Pronouns: He/Him/His
Lafayette Degree & Major(s): Bachelor of Arts, Economics
Graduate Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Sport Management, University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Location: Chicago, IL
Title: Director of Finance
Employer: Big Ten Network
Describe what your employer/organization does: The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks. It is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. The network is carried by all the major video distributors across the United States and Canada. It is the ultimate media outlet for Big Ten fans.
Please provide a brief overview of your role: As the Director of Finance I am responsible for helping to provide strategic financial leadership in managing the network’s P&L (Profit & Loss) and cash flows. This takes the form of developing operational budgets, forecasting, long range financial planning, financial modeling, and your traditional accounting close responsibilities.
What gets you excited to go to work each day? What keeps you up at night as you think about the opportunities (or challenges) related to your work? The dynamic nature of college athletics right now, in conjunction with the evolving media space, makes working at a sports network exciting because I am constantly learning. Generally speaking, the challenges and opportunities at a high level for financial professionals working in the sport media space revolve around:
- The legacy model of distribution and the evolution of the “traditional” cable bundle:
a. Fragmentation of Distribution
b. Streaming Economics not being equivalent to linear
c. Power Shift (Tech vs. Traditional Media)
d. Exploring other unique revenue streams - Rights Inflation vs. Monetization Capacity
What key strengths are necessary to be successful in entering this career field? Having the ability to cultivate and foster relationships while still being in tune to every detail of a company’s financials, business model, and strategy goes a long way to being successful. A finance leader should understand and help build the story and strategy behind the numbers.
Is education beyond a Lafayette degree required to pursue this path? No, education beyond Lafayette is truly required but earning my MBA allowed me to broaden skills that have come into play in my current role.
How did your Lafayette experience equip you for success in your career field, especially as an early career professional? Because of Lafayette’s class sizes and the relationships I had with my professors, I graduated with confidence in my ability to communicate, ask questions and challenge things to drive innovation.
What specific experiences during your time at Lafayette made the greatest impact on your professional path? Being a part of the football team and the winter interim study abroad program were the two experiences at Lafayette that changed my life. From a professional perspective, as a result of those experiences, I am able to work with all types of personalities and have a great appreciation for understanding perspectives from all different angles.
As it relates to career exploration and development, what is one thing that you know now that you wish you could go back in time and tell your student self? Be patient, even if you do not have your ideal job right after graduation, take advantage of the current learning opportunities where your feet are. You will be surprised how your career journey fits together and how each step prepares you for what’s ahead without even knowing it at the time.
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing your career field? Be a continuous learner and great communicator.
What strategies, tools, or other efforts do you utilize to find “balance” or reduce your career-related stress? Working out in the morning has been a great way to start my day.
How do you enjoy spending your free time when not at work? My 5-year-old and 8-month-old daughters keep me busy when I am not working.
What was your favorite spot on Lafayette’s campus when you were a student? Gilbert’s, Farinon, Bourger Varsity Football House/Fisher Field, and Watson Courts were a few places where great memories were created during my time at Lafayette.
Would you like to connect with Brandon to learn more about his career path?
Mr. Ellis is happy to connect with students via email or LinkedIn. If you’d like to connect with Brandon by email, please contact your Gateway Career Counselor for details.
