Sports fans and executives! Welcome back to another episode of Path to the Pros, powered by Forsyth Barnes.

We’re ecstatic to announce our next guest. With a career spanning the Cleveland Cavaliers, AEG, Legends, and over a decade of shaping some of the world’s most iconic sports organizations, we’re thrilled to welcome Mike Tomon, President of the Houston Texans, for this exclusive interview.

Mike has mastered the art of leading with influence over visibility. No social media, no public profile. Just his stellar reputation and track record that speaks for itself, culminating in one of the NFL’s most powerful executive roles.

Samir and Mike sit down to discuss:

• Influence without visibility: How a personal brand and reputation can outweigh social media presence, even in today’s digital world.
• The eye-opening moments that shaped his career: Lessons learned from pivotal experiences, having worked across multiple top-tier sports organizations.
• Culture as the driver of success: Why building a strong organizational foundation is as important as performance on the field.
• Authentic fan engagement: What it takes to make every Texans home game feel unmistakably like Houston.
• Leading with vision: From evaluating opportunities to fearlessly evolving, why “status quo is boring” guides the Texans’ strategy.

If you’re curious about leadership in professional sports, building world-class fan experiences, or charting a career path defined by impact over visibility, you won’t want to miss this exclusive episode.

Start your season right with superior hires.
Ready to build a winning team? When you partner with Forsyth Barnes, you’ll tap into a global talent network built specifically for the fast-paced world of sports and entertainment. Visit www.forsythbarnes.com/sports for more information, or email samir.prince@forsythbarnes.com if you’re a hiring manager ready to build your winning team.

Sports leaders and aspiring executives! Welcome back to another episode of Path to the Pros, powered by Forsyth Barnes.

This week, we’re joined by Atul Khosla, Chief Commercial Officer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the very team that hosted (and won!) the 2020 NFL Super Bowl.

Atul’s journey into sports business was anything but traditional. Starting as an Engineer, he hustled, built the right relationships, and proved himself in one of the most competitive industries in the world.

Now, he’s at the heart of a franchise that isn’t just a football team; it’s a community flagship. Nearly 85% of Tampa Bay residents see the Buccaneers as the city’s torchbearers, and Atul is leading the charge in shaping that legacy for generations to come.

Samir and Atul discuss:

• From Engineering to the NFL: Why unconventional beginnings can become a strength
• Relationships and resilience: How never burning bridges opened doors, including his return to the Buccaneers in a role created just for him.
• Fan-first strategy: Competing with “free” entertainment like Florida’s beaches by delivering unmatched value, earning #1 in customer service 9 out of the last 11 years.
• The next generation of fans: Passing the torch to the next generations, ahead of the Buccaneers celebrating 50 years!

If you’re curious about breaking into sports, what it takes to win fan loyalty in today’s market, and the leadership lessons from one of the NFL’s most innovative executives, this episode is for you.

Start your season right with superior hires.
Ready to build a winning team? When you partner with Forsyth Barnes, you’ll tap into a global talent network built specifically for the fast-paced world of sports and entertainment. Visit www.forsythbarnes.com/sports for more information, or email samir.prince@forsythbarnes.com if you’re a hiring manager ready to build your winning team.

Sports fans and executives! Welcome back to another episode of Path to the Pros, powered by Forsyth Barnes.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the sports & entertainment industry, including the NBA, NHL, MLS and MLB, we're thrilled to welcome Dewayne Hankins as our next guest, President of Business Operations at the Portland Trail Blazers.

He shares how his career in marketing shaped his agile mindset, helping him get where he is today: at the forefront of one of the NBA’s most loyal and engaged fan bases, a team that helps bring in over $600M in economic activity annually for the City of Portland.

Samir and Dewayne discuss:

• Building a high-performance sports business: How community, transparency, and trust can transform fan engagement and drive long-term success.
• Lessons from an unconventional path: Why a marketing background gave him a unique edge in executive leadership across the NBA and beyond.
• Leading in a competitive industry: Insider perspectives on navigating sports management, experiencing a plethora of ‘pinch me’ moments and energizing a city through sport.

If you’re curious about leadership in pro sports, what it really takes to build trust with fans and the lessons learned from someone with two decades inside the industry, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Start your season right with superior hires.
Ready to build a winning team? When you partner with Forsyth Barnes, you’ll tap into a global talent network built specifically for the fast-paced world of sports and entertainment. Visit www.forsythbarnes.com/sports for more information, or email samir.prince@forsythbarnes.com if you’re a hiring manager ready to build your winning team.