ESPN EVP Rosalyn Durant on the importance of shooting your shot

When I was in college at the University of South Carolina, I thought I wanted to work in media, but I didn’t really know what that meant or how someone like me was supposed to get there. I’m from a small town in South Carolina. I didn’t have family connections in corporate America or the entertainment industry. What I did have was curiosity, ambition, and a love of sports. Every morning before class, I watched SportsCenter. I loved the spirit of ESPN and the way sports could bring people together. But loving something and imagining yourself building a career there are two different things. Access and advocacy One of the biggest turning points for me came through the T. Howard Foundation. I first learned about it at a journalism job fair at Howard University. I remember representatives from the foundation approaching me and explaining that they could help connect students with opportunities at companies like ESPN, MTV, and BET. That got my attention. The T. Howard Foundation helped me land my first industry internship at Turner and later connected me to ESPN for what became a life-changing internship opportunity. Looking back now, I realize how important access and advocacy can be …