“It has been a pleasure working with Grant through the Emerging Leaders Program,” she said. “Each day he came to the ballpark with a positive attitude, ready to learn, asking questions and helping wherever needed!”
– DBBC Sponsorship Services Coordinator Heather Hill, about Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (center) works with fellow interns during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
For the past 4 months, 10 students from NC Central University have been interning in Capitol Broadcasting divisions through the inaugural Emerging Leaders Program. A partnership between CBC and Leadership Triangle, the program combines hands on learning in departments aligned to their interests along with workshops led by LT coaches. The program will culminate with a graduation ceremony on December 16. In the final weeks leading up to that conclusion, Capcom is profiling the individual outstanding students.
Grant Flanders is interning with the Durham Bulls in the Sponsorships and Sales departments. He is a junior at NC Central, pursuing a major in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.
DBBC Sponsorship Services Coordinator Heather Hill has been helping mentor Flanders during his time at the ballclub.
“It has been a pleasure working with Grant through the Emerging Leaders Program,” she said. “Each day he came to the ballpark with a positive attitude, ready to learn, asking questions and helping wherever needed!”
Flanders is thankful for the opportunity to work with the Bulls, happy to have snagged a coveted internship.
“I was definitely excited,” he said about being accepted to the program. “It felt like a weight off my shoulders. Getting your first internship is a big accomplishment. I had been stressed about looking for an internship, so I felt relieved.”
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (right) works with fellow intern Anthony Robinson during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
Flanders has enjoyed the diversity in the array of learning experiences the program has given him. The workshops with Leadership Triangle staff and mentors took place in different locations and being on-site at the Bulls has involved variety in the tasks on which he has worked.
“I enjoyed the more hands-on activities,” said Flanders of the Leadership Triangle workshops that have been an integral part of the program. “I like trying something new.”
Hill outlined the areas on which Flanders’ training has been focused at the ballpark.
“During his time with the Bulls, Grant worked closely with the Sponsorship department where he learned the sponsorship sales process,” she said. “We did this by having him work both on the sales and activation side of things by making his own cold calls, sitting in on client meetings, working with vendors to research giveaway products, visiting clients in hospitality areas, participating in in-game activations (his favorite was JD Service Now Coolest Fan of the Game!) and compiling photos and data for end-of-season reviews. Through this, we tried to teach him that sponsorship sales does not just end with the sale of a product, but continues on through activation and maintaining strong relationships with clients, all while enhancing the fan experience at the ballpark.”
Flanders has dug in, embracing the chance to gain knowledge.
“Really learning about the whole spots and business as a whole,” Flanders said when asked about key takeaways from his Bulls internships. “I’ve learned about the sponsorship contracts, then also about the tickets and what goes into that and what goes into the packages. I’ve also worked behind the scenes, passing out wristbands, helping out in the kitchen. You have to be versatile, to be able to move to different things. That wasn’t something I expected but something I‘ve learned.”
Hill values the program as a tool for helping the future workforce.
“The Emerging Leaders Program is important because it allows young individuals to immerse themselves in these roles and learn from experienced individuals while applying skills they’ve built thus far and continuing to develop them as they head toward the workforce,” said Hill. “This also provides them the opportunity to learn what they like, what they don’t like, and what they have a drive or passion for as they determine their career paths.”
Based on his own positive experience, Flanders believes the Emerging Leaders Program is very beneficial.
“I would definitely recommend this program to a lot of people,” he said. “I say that because of the way they teach you how to become a leader. A lot of people think being a leader is being controlling and a dictatorship, but it’s not. It comes from leading by example, being able to trust those around you. Those are important lessons they taught me, and I think a lot of others should learn about it, too.”
He appreciated having a mentor, both one assigned by Leadership Triangle, and then the CBC employees who are guiding him in his time at the Bulls.
“The schedule was very busy, but it was very helpful, having somebody who can guide you and give you advice during this process,” said Flanders. “Their words of advice and encouragement are very helpful.”
In supporting their interns, the CBC mentors in the Emerging Leaders Program are also speaking up about how much they have learned in return.
Hill concluded, “Training these interns is also an opportunity for us in the workforce and at CBC to gain fresh perspective and ideas from others so that we can evolve and make positive change within both institutions.”
Thanks to LT’s Owen Jordan for these Capcom photos.
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (center) works with fellow interns during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (right) works with fellow intern Jonathan Strayhorn during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (center) works with LT’s Kristine Sloan and LT mentor Mark Molitor during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (right) works with fellow intern Anthony Robinson during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
2022 Emerging Leaders Intern Grant Flanders (left) works with fellow intern Breann Wyman during one of the Leadership Triangle-led workshops.
Check out the previous Emerging Leaders Profiles:
