Karlyn Lothery greatly admires her father, Eugene Lothery, who taught her that if you work twice as hard as everybody else, you might get to where you want to be. After 10 years in the industry, Lothery is reaping the benefits of her father’s advice. She married her two passions of sports and communication with the launch of Sports Talkers, a media consulting and diversity training company. She is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, teaching in the sport management program.

Age: 35
New title: President, Sports Talkers
Previous title: Chief diversity officer, U.S. Tennis Association
First job: Sports reporter in Charleston, SC
College education: Marketing degree from Georgetown University (1995)
Resides: Alexandria, Va.
Grew up: “For a non-Army brat I lived a very Army lifestyle. I was all over the place, growing up most notably in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
Brand most admired: Nike
Favorite vacation spot: Bermuda, because of the pink sand, and Puerto Rico
Favorite movie: “Hoop Dreams”
Favorite musician: Billy Joel. I went to six Billy Joel concerts in 2006

What will be the biggest challenge in your new position?
Getting the name out to the people who need it.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
Leaving my job as chief diversity officer at the USTA to launch Sports Talkers.

What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Launching the USTA Office of Diversity and embedding diversity as a business imperative and not a social obligation.

What is your company’s competitive advantage?
We take an internal and proactive approach. That means to get in while the player is young or while the player is growing and developing a brand. We don’t just do the media part. We take a more holistic and personal approach in terms of understanding what the player’s or executive’s goals are in terms of the bigger picture. We look at it as a lifestyle, as developing a personal brand.

What career advice do you have for people wanting into the sports industry?
I will quote BET’s Entrepreneur Award honoree B. Smith, “Be willing to climb a mountain of no's to get to one yes.”

What is the one element you would like to see changed about the sports industry?
I would like to see greater diversity overall in the front office and in fans for all sports.

This career spotlight is courtesy of the SportsBusiness Journal. CLICK HERE to visit their official website.