Sports In The Making
Heather Novickis - Athlete Agent, Olympic, Paralympic & Endurance
Episode Summary
Athlete representation is the subject of this episode. Heather Novickis of the Human Interest Group agency has been a long-time athlete agent, representing some of the world's elite performers including triathletes, Ironman competitors and endurance runners. We talk about her journey in this industry, what goes into representing non-traditional sports athletes, the future of women in sports and more.
Episode Notes
- 2:31 - What Heather does as a Sports Athlete Agent
- 3:29 - When she knew being an agent is what she wanted to do.
- 6:13 - What she liked about work with Gold Medal Management.
- 8:19 - How storytelling is important in representing traditional or Olympic athletes rather than mainstream athletes.
- 9:35 - How Heather builds relationships and trust with athletes.
- 11:21 - Expectations athletes should have when working with an agent.
- 13:37 - How Human Interest Group finds brands that looks at an athlete’s qualities for sponsorship.
- 16:30 - How HIG finds its athletes for representation.
- 20:46 - How Pararlympic athletes are getting better opportunities for sponsorships and branding.
- 23:39 - How Olympic Rule #40 affects athletes when they are participating in the Olympic Games.
- 27:35 - What she learned working for Gold Medal Management, Octagon and IMG to help launch her own company, Kinetic Sports Management and how she arrived at Human Interest Group.
- 31:13 - What success Heather has experienced for her clients.
- 36:13 - How companies are strategizing to find the right athletes to be brand ambassadors.
- 38:22 - What the future of women is for companies wanting to brand.
- 40:22 - What keeps Heather driven to stay in this industry.
- 42:27 - What the craziest experience Heather has had working in this industry.
- 46:48 - How she has worked with women endurance athletes
- 48:05 - What advice Heather has for someone wanting to work in the sports agent industry.
- 50:59 - What sacrifices Heather has to make as an athlete agent.
- 52:20 - Heather explains why she loves being a sports agent.
- 54:19 - Best advice Heather has been given working in this industry.
- 55:36 - Heather explains if many people are interested in being an agent.
- 59:36 - How she was one of the first two women agents in the Olympic space.
- 1:01:09 - How people can find out more about Human Interest Group