Impacting the Next Generation Through NIL

09/28/22 • 45 min

In this episode, we're joined by UNC women's basketball athlete Deja Kelly. Deja has seen incredible success with NIL, inking partnerships with major brands such as Outback Steakhouse, Beats by Dre, Dunkin Donuts and more.
However, it's not all about flashy brands and dollar signs for Deja. She's been very strategic about using her NIL to have a positive impact on younger athletes and to support single mothers, having been raised by one herself.
We chat with Deja about:

How she prepared for NIL last year
The partnerships she's leveraging to benefit single mothers
Developing her camps with a focus on life skills, business skills and financial literary, and not just basketball
Balancing NIL during the season
Working with Forever 21 and Sports Illustrated to showcase her personality
Taking equity in companies to create generational wealth

You can learn more about Deja's camps at DejaKellyCamp.com.
Follow Deja on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
You can follow The Players' Platform podcast on Instagram: @playersplatformpod.
Kristi Dosh: @SportsBizMiss
Emily Cole: @EmilyCole

You can follow The Players' Platform podcast on Instagram: @playersplatformpod.
Kristi Dosh: @SportsBizMiss
Emily Cole: @EmilyCole

How she prepared for NIL last year
The partnerships she's leveraging to benefit single mothers
Developing her camps with a focus on life skills, business skills and financial literary, and not just basketball
Balancing NIL during the season
Working with Forever 21 and Sports Illustrated to showcase her personality
Taking equity in companies to create generational wealth

You can follow The Players' Platform podcast on Instagram: @playersplatformpod.
Kristi Dosh: @SportsBizMiss
Emily Cole: @EmilyCole

Previous Episode

Welcome to The Players' Platform!

Duke track and field and cross country athlete Emily Cole and Business of College Sports founder Kristi Dosh are teaming up for a new podcast all about personal branding and entrepreneurship for college athletes in the era of name, image and likeness.
In this first episode, the ladies interview each other and share how they met, their plans for the podcast and dive into some of the projects they're each working on as entrepreneurs and authors.
Future episodes will feature interviews with a variety of student athletes who are leveraging their name, image and likeness and personal brands to make money and make a difference. Guests share their ups and downs—both in and out of the jersey—to help and inspire their fellow athletes.
You can follow the podcast on Instagram @playersplatformpod.
Kristi Dosh: @SportsBizMiss
Emily Cole: @EmilyCole

You can follow The Players' Platform podcast on Instagram: @playersplatformpod.
Kristi Dosh: @SportsBizMiss
Emily Cole: @EmilyCole

Next Episode

How Rayquan Smith Became the King of NIL

In this episode, we're joined by Rayquan Smith, the "King of NIL." Rayquan is a decathlete at Norfolk State and previously was a dual-sport athlete who also played football for the Spartans.
Rayquan received the Hustle Award at the 2022 NIL Awards and closed 70 NIL deals in Year 1 of NIL. He joins us to share:

How he found his agent, including the questions he thinks other athletes should ask before signing with an agent
Advice for reaching out to companies to land NIL deals
How he's helped educate potential brand partners on NIL
His strategy for negotiating with brands
How his school has supported his NIL efforts
What he wants out of Year 2 of NIL
How he became the "King of NIL"
...and more!

Check out his website and merchandise at KingofNIL.com, and follow Rayquan on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.

You can follow The Players' Platform podcast on Instagram: @playersplatformpod.
Kristi Dosh: @SportsBizMiss
Emily Cole: @EmilyCole