Wear Your Brand on Your Sleeve
Growing up in San Jose, Dylan Tehada was an avid Bay Area sports fan. His passion for sports was so profound that he often envisioned transforming that enthusiasm into a professional career. From the very start, he knew that the LMU College of Business Administration was the perfect place for him to forge his path toward success in the sports industry.
Specifically, Dylan was drawn to LMU thanks to the M-School, one of several pathways for LMU marketing majors. “The M-School was really what got my attention as a high school student,” he recalled. “I knew I wanted to study marketing.”
Dylan's passion for marketing solidified during his initial years on the bluff. While he absorbed a wealth of knowledge through his studies, he discovered that "marketing is hard to teach out of a textbook; it is best learned through hands-on experience." One of the key insights he gained is the importance of "wearing your brand on your sleeve." For Dylan, this meant showcasing his enthusiasm for sports. “In every club that I was in, I was the sports guy. Everyone knew that I wanted to work in sports.”
When he wasn’t playing sports (he played club baseball for a year), Dylan joined the co-ed Business Fraternity and worked as a campus tour guide. Then, he became a scout player for the Women’s Basketball team. He enjoyed practicing with the team by imitating the plays and players of upcoming opponents. His enthusiasm for the job eventually led to relationships with coaches and staff, and by his senior year, he was team manager.
As a campus tour guide, Dylan seized the opportunity to apply the marketing principles he learned in the M-School. He embraced the idea that "people don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it." Rather than simply reciting facts and figures to prospective students, he focused on sharing compelling stories. Dylan highlighted the Jesuit mission and emphasized the "why" behind an LMU education. "LMU is deeply purpose-oriented and mission-driven, firmly rooted in the Jesuit tradition," he explained. Personal anecdotes showcasing the real-world impact of this mission on students became a hallmark of Dylan's tours.
One fateful morning in the spring of his senior year, Dylan was headed out to Wellness Wednesday when he was met by a giant banner in the middle of campus teasing a historic announcement: “LMU is the exclusive higher education partner of the LA Rams.” One highlight for Dylan? This partnership included three internships exclusively for LMU students - a professional development opportunity he felt was “a dream come true.” He wasted no time submitting his resume.
As a marketing major and dedicated “sports guy,” the internship was a perfect fit. The job focused on working with the Rams organization in “Partnership Strategy and Development,” which provided an exclusive look into how partnerships – like the one with LMU – are established and maintained.
What special quality caught the Rams' attention in Dylan's application? He believes his experience as an LMU team manager set him apart as a unique candidate. This role provided him with invaluable insights into player development, sports analytics, and statistics, allowing him to approach future positions strategically. “I’ve shown that I can add value from a business perspective because I’ve had that experience working in sports.”
Fast forward to the 2024 NFL season, and Dylan’s internship with the Rams – which began just before his LMU graduation – has now been extended through the end of the season. He is completing this extended internship experience while working towards his M.S. in Business Analytics thanks to LMU’s 4+1 program.
Every seasoned tour guide has advice for incoming Lions at the ready. Dylan’s advice is two-fold.
His first piece of advice is to get involved as early as possible. “You never know who you’re going to meet. You never know what hobbies you might pick up,” he stated. “College is about school and getting good grades, but it’s also about learning about yourself.” He adds that every new experience is an opportunity to grow in your passions and abilities.
“I did the scout player position because I thought it was fun,” he continued. “I didn’t think that would lead to a professional development role. But because I expressed that interest to the coach, she helped me out.”
His second piece of advice? “Talk to as many people as possible and knock on as many doors as possible.”
Some of Dylan’s most valuable LMU experiences stemmed from talking to professors, club moderators, and coaches. “These people are here to help you out.” The more conversations you have, the more memorable you will be to those people. And more doors will open up for you.
Reporting back from his internship, Dylan shares that “no other sports team has ever partnered with a university. There’s never been a higher education partner in sports.” LMU and the Rams are blazing a trail, and teams around the NFL may follow suit.
You can see Dylan in action by following his coverage of the Rams’ 2024 training camp on Instagram.