In this episode of The Lessons from Sports Podcast, Wayne Partello sits down with Sunjay Mathews, a former corporate lawyer who broke into sports and went on to help build FanDuel during its early days.

Sunjay shares what it was like operating inside a startup, navigating the sports betting landscape, and later stepping into leadership roles at DAZN and FTX.

This episode dives into betting on yourself, taking career risks, and building a path in sports business.

In this episode of The Lessons from Sports Podcast, host Wayne Partello sits down with Steve Shanks, co-founder of Drive Influence, to break down an unconventional entrepreneurial journey shaped by sports, repetition, and resilience.From launching one of the earliest fantasy sports businesses to leaving corporate America, building and selling a multi-million-dollar media agency, and now helping brands, creators, and talent win through Drive Influence, Steve shares real lessons on entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, and scaling businesses.This episode is packed with insights for founders, marketers, and anyone navigating career pivots, growth, and leadership in today’s evolving business and media landscape.

In this episode of The Lessons from Sports Podcast, host Wayne Partello talks with Ayo Taylor-Dixon of San Diego State University Athletics about building a career in college sports and sports marketing. From his start as a student-athlete and graduate assistant to leadership roles across multiple Division I programs, Ayo shares lessons on adaptability and navigating the evolving world of college athletics.Wayne and Ayo also discuss what it truly means to “be a student of the game,” the importance of learning every side of the business, from ticket sales and event operations to digital content and NIL storytelling, and why mastering the details separates good professionals from great ones in sports leadership.This episode is packed with lessons for anyone pursuing a career in college athletics, sports marketing, athletic administration, or brand strategy, including insights on career growth, mentorship, innovation, and building programs that scale in today’s rapidly evolving sports industry.