals:
-Start building your brand on LinkedIn before you feel ready. You don’t need a big title to have a voice.
-Be consistent, not perfect. One quality post per week can separate you quickly.
-Engage intentionally. Commenting thoughtfully on industry leaders’ posts builds visibility faster than just hitting “like.” Offer your own tone and voice!
-Make it about others. Celebrate teammates, mentors, and industry wins... people remember that.
-Play the long game. Opportunities often come from relationships you’ve nurtured for months and even years!
Q. For those interested in pursuing a career in sales within the sports industry, what characteristics and skills matter most? How can students and young professionals start developing those skills before they’re in a full-time role?
A. Sales in sports is competitive, fast-paced, and highly relationship-driven. Talent helps, but the professionals who stand out usually master the fundamentals.
Characteristics that matter most:
-Coachability: Be someone who actively seeks feedback and implements it.
-Resilience: You will hear “no” often. The ability to stay energized is a competitive advantage. It's important to maintain this mindset and be persistent!
-Work ethic: Effort is still one of the biggest differentiators in entry-level roles.
-Emotional intelligence: Understanding people, what motivates them, and what they value is at the heart of selling.
-Confidence without ego: Believe in your value, but stay humble enough to learn.
-Have a positive attitude: put a smile on when you're sending a cold email or cold calling a prospect. It will make your job more enjoyable!
How to start developing these skills now:
-Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Take roles that involve persuasion... fundraising, campus organizations, recruiting, or retail sales.
-Practice communication daily. Strong phone presence and clear writing matter more than most people think.
-Follow + connect with different Sales Leaders on LinkedIn from all industries to learn different perspectives. Listen to how they ask open-ended questions and guide conversations.
-Learn to handle rejection in low-risk environments, so you're prepared for rejections later. Sales is full of overcoming rejections.
-Set personal performance goals (gym, personal health, and more).
Q. You started your post-grad career in sports through a temporary trainee program. What are your thoughts on taking temporary or internship roles to start your career, and how can someone make sure that experience positions them for a full-time opportunity?
A. Temporary roles are often misunderstood. they’re not a step back; (they’re frequently the fastest way into competitive industries like sports). Many organizations in sports use these programs to identify future full-time talent, so how you show up matters far more than a title. Everyone has to start somewhere!
I approached my Octagon Account Trainee role as an extended interview. My mindset was simple: control what you can control: positive attitude, preparation, and effort.
How to turn a temporary role into a full-time opportunity:
-Outwork expectations. Be the person who volunteers for a last minute project, stay prepared, and follow through.
-Be coachable and adaptable. Managers hire people they know will learn quickly and have a growth mindset.
-Build relationships across the organization. Don’t just network upward, your peers often become future decision-makers.
-Ask for feedback early. Then apply it quickly so leaders see your progression quickly!
-Create and adapt effective habits - it will help you stay focused on short term and long-term goals.
-Take Initiative. Early in your career, don’t wait to be told what to do. That’s how you separate yourself quickly.
Key Takeaways
1. There’s more to sports than the team side
Brennan’s path accelerated when he realized the industry extends far beyond teams and athletic departments. Agencies, brands, and tech companies all power the business of sports. Expanding your view of the ecosystem creates more entry points and more leverage long term.
2. Don’t be afraid to step outside of sports
Brennans move to Gartner sharpened his executive communication, pipeline management, and sales discipline. Skills developed outside of sports can strengthen your profile and make you more valuable when you return.
3. It pays to be visible
Brennan consistently uses LinkedIn to share insights and build relationships. That visibility has led to conversations, referrals, and opportunity. You never know who is watching, but showing up consistently gives people a reason to remember your name.
Feeling Inspired? Check out these opportunities.
Closing Thoughts
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of So You Want to Work in Sports. I appreciate you being part of this community.
If you have ideas, feedback, or future guest suggestions, feel free to reach out at [email protected].
If you want more hands-on support as you navigate the start of your career within sports, book a 1:1 session with me here. The sooner you start preparing, the more confident you will feel when opportunities come your way.
Win the week!
-Ethan
Final thoughts from Brennan
Your early career isn’t about landing the perfect title .. It's about building momentum and experience.
Say yes to roles that stretch you and push you outside your comfort zone!
1. Learn fast and don't be afraid to ask questions
2. Focus on stacking skills and building real relationships. If you prioritize growth, the titles will follow.
3. Use the resources around you: Sports Business Ventures, Front Office Sports, Sports Business Journal, industry newsletters, mentors.
Stay curious. Stay consistent. The long-term compounding effect is real. Please reach out to me for any further tips and insight! Connect with me on LinkedIn!
Sports Industry Newsletters + Job Boards:
Sports Industry Professionals to Connect + Follow on LinkedIn:
1. David Meltzer - Founder of Sports1 Marketing and Playbook Podcast.
2. Tony Knopp - CEO of TicketManager
3. Adam White - CEO of Front Office Sports
4. Malcolm Lemmons - Founder of Vetted Sports
5. Joe Pompliano - Founder of Huddle Up
6. Andrew Petcash - Founder of Profluence Sports
Book Recommendations:
1. Connected to Goodness - David Meltzer
2. The Defining Decade - Meg Jay
3. Shoe Dog - Phil Knight
4. Moneyball - Michael Lewis
Connect with me on LinkedIn and reach out for a intro conversation: Brennan Getchell
Link to my current company website: Sportsdigita | DIGIDECK
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