Pronouns: He/Him
Lafayette Degree & Major(s): Bachelor of Arts, History
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Title: Director, Strategy
Employer: United States Soccer Federation
Describe what your employer/organization does: United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) is a non-profit organization and the official governing body of soccer in the United States. It is a member of FIFA and governs American soccer at the international, professional, and amateur levels, including 27 national teams which represent the United States in global competitions.
Please provide a brief overview of your role: My role involves building and maintaining relationships with critical external groups, including professional soccer leagues and clubs, as well as other governing bodies such as FIFA, CONCACAF, and U.S. Soccer members, to align efforts and drive collective goals for soccer in the U.S. I also work across several internal U.S. Soccer business units to manage and deliver key initiatives aligned with U.S. Soccer’s strategic priorities and long-term goals.
What gets you excited to go to work each day? From amateur games in the park to the highest levels of professional soccer, this sport provides so many unique opportunities for players, coaches, referees, parents, fans, and everyone else who experiences the game. U.S. Soccer has committed itself to be in service to soccer and to ignite a national passion for the game and elevate its power to unite, inspire, and uplift. Being involved in projects and initiatives that have the ability to fundamentally change the sport in this country is an incredible opportunity and is one of the many reasons I’m 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 work that my colleagues and I do is driven by three generational ambitions. The first is we want to win major tournaments, including World Cups. The second is we want everyone to feel ownership of soccer’s future in the U.S. And, the third is we want soccer to be the #1 played sport in every community across America. These ambitions are absolutely achievable but will require a tremendous amount of work over the next several years. While I wouldn’t say it keeps me up at night, we definitely have our work cut out for us to achieve these goals!
What key strengths are necessary to be successful in entering this career field? I think having outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, and emotional intelligence are absolutely necessary as this role requires the ability to interact with several different stakeholders and leaders inside and outside of the organization. It also helps to be comfortable working within ambiguity because often times, there isn’t a clear roadmap for the work ahead.
Is education beyond a Lafayette degree required to pursue this path? As someone who didn’t pursue education beyond Lafayette, I don’t think it is!
How did your Lafayette experience equip you for success in your career field, especially as an early career professional? Without a doubt, Lafayette equipped me with several key skills including communication and problem-solving skills which I benefit from every day. Also, by taking a liberal arts curriculum I often found myself in classes with subject matter that was new to me. I had to use a broad set of skills to find the answer and this is something I still do today.
What specific experiences during your time at Lafayette made the greatest impact on your professional path? I walked onto the football team as a kicker and was on the team throughout my four years. As a walk-on I was pretty far down on the depth chart but it had such an impact on who I am as a person and a professional. Mental toughness, choosing to have a positive attitude, focusing on the big picture, and being selfless are all things I learned from that experience that have helped me on my career path.
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? I would stress to my student self that careers don’t have to be linear and you might find yourself in a role or at a company you didn’t anticipate, and that’s ok. I remember thinking that if I didn’t find the perfect role right out of college, I wouldn’t have the foundation needed for the next role, the role after that, and so on. What I’ve realized is that it’s impossible to predict what’s next so you should instead focus on pursuing something that makes you excited and gives you experiences you are proud of. Students leaving Lafayette will already have an impressive toolbox of skills. Each new role you take on will allow you to add new skills to that toolbox and to continue growing and being a well-rounded and effective professional.
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing your career field? The sports industry is incredibly vast and includes careers with leagues, teams, agencies, governing bodies, major events as well as many other organizations. Sports as a business has also grown significantly even from my time at Lafayette with ever-rising broadcast deals across almost every league and growing pro team valuations. As a result, there is more interest in the sports industry than ever before. I think it’s especially important for someone looking to enter this field to be able to find a specific skill or tell a story about themselves that is unique and allows them to stand out. For example, being passionate about leveraging sports to impact a local community or using sales skills to drive revenue as you develop new relationships with clients. Being passionate about sports is great, but what is the layer beneath that will help you stand out?
What strategies, tools, or other efforts do you utilize to find “balance” or reduce your career-related stress? I try my best to stay consistent with working out. I find that my most productive days are the ones where I find time to work out, usually a run. Prioritizing sleep is a must as well.
How do you enjoy spending your free time when not at work? My wife and I love to travel and we’ve ticked off some great destinations so far including Costa Rica, France, Colombia and Thailand. We’re seemingly always planning our next trip.
What was your favorite spot on Lafayette’s campus when you were a student? I’ll always have fond memories of my senior house on McCartney Street!
Would you like to connect with Mr. Garner to learn more about his career path?
Mr. Garner is happy to connect with students via LinkedIn or email. If you’d like to connect with Mr. Garner by email, please contact your Gateway Career Counselor for details.
