In this dynamic episode of Bright Ideas, Jessica Duemig interviews Nina Ligon, a former Olympic equestrian turned startup founder. Nina shares her unique journey from Thailand to Virginia, through Stanford and Yale, and eventually into the startup space, where she's building Generation Sport, a women’s sportswear brand focused on performance and inclusivity. Her insights reveal the intersection of sport, identity, and product design - and the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Listeners will hear how Nina’s personal experiences in gymnastics and equestrian sports shaped her understanding of body confidence and why so many girls leave sports during adolescence. Now, with a human-centered design background and VC and consulting experience, she’s redefining what it means to “fit in” as an athlete - literally and figuratively. She’s not just building clothes - she’s building community, advocacy, and resilience.

The episode closes with real talk about startup life, founder loneliness, the power of in-person connection, and how Nina’s grassroots community work in Oakland sets the foundation for national impact. Whether you’re in the sports business or dreaming of starting your own venture, Nina’s story offers a playbook for impact-led leadership.

Connect!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaligon/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/generation.sportco/

Website: www.generationsport.co

About Nina

Nina is a 2012 Olympic Equestrian athlete and the Founder of Generation Sport, a women's activewear brand built for athletic bodies. She made history as Thailand's first female Equestrian Olympian and is a 2007 SEA Games Double Gold Medalist and 2010 Asian Games Silver Medalist. Since retiring from Equestrian sport, Nina has designed products for Headspace, consulted for F500 companies with BCG, and invested in Pre-Seed/Seed companies at Cowboy and DRF. She holds a BS from Stanford's Mechanical Engineering program and received her MBA from Yale School of Management.

#GenerationSport, #WomensSports, #AthleticApparel, #SportsBusiness, #Olympian, #StartupStory, #FemaleFounders, #BodyConfidence, #BrightIdeasPodcast, #InclusiveDesign, #WomenInSports, #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Bright Ideas, Jess sits down with Nick Carparelli - Executive Director of Bowl Season and one of the most respected figures in college football. From humble beginnings as a recruiting coordinator at Syracuse to working under Bill Belichick and later rebranding Bowl Season from the ground up, Nick shares the strategic mindset and leadership philosophy that carried him through multiple “dream jobs.” He offers powerful advice for young professionals in the sports world: success isn’t linear, and the right job at the wrong time can still be the wrong job.

The conversation uncovers how Bowl Season evolved into a national brand recognized across ESPN’s broadcasts and embraced by 45 bowl games nationwide. Nick explains how he assembled a lean but high-performing team, established strong industry partnerships, and championed a unified post-season identity. He also reflects on the unique challenges of operating with a small staff in a billion-dollar ecosystem and why branding - even something as small as a crawl on ESPN - can redefine relevance.

Beyond the Xs and Os of operations and branding, this episode delivers a real-world masterclass in mentorship, work ethic, and self-awareness. Nick and Jess discuss the importance of passion, resilience, and authenticity - whether you’re an intern chasing your first opportunity or a veteran executive steering a national brand. A must-listen for anyone dreaming of a meaningful career in sports.

#CollegeFootball, #BowlSeason, #SportsBusiness, #SportsCareers, #FootballLeadership, #BrightIdeasPodcast, #JessDuemig, #NickCarparelli, #SportsIndustry

In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig dives deep with Scott Glaser, Executive Director of ESPN Events' Gasparilla Bowl, on how his journey from a student-athlete at USF to running major national events has shaped his leadership and operational style. Glaser shares how his early days playing baseball laid the groundwork for a career focused on perseverance, logistics, and building lasting relationships. Through humorous and heartfelt anecdotes, he highlights how key mentors and moments guided him into the world of sports event management.

Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into producing the Gasparilla Bowl—from team hospitality and fan experience to managing corporate partnerships and executing creative game-day activations. Glaser also discusses how ESPN encourages local engagement to make each event community-focused and nationally relevant, and he shares what it’s like building something unique in a crowded landscape of bowl games.

The conversation wraps with an exploration of the Clearwater Invitational, ESPN’s premier women’s college softball tournament. Glaser explains how this event exemplifies growth in women’s sports, regional economic impact, and the importance of elevating female athletes on a national platform. Throughout the episode, one theme stands out: relationships are everything. For anyone looking to work in sports or move up in the business, this episode is an inspiring playbook on how to do it right.