Student Spotlight: Madison Peyser, Sport Mgmt. & Marketing Double Major, Sociology Minor, ’22

Q: OUTSIDE OF CLASSES, WHAT CLUBS/ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN HERE AT ISENBERG/UMASS?

A: Outside of class, I am the Director of Marketing and Social Media on the McCormack Sports Leaders Forum. I maintain the Instagram account and oversee content creation for the forum event and website, while collaborating with the rest of the team to ensure a successful event for our attendees. I am also a Peer Mentor for the Intro to Sport Management course taught by Professor Must.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ISENBERG MEMORY THUS FAR?

A: My favorite Isenberg memory is of the Isenberg Career Fair my sophomore year. I attended the in-person event at the Mullins center, and Isenberg does a great job of having the attending organizations represent all sorts of career paths and majors, providing students with the best networking opportunities.

Q: WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUMMER?

A: This summer I had the opportunity to intern for FOX Sports as an editorial intern. I published editorial content for the FS1 Studio Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and published my personal byline feature to the FOX Sports app and website. I also assisted with coverage for the MLB All Star Game, Olympic Games, and the NBA Draft.

With the amazing networking skills I have been given by my Isenberg professors, I was able to make connections over the summer to land my current internship. This semester I had the opportunity to continue with FOX Sports and am now the NFLonFOX Social Media Intern. I currently manage the @NFLonFox Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook content and design, develop in-game artwork, and create visual and written social media content, including images and copy for @NFLonFOX and @CFBonFOX Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

I am also a Boardroom Brand Ambassador and Editorial Writer for Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s media brand. I research, interview, write, edit, and publish editorial content, while also expanding the Boardroom name and brand here at UMass.

Q: WHAT WAS YOUR PATH TO FINDING YOUR SUMMER INTERNSHIP AT FOX SPORTS?

A: With the networking skills that Isenberg and my professors have instilled in me, I was able to confidently reach out to people in positions that I aspired to be in. I conducted a lot of informational interviews and sent a lot of cold LinkedIn messages. Persistence is key.

Q: WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO PURSUE AFTER GRADUATION? HOW HAS THE CHASE CAREER CENTER HELPED YOU ALONG THE WAY?

A: After graduation I hope to bring my skills and experiences to a professional sports team in social media design and content creation. The Chase Career Center has helped me by providing resources that allow me to perfect my interviewing and resume skills.

Q: HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR OVERALL ISENBERG EXPERIENCE WILL BENEFIT YOU PROFESSIONALLY?

A: My overall Isenberg experience has and will continue to largely contribute to my success. Through my relationship with the Isenberg professors, the amazing courses offered, and the abundance of resources at hand, I have learned so many networking tips and professional skills that can be applied in any professional setting.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR TOP NETWORKING TIP FOR CURRENT STUDENTS? 

A: My top networking tip for current students is to not be afraid to network. Cold calling and emails can be a little awkward, but everyone has been in the shoes of a student before. Most of the time, there is someone who was in the exact same position as you; reaching out and asking questions could be a great way to learn about the industry and the specific position you may want to learn more about.