Bryan Lodigiani '05
Vice President, Business Strategy & Analytics at Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Economics
Vice President, Business Strategy & Analytics at Tepper Sports & Entertainment
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do right after graduating college other than doing something that utilized what I learned being an Economics major at Middlebury. During that first job though out of college, I realized how important it was to really think through what you want in your career. That really drove me to business school to assess what is else is out there. And then after getting a flavor of different opportunities, I asked myself about what my real passion is - it always came back to sports. I used the last 10 years of my career pivoting myself towards a career that follows my passion.”
Tell us what you do.
I created a group a few years ago after new ownership bought the Carolina Panthers that helps the organization make more effective decisions across all verticals of the business which includes ticketing, partnerships, marketing, and operations. Besides the Carolina Panthers of the NFL, we also oversee the MLS’s newest expansion team Charlotte FC and stadium events at Bank of America Stadium. We help drive more effective decisions by bringing data, insights, and strategic thinking to business problems, almost like an internal consulting group.
What have you done since Middlebury?
I spent four years at a healthcare focused capital markets investment bank called Cain Brothers in New York City, working alongside several other Midd alums. I then went onto business school at Dartmouth to explore different career opportunities where I found strategy consulting. The idea of helping different types of businesses with different types of business problems was really interesting to me, almost like an apprenticeship for business school, so I spent my summer internship and eventual first 3 years out of business school at L.E.K. Consulting in Boston. I liked the work I did in consulting and wanted to combine it with a passion of mine which is sports (I played both football and baseball at Middlebury) and had the opportunity to join Under Armour in Baltimore, MD where I spent 6 years in different corporate strategy roles and also forming the organization’s first Global Pricing Strategy & Analytics group. At that point, I wanted to try to take my passion for sports to an actual team and an opportunity at Tepper Sports & Entertainment (parent company of the Carolina Panthers) came up to start the organization’s first Business Strategy & Analytics Team. This was a dream opportunity I couldn’t pass up and I joined TSE in early 2020.
How has your major influenced your life after graduation?
Being an economics major at Middlebury, I learned so much, and not just hard facts in textbooks but also other skills that have proved valuable in my career. Things like how to think thoughtfully about a business problem, how to make a convincing argument, and the importance of realizing multiple viewpoints or parts of the organization when considering the best path forward. While there are fundamental economic principles being an Economics major at Middlebury helped me learn, it were these other, more intangible aspects of the major that have really helped me throughout my career as the world and its problems change so frequently.
When did you know which major you were going to choose?
I actually began my time at Middlebury on a Biology and Economics major track! About halfway through my sophomore year though, I realized that I would be better served to focus all of my attention and energy towards one. I always loved business and working with numbers so the Economics path was a natural fit for me.
How did you decide what career path you wanted to pursue after graduating?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do right after graduating college other than doing something that utilized what I learned being an Economics major at Middlebury. During that first job though out of college, I realized how important it was to really think through what you want in your career. That really drove me to business school to assess what is else is out there. And then after getting a flavor of different opportunities, I asked myself about what my real passion is - it always came back to sports. I used the last 10 years of my career pivoting myself towards a career that follows my passion.
Finally, what advice or suggestions do you have for current students as they consider their post-Middlebury futures?
Its sound cliche but think about what you are passionate about and which careers align with these passions. Careers are long but life is short - you don’t want to spend your entire career doing something that you doesn’t light you up. But don’t put too much pressure in your first years out of college thinking you have to completely nail finding the perfect job. Prioritize getting really diverse experiences early in your career to help you figure this out and use your network to find out what else is out there. Be patient - it’s never a straight line and make sure you are enjoying the journey. It also helps having a great support network along the way. One of my biggest supporters is my wife Whitney, also a Middlebury alum!
Connect with Bryan on Midd2Midd