Octagon Sports & Entertainment Network CEO Speaks to St. John’s Students

Produced by: Devin Morgan, Class of 2022, M.P.S., Sport Management

February 28, 2022
John Shea and Dave Simms in Conversation

John Shea ’92SVC, Octagon Sports & Entertainment Network Chief Executive Officer (CEO), sat down with Seattle Mariners play-by-play commentator Dave Sims for the first #StormChat Q&A of 2022 on February 9.

Before an audience of more than 100 students and student-athletes in The Little Theater on the Queens, NY, campus, Mr. Shea and Mr. Sims reflected on their career paths, answered students’ questions, and then engaged in a discussion with St. John’s Athletic Director Mike Cragg, who served as the evening’s moderator for the latter portion of the Q&A.

When asked by a student if he had ever thought he would become a CEO, Mr. Shea quickly responded, “Absolutely not! I just hoped to have a career in sports.” He then acknowledged that he had initially considered a career in accounting or law after graduation.

Mr. Shea has worked at Octagon for 28 years. A former Division I Men’s Soccer player at St. John’s, he credits his head coach, David Masur ’03Ed.D., for helping him secure an internship with the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the first to be hosted by the United States.

That year he also joined Octagon and established himself in the company by overseeing their international marketing practices. So far, Mr. Shea said he was most proud of his sponsorship activation projects with BMW and NASCAR.

In 1996, he helped secure a deal with BMW of North America, LLC and the Summer Olympic Games, which were held in Atlanta, GA. He implemented a BMW “Drive for the Cure” awareness campaign in 1997, which raised millions of dollars for the treatment of breast cancer. Specially marked BMWs traveled across America; for every mile, the company contributed one dollar to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

In 2003, Mr. Shea engaged in an activation project with Nextel at its Charlotte, NC-based marketing headquarters based on information that there was crossover interest between Nextel users and NASCAR enthusiasts. Mr. Shea took the time to research NASCAR, and then helped negotiate a 10-year, $750 million deal to create the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Mr. Shea stressed the importance of “understanding your audience” when reflecting on this particular career highlight.

In response to a student question about the process of signing future stars like Washington Spirit soccer player Trinity Rodman, Mr. Shea discussed the difficulty of cultivating relationships with and signing prospective clients. As one of the most successful talent agencies in the world, representing athletes such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Simone Biles, Stephen Curry, and many more, Octagon not only competes with other talent management companies for a client’s attention. Often the player’s parents, siblings, extended family members, and friends play a part in swaying a client’s decision when choosing their representation.

“It’s important to establish a connection with open and honest communication to explain what you can provide for a potential client,” he said.

Mr. Shea explained that the skills associated with participating in Division 1 athletics can be used to excel in the professional work force. “What separates people is the fortitude to persevere through difficult times,” he said.

Asked about the biggest misconception in his industry, Mr. Shea replied, “that you need to be a sports fan to work in sports marketing.” He made it clear that “grit and determination are foundational, noting that he “put very little value in résumés.”

Mr. Shea was asked how students can make the most of their job-seeking pursuits. He recommended that during an informational interview with a company, beyond demonstrating knowledge of their business, “always ask for an introduction to someone else.” He explained that doing so expands the pool of connections and opens up more opportunities. In closing, Mr. Shea urged his audience to “Help us choose you, because everything is a competition.”

Click here to view photos of the event.