Posted on WorkInSports.com: 10/18/2004
By: Jessie Lewis - SportsBusiness Journal
Name: Kristen Kuliga
Age: 35
New title: Vice president, celebrity services and vice president, K Sports division of Paid Inc.
Previous title: Principal, K Sports & Entertainment LLC
First job: Lifeguard, Cape Cod, Mass.
Education: Bachelor of arts (1991), cum laude, University of Massachusetts; J.D. (1994), Suffolk University Law School
Resides: Boston
Grew up: Assonet, Mass.
Executive most admires: Meg Whitman, president and CEO, eBay
Brand most admires: Nantucket Nectars
Favorite vacation spot: Harbour Island in the Bahamas and Nantucket
Last book read: “Widow for a Year” by John Irving
Last movie seen: “Anchorman”
Favorite movie: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
Favorite music: Classic rock and blues
Typical number of hours worked in a week: 50-60
With the addition of Kristen Kuliga, Paid Inc. also acquired sports marketing and event management firm K Sports & Entertainment as a division of the company.
Kuliga, in conjunction with her new title as vice president, celebrity services at Paid Inc., also changed titles from principal of K Sports & Entertainment to vice president of the K Sports division of Paid.
Kuliga is a player agent who represents seven NFL players and provides sports marketing services to several athletes. She recently discussed her move to join the team at Paid.
What’s the biggest challenge in your new position?
Integrating the various aspects of the business effectively. There will be essentially seven components within two divisions. On the celebrity services division, we will have a music business where we will develop and host musical artists, fan clubs and Web sites and manage their VIP ticketing programs and backstage events for fans; developing and hosting athlete Web sites and selling memorabilia; and hosting autograph sessions and other appearances for athletes. The K Sports business will have representation of NFL players; marketing athletes for endorsements and appearances; management of charitable events for athletes and corporations. We have seen the mergers of sports and entertainment businesses in the past with both large and small companies where some work well and some don’t. I think finding the synergy between all of them and working with the employees to make them feel a part of the overall team will be important.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Starting my own business.
What’s your biggest professional accomplishment?
Being the first woman to negotiate a multimillion-dollar contract for [an] NFL quarterback, Doug Flutie. It was a $30 million deal in 2001 with the San Diego Chargers.
What’s your biggest professional disappointment?
Having a client not get drafted who was expected to be drafted.
What is your career advice?
Follow your passion and don’t listen to people who say you can’t do it.
What one story are you continuing to watch in the sports business?
The sale of IMG.
What one element would you like to change about the sports industry?
Reinvent the “old boys network.” In the sports business, and in football business especially, it has been dominated by males and the old boys network where women for the most part hit the glass ceiling on being agents, working in the front office, etc. This has been changing and will continue to change, with more women involved in the business. The old boys network will have to be reinvented to allow women into this business network.
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