Staying in the Game
What do DEI efforts look like in the sports and entertainment industry? How do mandates like the NFL's Rooney rule impact diversity and inclusion at the highest levels of leadership? And what priorities should minorities looking to break into sports and entertainment consider? On this episode of the DEI Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Black alumni leaders in the sports and entertainment industry from “Staying in the Game,” a sports and entertainment panel hosted by the Notre Dame Black Law Students Association, and moderated by Jackie Wilson ’07 J.D., Chief DEI Officer for the Brooklyn Nets.
Listen to the Episode
Presented by Notre Dame Law School
Monday, September 11, 2023 8:00 am
What do DEI efforts look like in the sports and entertainment industry? How do mandates like the NFL’s Rooney rule impact diversity and inclusion at the highest levels of leadership? And what priorities should minorities looking to break into sports and entertainment consider?
On this episode of the DEI Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Black alumni leaders in the sports and entertainment industry from “Staying in the Game,” a sports and entertainment panel hosted by the Notre Dame Black Law Students Association, and moderated by Jackie Wilson ’07 J.D., Chief DEI Officer for the Brooklyn Nets. Tune in to hear from:
- Max Siegel ’86, ’92 J.D., CEO of USA Track & Field
- Mickey Carter ’92 J.D., Executive Vice President, U.S. Networks Distribution for Paramount Global
- Ndidi Massay ’93 J.D., Vice President of Workplace Culture & Diversity Initiatives for CBS Sports
- Raghib “Rocket” Ismail ’94 B.A., former NFL wide receiver
- Jonathan Beane, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the NFL
The DEI Podcast with Max Gaston is sponsored by Notre Dame Law School and co-sponsored on ThinkND by the Black Alumni of Notre Dame, the Alumni Rainbow Community of Notre Dame (ARC ND), YoungND, Native American Alumni, Notre Dame Women Connect, Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Senior Alumni, and Asian Pacific Alumni of Notre Dame. Register to receive emails about upcoming episodes of The DEI Podcast.
MoreMeet the Speakers
Moderator: Jackie Wilson ’07 J.D., Chief DEI Officer for the Brooklyn Nets
As Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Jackie Wilson oversees DEI and social justice related strategies and initiatives for BSE Global properties including Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets, the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League and NetsGC of the NBA 2K League as well as the New York Liberty. He spearheads BSE’s Diversity Council, Employee Resource Groups, the Brooklyn Nets United Games platform and collaborates to provide a DEI lens to departments across the company. Jackie also developed BSE Global’s Supplier Diversity Program, which creates opportunities for local minority and women-owned businesses to become suppliers of goods and services for the organization.
Speakers:
- Max Siegel ’86, ’92 J.D., CEO of USA Track & Field – Nationally renowned sports and entertainment executive Max Siegel became the fourth CEO of USA Track & Field on May 1, 2012. Since that time, he has led USATF to financial growth and programmatic evolution that are unprecedented in the Olympic family. Siegel has generated over $500M in revenue, expanded the USATF annual budget, successfully bid for the U.S. to host the 2021 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, and secured a historic contract with Nike. Under Siegel’s leadership and direction, USATF’s increased investment in sport science programs and prize money and the athlete revenue distribution plan have been the hallmarks of elite athlete funding and support.
- Mickey Carter ’92 J.D., Executive Vice President, U.S. Networks Distribution for Paramount Global – Mickey Carter is Executive Vice President, U.S. Networks Distribution at Paramount. He has worked in a variety of capacities in the media industry, representing corporate interests as well as individual talent. In his current role, Carter represents the company’s portfolio of networks and streaming products on a variety of platforms (including CBS, Showtime, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount+). Before joining the CBS team in 2013, Carter served as Vice President of National Accounts at Fox News where he was responsible for revenue and subscriber growth of Fox News Channel on all platforms as well the launch of Fox Business Network. Carter began his cable television career at Time Warner Cable on the “buy” side where he negotiated content acquisition deals across the spectrum of entertainment and sports networks serving Time Warner’s national footprint of cable subscribers.
- Ndidi Massay ’93 J.D., Vice President of Workplace Culture & Diversity Initiatives for CBS Sports – In her role as Vice President of Workplace Culture and Diversity Initiatives for CBS Sports, Ndidi Massay drives the strategic planning, development, execution and measurement of CBS Sports’ initiatives for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Among her responsibilities is developing and executing tailored strategies, programs, and experiences that include diverse staffing, education, training, employee development, community engagement, social impact, and diverse content that together, cultivate a diverse and inclusive culture while promoting real transformation within CBS Sports. Additionally, Ndidi works closely with the Paramount Offices of Global Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility to align CBS Sports with Paramount Global efforts.
- Raghib “Rocket” Ismail ’94 B.A., former NFL wide receiver – Raghib “Rocket” Ismail (born November 18, 1969) is a retired player of American and Canadian football. A wide receiver and kick returner, he came to prominence playing college football for the University of Notre Dame, where he was Consensus All-American (1990)and The Walter Camp Award winner (1990) before moving on to both the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1991–92 and the National Football League (NFL) for The Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys from 1993-2002. Ismail recorded two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the NFL and was a CFL All-Star in 1991, Frank Gibson Award Winner, as well as the Most Valuable Player of the 79th Grey Cup. In 2004, College Football News named Ismail the No. 75 player on its list of the Top 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time. He was also selected by Sports Illustrated to the 85-man roster of its all-20th Century college football team. He has been featured twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
- Jonathan Beane, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the NFL – Jonathan Beane began his role at the NFL in 2020, spearheading the league’s overarching DEI strategy and implementation — including the recurring coach and front office accelerator programs launched in 2022 — and working to drive change throughout the league and its teams. The well-received accelerator programs — including a coaches event that took place at the May 2023 league meetings — provide seminars, workshops and meet-and-greet gatherings for men of color and women who work at all 32 clubs to get to know NFL team owners. Before joining the NFL, Beane was the senior vice president of global diversity and inclusion for 21st Century Fox. He currently serves on the board of CUNY’s Black Male Initiative.