About
Roderick Gray is currently a Sales Manager. He was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been living in the tri-cities of Tennessee the last 15 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sportscasting from Full Sail university. He is currently pursuing a Masters in entertainment business from Full Sail university. He is also an avid gamer.
Intention Statement
This past year I experienced more downs than ups. It seemed nothing could go right, and I was spiraling downward fast towards my grave. Then, out of nowhere, I got this urge. It was an urge to be more than I was. The next day I was on the phone with Full Sail University.
In January 2024, I started my pursuit of my entertainment business master's at Full Sail University. Owning a sports agency is my goal and I believe this degree will give me the tools I need to accomplish that. Also, paired with my sportscasting degree this will give me more valuable skills to work in the NBA in the meantime.
Over the next year I plan on mastering skills I have been working on over the past two decades and developing skills that have laid dormant. This program will not only provide the education needed, but it will also allow me to gain the real-world experience that will give me the confidence to chase my dreams. There are so many classes I am looking forward to this year including negotiation and deal-making, advanced entertainment law and business plan development. I am looking forward to learning new things and networking with like minded people.
I am most excited about creating a business plan. This will encapsulate everything that I will learn and allow me to present something I am passionate about.to help me achieve my goal of working in the NBA, I am going to create a unique business plan that would be beneficial for any team in the NBA. I plan on also creating the business plan for my future sports agency to receive feedback from my instructor.
Upon graduation I will continue to pursue my dreams make my passions a priority while teaching my children to do the same.
Inspirational Quote Week 1
“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” - Madame C.J. Walker 1914 - DK, Entrepreneurs who changed history (2020)
I have started to wake up every day and live by this statement. I wasted some days living to make other people happy. Now, I am focusing my energy on myself and my passions. I’m going to get myself one step closer to my dreams every day no matter how big or small the step.
DK. (2020). Entrepreneurs who changed history DK.
Inspirational Quote Week 2
“We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough.” - Helen Keller - Mink, Inspirational quotes: Michael Jordan, Helen Keller And Others (2023)
This is the epitome of grit. Not giving up and persevering through anything. It’s important to remember it’s not about things happening on our time but instead happening at the right time. I am pushing myself daily to do at least one thing that will put me closer to my dreams. But, the main thing is to never stop going!
Mink, M. (2023). Inspirational Quotes: Michael Jordan, Helen Keller And Others. Investors Business Daily, N.PAG.
Overarching Career Goal
Own and Operate a Sports Agency
Goal Upon Graduation
Get a Job at a Sports Agency or with the N.B.A.
Steps to Complete Career Goal
- Update my professional resume and LinkedIn to reflect mastery.
- Apply for Internship and/or job with sports agencies and N.B.A.
- Gain an understanding of the fundamentals and standard operating procedures of the industry.
- Attain a mentor to grow my skillsets and develop my weaknesses.
- Find and sign my first athlete to an exclusive agency contract.
- Build a strong and dynamic team to start a sports agency with.
Greene, R. (2012). Mastery. Penguin Books.
Inspirational Quote Week 3
"Our levels of desire, patience, persistence, and confidence end up playing a much larger role in success than sheer reasoning powers. Feeling motivated and energized, we can overcome almost anything. Feeling bored and restless, our minds shut off and we become increasingly passive."
Greene, R. (2012). Master. Penguin Books.
Leadership
Leadership manifests in myriad styles, yet I firmly subscribe to Maxwell’s assertion that without influence and vision, there can be no true leader. Throughout my life, I have consistently been entrusted with leadership roles. As the eldest of four siblings and the oldest among eight cousins, I naturally assumed responsibility from an early age. My leadership qualities first became publicly evident in middle school when I was appointed peer mediator for my entire grade. It soon became apparent that I embodied a Maxwell style of leadership—characterized by vision, influence, strong character, effective problem-solving skills, and a genuine desire to serve others.
I have often been described as having an "old soul," a designation I interpret to mean that I listen intently and assimilate knowledge from diverse sources. Being raised by my great-grandmother and grandmother until the age of eight profoundly influenced my development; their unwavering commitment to morals and principles instilled in me a robust character. Consequently, I strove daily to be the best version of myself, mindful of not disappointing those who set high standards for me. Maxwell (2018, p.51) reminds us that "the reality is that leading ourselves is often the most difficult task we face every day," a principle that has consistently guided my personal and professional growth.
My tenure as a peer mediator honed my ability to devise unique solutions for a range of conflicts. Each dispute presented a distinct challenge, broadening my perspective and enhancing my capacity to offer unbiased resolutions. Maxwell (2018, p.99) asserts, "When you handle them well, problems promise to make you better." I maintain that every challenge conceals the potential for growth, and I remain committed to uncovering solutions.
The synthesis of strong character and adept problem-solving skills has propelled me toward a life dedicated to serving others. Whether imparting essential skills to children or mentoring colleagues to achieve professional advancement, I derive immense satisfaction from elevating those around me. As Maxwell (2018, p.147) articulates, "When you decide to serve others as a leader, the team’s success becomes your success."
In conclusion, my leadership qualities and style have evolved continuously over the years, shaped by a combination of innate influence, cultivated vision, and an unwavering commitment to personal integrity. As both my personal and professional lives evolve, I remain dedicated to refining my discipline and habits in order to ascend to the pinnacle of leadership excellence.
References
MAXWELL, J. C. (2018). Developing the leader within you. THOMAS NELSON PUB.
This is a mock sponsorship proposal done in my sports marketing and sponsorship sales course. I am assuming the role as a director of marketing for the NBA pitching to the leaders of Dunkin' Donuts.
Digital Marketing
The primary objective I established for this Digital Marketing course was to update all my social media platforms and effectively link them to my personal branding website. To date, I have successfully revised and optimized my LinkedIn profile. However, my X (formerly Twitter) account remains cluttered with irrelevant content. I am currently exploring the possibility of creating a new account to strategically curate followers and content from the outset. This approach will allow me to establish a refreshed algorithm aligned with my professional focus in the sports industry.
Through this course, I have come to fully appreciate the value of an integrated digital marketing strategy. A cohesive and interconnected approach across platforms—social media, websites, email marketing, and content strategy—not only enhances visibility but also drives qualified leads and subscriber growth. More importantly, I have learned that every piece of content must be intentional and serve a specific purpose to achieve meaningful marketing outcomes.
Going forward, I intend to employ a variety of techniques to enhance both my personal brand and entrepreneurial efforts. These include using short-form videos to boost engagement and reach, leveraging blog posts to improve search engine rankings and build credibility as a thought leader (HubSpot, 2023), and utilizing email marketing to foster direct, personalized communication with prospective clients and athletes (Stokes, 2018). These practices will not only strengthen my own brand but will also serve as core principles I teach to the athletes I work with.
By implementing these foundational elements—intentional content, strategic integration, and personalized communication—I aim to promote trust, cultivate community, and drive authentic engagement. These values are essential not only for my success but also for the empowerment and growth of the athletes I aspire to mentor and support in their own brand journeys.
Sports Management & Operations
The Sports Management & Operations course has been an essential and transformative component of my graduate studies, offering a comprehensive understanding of the complex business structures and leadership demands within the sports industry. Through case analyses, executive insights, and applied learning opportunities, this course surpassed my expectations by delivering real-world perspectives that bridged theory with practical execution.
Legal Studies in Sports
Legal Studies in Sports has been a pivotal course for my development as a future agent and operator in the sports industry. Entering the class, I understood that “knowing the rules” mattered; leaving it, I recognize that legal literacy is a competitive advantage and a moral obligation. The course reframed my approach from merely “avoiding lawsuits” to proactively designing systems that protect athletes, partners, and my business from foreseeable risks.
Three insights will directly shape how I build and lead my agency. First, contracts are not paperwork—they are governance. I learned to read beyond headline terms and scrutinize definitions, representations, indemnities, termination rights, and dispute resolution clauses. That mindset shift helps me anticipate where deal friction or exposure might emerge and to draft with clarity, so expectations are aligned before any crisis.
Second, duties—particularly fiduciary duty—are practical behaviors, not abstract doctrines. Loyalty, care, disclosure, and conflict management must be operationalized. I now plan to hard-wire these duties into engagement letters, conflict checks, advice memos, and documented client communications. If it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen; good records are both client service and legal defense.
Third, regulatory compliance (e.g., state athlete-agent registration and student-athlete protections) is a moving target that requires disciplined process. I am committing to a licensing matrix, a “no-contact without registration” rule, UAAA-compliant contract templates, and an automated school-notice workflow. This is less about bureaucracy and more about safeguarding eligibility, enforceability, and trust.
The course also clarified my leadership posture. Ethical decision-making is the first line of risk mitigation. I intend to foster a culture where raising a red flag is rewarded, not punished, and where we slow down to get the law—and the facts—right. Concretely, I will implement: (1) a pre-sign checklist (status verification, registration, required disclosures), (2) a “red-flag” clause library for recurring risks, (3) quarterly compliance audits, and (4) a standing relationship with outside sports-law counsel for complex scenarios.
Ultimately, mastery here is measured in the stability of my clients’ careers and the integrity of my agreements. This course gave me the tools—and the discipline—to build an agency where rigorous contracts, documented advice, and compliance by design are everyday habits, not emergency fixes.
Entertainment Business Finance
The Entertainment Business Finance course opened my eyes to a multitude of expenses that I did not initially anticipate when envisioning the launch of my sports agency. Prior to taking this class, my perspective was somewhat narrow in believing that passion, knowledge, and a degree would be enough to begin operations immediately after graduation. While these elements are crucial, the financial component adds a layer of complexity that requires careful planning and patience. Understanding the diverse costs associated with starting and maintaining a business—from licensing fees and office expenses to legal services, marketing, and travel—has given me a clearer, more realistic perspective on the timeline for launching my agency (Kuratko et al., 2021).
Project and Team Management
Throughout this course and project experience, I have developed a deep appreciation for the principles of project and team management and how essential they are to my professional growth. Understanding how to plan, organize, and lead a project from concept to completion has given me a framework that extends far beyond the classroom—it provides the structural foundation needed to operate a successful sports agency. Project management teaches discipline, foresight, and accountability, while team management fosters the communication and collaboration necessary to turn vision into action. Both are indispensable tools as I prepare to lead Ardigy Sports Group and navigate the complexities of representing athletes and building their brands.
Business Plan Development
At the beginning of the program, my initial prediction for the Business Plan Development course—based on the Mastery course orientation—was that it would focus primarily on writing a traditional business plan and revisiting concepts from earlier classes. I anticipated a structured, high-level overview of sections such as the executive summary, marketing strategy, financials, and operations, expecting the workload to revolve around writing and organizing content. I believed the process would be somewhat conceptual, allowing me to apply prior knowledge with light analytical work and straightforward formatting. However, the actual experience of this course was significantly more rigorous, detailed, and application-driven than I predicted. Instead of simply writing narrative sections, I was required to build a complete business plan from the ground up using professional financial modeling tools, multi-year forecasting, staffing budgets, COGS analysis, break-even considerations, and integrated income statements. The spreadsheet work—including sales projections, monthly marketing budgets, and profitability corrections—was far more advanced than I expected. Additionally, the operational planning, technology strategy, competitive analysis, and organizational structure sections demanded a level of depth that replicated real-world business planning rather than academic exercises. The course structure was also more layered, requiring continuous cross-referencing between worksheets, narrative sections, and instructor feedback to ensure accuracy and alignment across the full plan. Overall, this course provided a much more realistic entrepreneurial experience than I originally envisioned. It challenged me to think like a business owner, not just a student completing assignments, and it strengthened my understanding of financial decision-making, operational planning, and long-term strategic growth. In retrospect, the actual experience proved far more valuable and transformative than my initial expectations.
Final Project: Business Plan
This past year in the Entertainment Business Master’s Program has been a transformative experience that reshaped how I think, plan, and lead as an entrepreneur. Each course built intentionally on the previous one, moving me from foundational knowledge to advanced application. Rather than learning concepts in isolation, I was challenged to apply them to real business ideas, culminating in a complete, investor-ready business plan. The program consistently reinforced the idea that success in entertainment requires both creative vision and disciplined business execution. The program began with foundational courses focused on understanding the entertainment industry as a business ecosystem. Early classes introduced me to industry structures, revenue models, and the roles of various stakeholders across sports, music, film, and digital media. Assignments such as industry analyses and opportunity assessments helped me identify gaps in the market and sharpen my ability to evaluate where new ventures can realistically succeed. These early courses set the tone for thinking strategically rather than creatively alone. Marketing-focused courses played a major role in shaping my entrepreneurial skill set. Through digital marketing, branding, and audience development coursework, I learned how to position a brand intentionally, identify target markets, and measure campaign effectiveness. Projects required me to build full marketing plans, define KPIs, and justify marketing spend, which directly translated into my ability to market my own business concept. I gained a strong understanding of SEO, social media strategy, content planning, and how branding drives long-term value in entertainment. Equally impactful were the courses centered on branding, publishing, and distribution. These classes deepened my understanding of how entertainment products move from creation to consumption and how intellectual property generates value over time. I learned how branding influences monetization, how distribution channels affect revenue potential, and why ownership and control of content are critical for long-term success. This knowledge became essential when structuring my own business model and identifying sustainable revenue streams. The finance and accounting courses were among the most challenging—and most rewarding—components of the program. Through these classes, I learned how to create pro forma financial statements, build income projections, analyze expenses, and understand cash flow. Assignments required me to justify assumptions, reconcile inconsistencies, and think like an investor. By the end of the program, I was confident in my ability to explain financials clearly, identify risks, and present numbers in a way that supports strategic decision-making. Legal studies in entertainment were another cornerstone of my development. These courses provided a strong understanding of contracts, intellectual property, liability, and regulatory issues specific to the entertainment industry. Case studies and legal analysis assignments helped me recognize potential risks before they become problems. This knowledge proved invaluable when drafting sections of my business plan related to compliance, contracts, and risk management, and it reinforced the importance of operating ethically and responsibly. Leadership and management courses challenged me to reflect on my personal leadership style and how it applies in creative industries. Through discussions on leadership theory, organizational behavior, and team management, I learned that effective leadership is situational and adaptive. Group projects and presentations strengthened my communication skills and taught me how to lead collaboratively while still maintaining accountability. These courses prepared me to manage teams, partnerships, and client relationships with confidence. Project management and operations-focused coursework strengthened my ability to move ideas from concept to execution. I learned how to plan timelines, allocate resources, manage risk, and track progress against milestones. These skills became critical when developing the operational and implementation sections of my business plan. I now approach projects with structure, clarity, and an understanding of how small decisions affect long-term outcomes. The business plan development course served as the culmination of the entire program. This course required me to integrate marketing, finance, legal, operations, and leadership concepts into a single, cohesive document. I successfully wrote and presented a complete business plan that included market analysis, competitive positioning, financial projections, and a clear funding request. The feedback process refined my ability to defend decisions, explain assumptions, and communicate value to potential investors. Throughout the program, one of the most valuable outcomes was the emphasis on professional presentation and communication. Nearly every course required written analysis, presentations, or both. This consistent practice strengthened my ability to articulate ideas clearly, think critically under pressure, and present myself professionally. These skills are directly transferable to pitching ideas, leading teams, and engaging with clients or employers. Beyond technical knowledge, the EBMS program helped me define my identity as an entrepreneur and leader. I now approach challenges with confidence, structure, and a solutions-oriented mindset. I understand how to balance creativity with business discipline, and I am comfortable making informed decisions in uncertain environments. The program reinforced the importance of adaptability, ethics, and long-term thinking in entertainment. In conclusion, the Entertainment Business Master’s Program has fully prepared me to succeed as an entrepreneur and leader in the entertainment industry. I leave the program with the ability to create pro forma financial statements, develop effective marketing strategies, navigate legal considerations, and present a complete, professional business plan. More importantly, I leave with the confidence and skill set needed to turn ideas into viable ventures. This year was not just about learning—it was about building the foundation for everything that comes next.