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.

Scottie Rodgers has been in the game - literally and figuratively - for over 30 years, and his journey from a student assistant at Alabama to VP of Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is one for the books. In this episode of Bright Ideas, he shares the story of how a last-minute internship turned into a full-time role at the SEC, all while navigating unexpected promotions and high-stakes championship games. His recount of being "baptized by fire" is both inspiring and grounding for anyone aspiring to make a career in sports.

Throughout the episode, Scottie breaks down how he learned to lead by observing others, embracing the unknown, and continuously refining his craft. He offers candid advice to young professionals about embracing humility, learning from mistakes, and understanding the importance of being both a professional and an adult in the fast-paced world of college athletics. His perspective on how diverse, multigenerational teams can create dynamic and effective communications strategies is essential listening for sports execs and newcomers alike.

But perhaps the most touching takeaway comes when Scottie shares a heartfelt story of mentoring a young student who credits him with changing her life. It's a powerful reminder that relationships, consistency, and kindness leave the most lasting impact. Whether you’re working behind the scenes or front and center in sports, this episode offers a blueprint for a fulfilling, legacy-worthy career.

About Scottie

Scottie Rodgers joined the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association staff as Director of Communications in August 2020. He was elevated to Vice President of Communications in March 2024.

No stranger to the Cotton Bowl Classic, Rodgers was a part of the media operations staff for 21 years (2000-19), serving as a team media liaison for 17 games, before joining the staff in a full-time role. His 30+ years working in college athletics has included stops at three NCAA Division I conference offices (SEC, The Ivy League and Sun Belt), the NCAA national office, CBS Sports Digital and Tulane University.

Active nationally, Rodgers has been involved with College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) since 1996. He is the 28th person in the organization's history to receive five or more awards. In June 2025, Rodgers will be inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame, becoming just the 11th Black person to earn induction, and will receive the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award. He was recognized with the organization's 25-Year Award in June 2020 and the President's Award twice in June 2021 and June 2024.

He currently serves as Chair of the CSC Inclusion Committee and oversees and is a co-founder of the CSC Inclusion Fellowship in partnership with the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. He also serves on the organization’s Division I Cabinet (since September 2020), Special Awards Committee (since June 2014) and Black College Sports Information Directors Leadership Council (since June 2015). Rodgers helped create CSC’s Racial and Social Justice Initiative in June 2020. Previously, he served on the organization's Social Committee from 1997-2009 and as Chair of its University Division Football Championship Subdivision Management Advisory Committee from 2010-14.

Rodgers serves on the Executive Board of the Black Sports Professionals North Texas Chapter as the Marketing & Communications Committee Chair and is a current member of National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is also on the advisory board for the Sport and Entertainment Management Program at Trevecca Nazarene University. His previous committee work has included serving on the College Football 150th Anniversary Communications/Public Affairs Committee (2017-19) and the NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Committee (2013-16).

In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig sits down with Mary Ashton Doyle to dive deep into the art of authentic networking, self-advocacy, and building long-lasting professional relationships. From the importance of spanning generations in your network to the fine balance between giving and asking for support, this conversation is filled with actionable insights for anyone at any stage of their career.

Mary Ashton, who plays a key role at FishBait Solutions, shares how her team is shaping the college football sponsorship space - from ESPN Events to the Music City Bowl - and gives us a glimpse into what brands can expect from strategic partnerships in sports.

Whether you're a recent graduate trying to grow your network or a seasoned pro looking for a refresher on relationship-building, this episode delivers. Get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even rethink how you ask for help.

Topics we cover:

• Building a network that spans generations
• Being clear and direct when asking for support
• The myth of “owing” people in networking
• How to champion your circle—and yourself
• Exciting brand and bowl game opportunities in college football

📍 Bonus: Hear about new bowl game sponsorship openings and what it's like to build campaigns around college sports.

🎧 Subscribe to Bright Ideas and don’t miss a moment of inspiration, insight, and smart takes from leaders in the sports business world.

In this inspiring episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig sits down with Emmy Award-winning sports producer Lesley Young to talk about her journey from ESPN staffer to founder of Greyline Media. They explore the realities of working in sports production, the value of relationship-building, and why storytelling is the heartbeat of the industry.

#LesleyYoung, #BrightIdeasPodcast, #SportsProduction, #ESPN, #WomenInSports, #EmmyWinner, #GreylineMedia, #SportsBusiness, #SportsCareers, #Storytelling

Former CPA and now certified executive coach Liz Amenta joins host Jessica Duemig to discuss career transformation, the power of self-awareness, and how coaching drives team performance. This episode is a must-listen for sports business professionals looking to improve workplace culture, increase impact, and avoid burnout.

#sportsbusiness, #executivecoaching, #leadershipdevelopment, #careerchange, #highperformanceteams, #sportsleadership, #womeninbusiness, #coachingculture, #energyleadership, #teamcoaching, #sportsindustryinsights, #careergrowth, #sportsmanagement, #leadershipmindset, #fromcpatoceo

In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Jessica Duemig welcomes Michael Kelly, Vice President for Athletics at the University of South Florida, for a dynamic conversation on leadership, game presentation, and the strategic evolution of USF Athletics. Michael reflects on his diverse background - from launching his career with the Florida Marlins to leading three Super Bowl host committees and helping build the College Football Playoff. With a passion for event experience and game day excellence, Michael emphasizes the importance of building memorable moments for athletes, students, and fans. He also shares how his early love for sports and a career pivot from law led him to pursue a master’s in sports management and ultimately carve out a leading role in collegiate athletics.

The conversation dives deep into the growth of USF’s athletic department, including the launch of new Division I programs like women’s lacrosse and beach volleyball, major facility upgrades, and the long-anticipated on-campus football stadium. Michael outlines how NIL, transfer portal dynamics, and upcoming revenue-sharing changes are reshaping college sports - and how USF is proactively adapting. He also discusses recruiting strategies for staff and coaches, the importance of authenticity and consistency in leadership, and advice for the next generation of sports professionals. Throughout, Michael’s enthusiasm for building a culture of competitive excellence and university pride is evident, making this a must-listen episode for anyone passionate about the business of sports.

NOTES:

- Since recording, USF Softball won the American Athletic Conference Tournament, securing a spot in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. In that Regional, they beat Auburn, but fell to FSU. In a rematch against Auburn, they were knocked out of post-season play.

- USF Men's Track & Field also won their 4th straight American Athletic Conference title.

- The Men's Golf team is Nationals-bound after qualifying for the 5th time in program history.

#ChampaBay is alive and well in green and gold.