Introduction:
The Black Sports Business Symposium speaker application is designed with the community in mind. We acknowledge that a community that is intentionally engaged in the purpose and outcomes of their learning and development, as well as the medium of networking and collaboration will find vested interest and longtime value. Hence, we encourage the community to shape the future of the 2024 symposium, to ensure all things Black and its glory remain at the forefront of our efforts.
We encourage sports’ most passionate, innovative, and courageous thinkers to submit speaking proposals. We seek submissions that provide solutions to industry problems and opportunities on the horizon whilst remaining forward-thinking in solutions and inclusive in ideas. Presentations must energize and provide valuable learning that enriches this landscape and beyond.
Ideas that emphasize non-stereotypical or non-obvious thinking are highly encouraged. A speaking proposal that avoids being broad and unfocused is more likely to be selected. Specifically, think of a speaking proposal that outlines best practices in the business of sports; offers a sophisticated look into topics of holistic wellbeing in the Black community; explores new leadership approaches and outlook into the future of the business; presents solutions to timeless questions regarding the effective navigation of the corporate system; deliver a deep look into the profound impact of Black culture and community in sports and beyond.
Please note advertorial or brand-centered session proposals and descriptions are not permitted through this Submit a Session form. If you are interested in promoting your brand, please email sponsorships@blacksportsbiz.com.
Speakers are required to arrange their own travel and hotel accommodations.
Please make sure to finalize your speaking proposal before the application closes at 11:59 pm Eastern on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Step I: Session Organizer
The organizer will be the primary contact for all Black Sports Business Symposium communication pertaining to your submission going forward. If this session is accepted as part of the 2024 lineup, the organizer will be expected to communicate with Black Sports Business Symposium and all confirmed speakers, as well as manage all the information and technical specifications for this session. If the organizer should also be proposed as a speaker (optional), be sure to copy over the contact information in the Speakers section.
Please note that organizers not also listed as speakers do not receive complimentary registration.
If this proposal is accepted and you can no longer serve as the primary point of contact, you will have the opportunity to change the session organizer. Please ensure this information stays up to date. If correspondence begins to lag beyond a reasonable time, we serve the right to replace the panel entirely.
Please note the Black Sports Business Symposium aims to showcase a varied mix of veteran speakers and fresh voices. While prior speaking experience is not a requirement to speak, our audiences will seek speakers who have the confidence, passion, and ability to convey their ideas clearly.
Fields including private information (email addresses, phone number, location, and industry) are not viewable to the community and will not be shared with any third parties.
Step II: Title & Characteristics
Give your idea a title and add some basic information.
Session Title:
Pick something that lets your audience know exactly what your proposal will cover. (50 character limit including spaces)
Your title should serve as a hook to the audience. It should be catchy but clear and concise on the topic being discussed. Remember, evaluators will have hundreds of submissions and must select a couple of topics covering many subjects; make sure your titles rise above the noise and offer a glimpse into the energetic session to come.
Session Format:
Formats define what particular kind of session you are proposing.
- Meet Up (60 min, 1-2 speakers) – A speaker-facilitated networking event that encourages communities to connect around similar topics, passions, roles, or interests. Please note this is NOT a presentation-based session format.
- Think Tank (60-80 min, 1- 4 speakers) – Think Tanks are opportunities for members to discuss timely topics, assess emerging trends, and share challenges and success stories with one another. Any person or group can form a think tank to create a plan, discuss a challenge, or solve a problem.
- Podcast (60 min, 2-4 speakers) – A conversation on topics across the sports landscape, hosted by media organizations and existing podcasts and recorded in an intimate setting amongst a live audience to be used as a future episode.
- Solo (30 min, 1 speaker) – A short solo presentation highlighting new and emerging ideas, followed by an audience Q&A
- Panel (60 min, 2-4 speakers) – A focused, diverse, and dynamic exploration of a particular topic, followed by an audience Q&A
- Workshop (90 min, 1-3 speakers) – An in-depth, instructional program with hands-on learning activities and specific takeaways
Required Attendee Level of Understanding:
The level you select should be appropriate to your idea.
- Entry level Understanding – Very basic information. The intended audience has zero to five (0-5) years of experience with regard to this topic.
- Mid Level Experience – More complicated information. The intended audience has six to nine (6-9) years of experience with regard to this topic.
- Executive Understanding – Expert level information. The intended audience has ten plus (10+) years of experience with regard to this topic.
Track:
- Beyond My Blackness – A unique focus on championing and expanding the understanding of equity, justice, access, diversity, and inclusion for the Black community and beyond, including acknowledgment of global social and economic disparities, broad culturally responsive pedagogy, LGBTQ+ issues, the patriarchy, and more to ensure equitable opportunities and outcomes for all.
- Culture and Community – These sessions will explore the natural phenomenon of Blackness, in all its eccentricities to ensure we maintain a sense of collective and individual self. We encourage those to lean into the historical and current aspects of the culture.
- Changing Campus – These sessions will provide an invaluable opportunity to learn about the ever-changing landscape of college athletics while providing a platform for industry leaders to collaborate, analyze, and conceptualize the current state and future possibilities around the business and sport of intercollegiate athletics.
- Emerging Tech – Examining the evolution, growth, and enactment of sports and entertainment technology, including artificial intelligence, Blockchain, and NFT, drones, data interoperability, and the metaverse. In addition to discussing the hesitations, equitable access, and solution these future-forward solutions provide.
- Future of Sports – The industry which we know today will look vastly different from tomorrow. With the anticipation of smart stadiums, advancement of civic engagement, Virtual reality, esports, athlete activism, and more, these sessions will focus on reimagining sport– as we know it best.
- Holistic Wellbeing – Designed to further the holistic health and well-being of Black folk, including addressing mental and physical wellness, comprehensive financial understanding, and dispelling myths regarding health and financial wellness in the Black community.
- HBCU Love – This pillar aims to amplify the voices of students and alumni of Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), while informing advocates of the emerging opportunities and systematic challenges these institutions face. Topics ranging from athletics to Life on the Yard, HBCU Love centers around honoring the legacy, values, and culture of HBCUs.
- Practice & Pedagogy – Content focused on learning, development, instruction, and pedagogy across the entire sports landscape, with a focus on solution-oriented strategies, innovative practices, and institutional transformation. With topics including applicable best practices for all levels and evolving pedagogy, leadership training, and groundbreaking insights.
- Startups & Venture Capital – Content focused on the business with a focus on entrepreneurship, startups, and venture capital. Participants can anticipate topics including investment and funding, marketing and branding strategies, marketplace advantages, initiatives and partnerships, and business agility.
- Workplace Acceleration – Changing workplace dynamics have led to programs and new approaches to human capital in the workplace. Sessions will discuss upskilling talent, effective corporate learning, and mid-level talent development.
Intended Audience:
Knowing the audience you are trying to reach with your proposal will help you better focus your goals for the idea and excel in voting.
Step III. Description & Objectives
Describe your session idea:
- Please do not include speaker names or organizations in the session description as these are listed separately in the application process and beyond.
- Use paragraph form for your description.
- Be sure to spell out the first mention of any acronyms you choose to include.
- Advertorial or brand-centered descriptions are not allowed.
- Make your description as compelling as possible.
Step IV. Proposed Speakers
The speakers you enter will be considered along with your proposal.
If accepted, the speaker’s name, title, organization and short bio will be listed on the website and schedule, which is publicly available.
Moderators are optional but should be independent, neutral facilitators in the discussion. The moderator counts toward your maximum speaker limit.
While a particular speaker may be proposed for multiple sessions, in the interest of providing diverse perspectives, speakers will be limited to participating in a MAX of two (2) programmed sessions (except Mentor sessions). If accepted for more than two (2) sessions, speakers can choose which sessions they would like to participate in. If you lose a speaker due to this clause, you will have the opportunity to request a replacement for their voice.
