Female Student-Athletes Impacted by Campus Conversations with espnW

PHILADELPHIA – Temple Athletics teamed up with espnW to host the Campus Conversations event for its female student-athletes on Tuesday night. The event, which was set up as a panel discussion, highlighted four key speakers and a moderator, each giving their advice on handling job rejection, the importance of networking, and how to excel in an interview.

"Each no is a ladder to my yes," said ESPN analyst Monica McNutt, as she urged all the student-athletes to echo her words.

Throughout the discussion, each of the panelists shared their experiences of rejection in the professional realm and how getting turned down from hundreds of jobs eventually led them to their current success.

Former Temple fencer and current surgical resident at Temple Hospital Kamali Thompson talked of the importance of networking, noting the value of communication in order to make connections.

Temple alum and Vice President and Executive Director for ESPN Films, Marsha Cooke echoed her words.

"Networking can be exhausting," Cooke said. "But think of it as learning about what the other person does and then talk about what you do."

Lise D'Andrea, a former Temple lacrosse player and the CEO and founder of CXE, Inc. added the importance of horizontal networking, stating that sometimes people focus too much on networking up when they should also be networking with their peers for future endeavors.

At the conclusion of the panel, the panelists opened the floor for questions, providing individual advice and feedback to the female student-athletes, specifically on interview preparation.

"All the reps matter, just like in sports," said Monica McNutt.

Before you enter a job interview, you need to do the behind-the-scenes work. The panelists spoke of the importance of preparing yourself with questions, immersing yourself in the company, completing mock interviews, and having a story behind the skills on your resume.

But presenting yourself well during an interview is just as important.

"I would encourage you to think about the verbal and non-verbal cues that you're sending during an interview because your interviewer can see you," JP Abercrumbie, former Temple track and field athlete and current Executive Associate Athletics Director for Culture & Engagement at Notre Dame, said. "How well are you put together? Does that show me that you belong in that place?"

The question session was followed by break-out groups, in which the student-athletes were grouped by grade. In each of these groups, the student-athletes were able to have a more personalized experience with each panelist.

"I loved hearing the different perspectives and experiences of all the women in sports, especially the women from Temple," said SAAC President, Jackie Terpak. "I was able to take notes the whole time and really expand my knowledge."

Junior field hockey player and SAAC Vice President Emma Nesbitt expressed how relatable this event was for her and her fellow teammates.

"I definitely see the information that was given in this event directly impacting my professional experience," Nesbitt said. "Finding that crossroads between being a student-athlete and understanding how to advertise that in my professional development career is something that I see a lot and look forward to using in the future."

Temple University Athletics

Female Student-Athletes Impacted by Campus Conversations with espnW

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