

From Entry Level To NFL Exec: I Created A Playbook For Women Who Work In Sports
As Told To is a recurring segment on xoNecole where real women are given a platform to tell their stories in first-person narrative as told to a writer.
This is Chanelle Reynolds' story, as told to Charmin Michelle.
I'm often asked how I got to where I am.
Mainly because the sports industry doesn't have many black execs within sports organizations, especially African-American women. Seeing us in this industry, is like seeing a unicorn and because of that, I think people are attracted to my story--which is why I'm always happy to tell it.
If you aren't aware, I am a female executive in one of the most male-dominated industries on this planet. I'm honored to be in my position, to have the opportunity to start and build a department for The Washington Football team. Yes, I'm consistently in daily and weekly board meetings with all departments, each being essential when you work for an organization that employs over 50,000 staff members. I train my team on new projects or initiatives we would like to accomplish. I also contact large corporations to build relationships and invite them to attend our games. Off-season schedule is typically 9-5 however, my in-season schedule varies as I tend to work longer hours on game and event nights.
Ultimately, I'm responsible for creating new and essential relationships with individuals to generate new business opportunities.
Sounds fun, right? A bit exclusive too. But trust, there is a lot of work that goes into this game.
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I was born and raised in the Mid-Atlantic waters of Delaware. Growing up, I always knew I would make an impact in business, someway. How, I wasn't exactly sure. I certainly didn't know I would be working in the sports business, but I always loved going to live sporting events. I remember going to the Sixers games with my dad, and my family and church members. It was so electrifying, so intense. And remember, this was during the A.I. era; I loved the type of player he was. He was so fun to watch and made an impact on sports and culture as a whole. So basically, my fandom gained momentum from here.
I began my career in the NBA G-League as a Ticket Sales Account Executive, where I worked in ticket sales, and which was definitely a grind. Coming in as an entry-level employee for a minor league team gives you a special type of grit and hustle that others may not be able to fathom.
But ultimately, while there, I enjoyed the thrill and decided to have fun with it. A shift came when I started exploring different departments, and building my reputation. I worked with so many amazing individuals and left the organization as a Group Sales Manager. My work preceded me and followed me all the way to being named Delaware's Top 40 under 40 in Delaware Business Times.
This opportunity prepared me for my next position. I knew there was a higher hustle there, I knew I could do more. I knew I could leverage these opportunities, and catapult myself into what was next. Eventually, I transitioned into the NFL, and was hired by The Washington Football Team as the Director of Group Sales, which is the point of where I am now in my career. Everyday, I am lucky enough to lead a team of dynamic and driven sales account executives, feeding and applying everything that I've learned over the years directly into my department, from grinding in the G-League, all the way to literally walking clients down to the field to experience halftime shows up close.
Is it all too much? I would be lying if I didn't say that sometimes it is. Because I've learned that I love people, and I love building relationships, and I love being in the sales department; my job is instinctual. But sometimes that can take its toll. I protect my energy by identifying with a tribe of people that I can be vulnerable with and I also create a safe space within my professional space. Also, I'm very passionate about my faith. So I often lean on prayer and read the bible. This is what keeps me going.
Most importantly, I take true moments of solitude; just reflecting on the journey, thankful for the lessons and being privileged enough to consider my trials and tribulations as a blessing.
And there are plenty of trials and tribulations that I could talk about for days, which I'm always willing to share. With being a black woman working in the industry, I'm often asked for advice on how to navigate, and how to stand out, and honestly, I could offer up gems and hacks for days.
So, my best advice lies here:
- You need a mentor and you need to be vocal, but also connect with as many people as possible. This is a relationship industry.
- The industry is a lot smaller than you think. Try not to burn bridges with colleagues or employers. You want people to respect you based on your reputation and if you have a bad reputation, then it might not work out in your favor.
- Work ethic and integrity will trump what you see on how to be successful in the TV shows.
- I know it's not popular, but Linkedin is your friend.
- This industry gives you no time to process emotions or inconveniences. I was once pooped on by a bird while on-field with clients. Push through, even during the poopy moments.
But mostly, it is absolutely imperative that we know our individual limits, take a step back and regroup. Be in complete control of your calendar and your day.
For example, during football season I slow down on my "side hustle" endeavors because I know there won't be too much time for that. I decline speaking engagements, etc. It's important that we understand our limits.
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In the end, I just want the world, specifically black women, to understand that no matter who they are, what they look like, or what statistics say, success is at your fingertips. Whatever you want to do you can do it. Take a leap of faith, develop a strategy and hit the ground running...as if you have a football.
Chanelle recently launched Hustle University, a series of master classes, webinars and coaching calls that teaches entrepreneurs how to be successful in their career and personal life. She also operates The Reynolds Group, and is the author of The Success Playbook. For more information, visit her website or follow her on Instagram at @chanellesreynolds.
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
From Cardi B To Mary J. Blige, Meet The Woman Behind Your Favorite Celebrity's Glam Team
What would you do if you just got laid off from your corporate job and you had a serendipitous encounter with someone who gave you the opportunity of a lifetime? Tamara Taylor was faced with that decision in 2013 after she was let go from her sales profit and operations coach job in the restaurant industry and met a then-up-and-coming stylist, Law Roach, on a flight to L.A. She and Roach struck up a conversation, and he shared how he was looking for someone to run his business and was impressed by her skills. While she took his business card, she was unsure if it would lead to anything. But, boy, was she wrong. Two weeks later, after packing up her home to move back to her hometown of Chicago, she called Roach; he asked if they could meet the following day, and the rest is herstory.
Taylor founded Mastermind MGMT, an agency that represents some of Hollywood’s best “image architects” like Roach, Kellon Deryck, and Kollin Carter, who are responsible for creating unforgettable style and beauty moments for celebrities like Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Taraji P. Henson, and more. Taylor and her company possess an array of functions, but her biggest role is to be her client’s advocate. We hear endless stories about how creatives aren’t paid or underpaid in the entertainment industry, but Taylor ensures that her clients get their piece of the pie. The entrepreneur opened up about her company and her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“I always say that I'm an artist advocate first, deal closer second. So my primary focus is to just make sure that the artist is getting everything that they deserve, whether it's compensation or, you know, certain accommodations, but just making sure that they have everything that they need to be able to show up and provide the best service that they're hired for,” she explained.
“So you know, in the beginning, it was hard because I didn't have any experience, and the artists who I was working with at the time–we were learning together, meaning neither of us had assisted anyone. We didn't have mentors in our specific fields. So every deal was like a new learning experience for us from the styling side and also from the business side, and so it took, you know, doing some research, using some very creative tactics, to find out information in the industry and just starting to request accommodations that I knew other artists were granted, who maybe didn't look like my artists.”
Photo by Christopher Marrs
Ten years later, there’s still not many people who are doing what Taylor is doing. However, things have gotten easier thanks to the research and connections she made in the beginning. During Mastermind MGMT’s ten-year anniversary celebration, she announced her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on helping young entrepreneurs through a 12-week program. The program is divided into “two routes.” The first route is for aspiring creative artists who want to start a business from their talent and all the things they need to learn about business, such as taxes, life insurance, etc. The second route is for practicing creative artists who are already in the industry but need resources such as how to plan for retirement or how to sustain themselves if they can’t work for a short amount of time, i.e., the pandemic.
“I just feel that I'm able to have a business and be successful because of their art as well. And so there are things that I know, I tried to teach it to them but understanding that I can only do so much because I'm not a subject matter expert in those fields,” she said. “So I at least want to be able to provide the resources, and then if they make their grown decision not to do it, then that's on them. But you know, I could be guilt-free and taking advantage of the resources that I'm also providing to them.”
Taylor continues to be an innovator in her industry by always pushing the boundaries of creativity and thinking one step ahead of everyone else. The Chicago-bred businesswoman is moving into the tech space thanks to a new invention created with her clients in mind, and she is looking forward to bigger collaborations in the future. Follow Mastermind MGMT on Instagram @mastermind_mgmt for more information.
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Feature image by Christopher Marrs