Lauren C. Taylor
By Jocelyn Gates, Vice President at TurnkeyZRG
I’m so incredibly excited to feature Lauren C. Taylor in this month’s newsletter! I love Lauren’s story from being a student at LSU, to becoming a member of the athletics department there within marketing, to the University of Maryland, to the SEC, to Emory University, and now with ESPN. She is such an inspiration to so many – not just in college athletics – but in the sports world in general. Not only is she one of the smartest and hardest working individuals I know, but she is also an all-around genuine person that pours into her network, family, and friends.
Why did you get into college athletics?
College Athletics wasn't my first choice as I started off wanting to be a sports agent aka "Jenny Maguire" then after my experience on LSU's campus as a student, I fell in love with the atmosphere of games. After attending a few events, I noticed a young lady wearing a headset and was fascinated about this world behind the scenes. I jumped into Marketing and Promotions headfirst and never looked back. The passion, pageantry and love for college sports never gets old. I love to be a storyteller that is able to bring the brand straight to fans.
Did you face any barriers as you were growing in the business? If so – how did you work through those?
As a young black woman, there are many barriers that aren't blatant but exist. I haven't even felt any personal discrimination, however, I have spent most of my career navigating spaces where many people don't look like me. I learned a lot about building relationships and getting to know people at their core and character. Also, I truly believe the catalyst for my path was when I was a newly hired coordinator and both the head and second left the department ahead of the year. I was tasked with leading football production fresh out of college. Being thrown in the fire and navigating spaces has built me into the resilient person I am now.
Talk about the importance of having a village of people within college athletics and what it means to you?
Relationships have truly been the key to my success and trajectory in my career. I've been blessed to cultivate many relationships through my various stops at LSU, Maryland, the SEC and Emory while also building out my “board of directors” through professional organizations such as NACMA and NCAA Leadership Institute. Community and connection are the currency needed to be able to navigate this industry. I am able directly connect each to relationships that opened the doors for each step. I don't make any decisions without reaching out to my community to discuss options and they are an open stream for discussing the industry as a whole day to day.
You made the transition from being on campus and/or a conference office to now being with ESPN. Can you speak to how the transition has been with you and what made you consider it?
ESPN has always been this organization that many look at as "the" place to work and many strive to reach. I wouldn't say I set out to get there through my journey, however, as I look back on my career each step prepared me for this moment. From being an intern, graduate assistant and coordinator at LSU and learning about all sports while working at a top brand institution, to being part of the transition at Maryland from the ACC to the Big Ten then deep diving at the SEC as a sport administrator, brand and production lead and day to day for the network relationships to leading external at a premier Division III. It all brought me to this point of being at the worldwide leader. Along my journey, I carried the attitude to be open to try new things and take roles that felt bigger than I was ready for, and those challenges cultivated me into the professional I am today.
What is your proudest moment, so far, since working in sports?
It's funny, some of my most proud moments aren't the "biggest" moments as I've won a National Championship in Marketing as a member of the NACMA Marketing Team of the Year at Maryland. My proudest moment would be creating a structure at both the SEC and Emory for brand marketing and production. It may seem small but I love taking things and building structures that carry on beyond my time there. Also, young me would say hosting and creating the first campout at Tiger Stadium. So blessed to be able to have so many incredible experiences.
Get to know you:
Favorite food? Wings (flats only)
Favorite song? "As" by Stevie Wonder and "Let it Be" by The Beatles
Favorite thing to do outside of work? Reading and playing tennis.
If you didn’t work in sports, what would you be doing? Chef or personal stylist.
Best professional opportunity you have taken part of? NACMA and NCAA Leadership Institute (LI). LI truly shaped me into the professional I am today.