Published March 21, 2023
Sports Business, Women’s Studies, and the Future of an Industry
Bella Carino is a lifelong sports fan. Still, it wasn’t until she came to NYU that she realized how her career might help female athletes. “There’s a need for more support for women’s sports,” the Los Angeles native explains. “I want to help female athletes build the necessary platforms to take advantage of opportunities for brand deals, sponsorships, and everything else typically offered to men.” With a self-designed concentration in sports business and women’s studies at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Bella is building an excellent knowledge base. Recently, she interned in the NBA’s global partnerships department, gaining even more practical experience. Without a doubt, she’s building a solid foundation to meet her goals.
Finding Flexibility and Freedom at NYU
Bella began her journey at NYU as a Media, Culture, and Communication (MCC) major at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. “MCC is a cool, well-rounded major,” she says. “But I realized I wanted to narrow my focus.” Subsequently, she transferred to Gallatin and created her own concentration in sports business and women’s studies. “One of the great things about NYU is the flexibility and freedom you have here. It was so easy to transfer to Gallatin. Once I was in, I was able to combine my interests and take the courses I was most interested in.”
Learning from the Experts
What course most impacted her thinking so far? She’s quick to answer Baseball as a Road to God. Dr. John Sexton, who was previously president of NYU, teaches the course. Every week the class of just six students read books about baseball and religious theory and wrote essays on how the texts intersected. “It made me realize there is more to the sports industry than meets the eye,” Bella says. What’s more, the class had the chance to be part of Major League Baseball’s upcoming documentary on the course.
In addition, Professor David Cooper encouraged Bella by sharing feedback about where she might make an impact in the field of sports management. He also helped review her résumé and cover letters for internships. “What makes NYU unique is that many of the professors have wide networks of connections, right here in New York City. They’re passionate and genuinely want to help, so you can tap into networks that wouldn’t be available to you anywhere else,” says Bella.
Gaining Experience Across her Field
During her time at NYU, Bella’s résumé has grown with nearly a dozen internships and part-time jobs. For example, she’s spent time with the Creative Artists Agency, Major League Baseball, the New York Jets, and NYU’s hockey team. “Gallatin encourages you to have valuable work experience, which means you put what you learn in class into real, day-to-day situations,” she says.
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