The Sports Umbrella

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun interviews Jadan Randolph, co-founder of Vanguard Maven Group. VMG is a marketing and strategy consultancy that helps teams, leagues and athletes build communities through resonant storytelling, new IP, shows and events across the sports, media and entertainment industries. Jadan discusses differences in women’s sports fandom, Gen Z’s desire for digital-first access and the impact of experiential event...

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun is joined by former Olympians Shannon Bahrke and Doug Lewis. Shannon is a three-time Olympian and two-time medalist in freestyle skiing and Doug is a two-time Olympian and World Championship medalist in downhill skiing. Doug and Shannon share their journeys from making the U.S. Ski Team to competing in the Winter Games, emphasizing the importance of mental toughness as a competitive advantage. They dis...

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun speaks with Isaiah Kacyvenski, a former NFL player and double Harvard graduate, who shares his journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a prominent venture capitalist. Isaiah opens up about sports and academics helping him escape poverty, his experiences playing in the NFL and his venturing into the investment landscape. His investment philosophy is one to be studied, and he has a keen eye for trends in spor...

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun speaks with Drew Sheinman, a founding partner of Brand Velocity Group, about his unique take on private equity and sports investing. Drew discusses Brand Velocity Group's mission of combining profit with purpose, focusing on corporate culture and ensuring employee alignment. He elaborates on their Share the Gains program and how the firm integrates ethical values into their investment strategies. The convers...

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun speaks with Jimmy Roberts, a legendary sportscaster for NBC Sports and, most recently, co-founder and COO of Big Swing Media. Jimmy and Kelly immediately dive into the significance of storytelling in sports, particularly in golf, and how it engages younger and more diverse audiences. Jimmy emphasizes the necessity of keeping personal stories at the forefront. Their conversation then touches on the challenges faced...

In this episode of The Sports Umbrella, host Kelly Okun speaks with Dmitry Popov, Co-founder and CEO of WurQ, a wearable tech startup focused on movement tracking for athletes. Dmitry shares his impressive background and the inspiration behind creating WurQ, emphasizing the unique capabilities of their wearable technology. He discusses the implementation of AI in their system, the diverse applications of their technology beyond fitness, the importance of user feedback in their product d...

Welcome to the first episode of The Sports Umbrella, where host Kelly Okun interviews Craig Brown about NIL, athlete wealth management and more. Craig is the Managing Principal and Founder of the Galway Family Office and a former baseball player. Craig shares insights from his own athletic career and transition to wealth management, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy, planning for early retirement and the intricacies of NIL deals. The discussion also delves into the critical rol...