Chiara Luna Pilato

Hi! My name is Chiara Luna Pilato. I’m originally from Nicaragua, and I’m a second-year graduate student at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, where I’m pursuing my Master of Global Management with a focus on global business.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

I applied to Torch because I saw it as an incredible opportunity to continue finding my place in the sports industry. Sports have always been a big part of my life, but professionally, I’m still at the beginning of my career. After gaining my first experience on the business side of professional sports this past summer, I knew it was an industry I wanted to continue exploring. Torch stood out to me because of its focus on developing the next generation of leaders and creating opportunities for students from underserved communities.

What are your future career goals?

My long-term goal is to build a career on the business side of sports or entertainment.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

I think Torch will help me become much more intentional about how I build my career. At this stage, I’m still learning what different career paths within sports look like, what skills I need to continue developing, and how to position the experiences I already have. Having a mentor who can challenge me, provide feedback, and help me think through those decisions will be incredibly valuable. I also think the program will push me outside of my comfort zone, strengthen my confidence as a young professional, and give me a better understanding of what it takes to build a long-term career in the industry.

Denver Matthews

My name is Denver Matthews, and I am a junior, Communication Studies major, and Business Administration minor at Morehouse College.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentorship Program?

My inspiration to apply for the Torch Mentorship Program came from my passion for becoming a well-rounded leader in the sports industry. I see this program as an opportunity to build meaningful connections while learning from some of the best leaders and sports professionals.

What are your future career goals?

Becoming a global sports business executive for a major sports organization.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

Torch will prepare me to achieve my career goals by providing me with hands-on experience, networking, and confidence as an emerging professional in sports.

Kaleb Moore

Hello. My name is Kaleb Moore, a graduating junior with a Business Management major from Prince George's County, Maryland.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

My passion for sports started when I was thrown into every sport as a little kid, where I always found joy and somehow ended up in a captain role on all of my teams. As I got older and continued playing sports, my mindset began expanding from leading on the field, as my football career was coming to an end at Hampton University, to leading and finding myself off the field, where my career is just beginning.

I have found myself naturally taking the lead professionally, whether it's a class discussion or one of my two national case competition wins, and I've realized leadership comes naturally to me. My love for continuing to build my sports network while navigating an upcoming graduation, combined with my love for leading efficiently while always recognizing room for improvement, made coming across the Torch Mentorship Program feel like a gold mine.

What are your future career goals?

My future career goal is to work in sports-adjacent business, specifically on the financial and strategic side, with long-term aspirations of a director or chief-level role supporting business strategy and financial planning.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

Ms. Williams thoughtfully pairing me with Cooper Trahern, the Director of Finance for the USA Basketball Foundation, is going to allow me to pick the brain of someone in a leadership role at a sports-adjacent company and will truly give me insight into what it takes to lead a financial team at a successful company. Getting the perspective of someone of this caliber one-on-one is going to be a huge step for my confidence and optimistic mindset.

Joshua “JJ” Montelongo

Hi! My name is Joshua Jaden Montelongo. Everyone has called me JJ my whole life, so feel free! I'm a graduate student at the University of Washington studying Education Policy & Leadership Studies - Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

Knowing opportunity is a privilege, I've always been someone who has tried to maximize the opportunities that are or could be in front of me. Where I'm from, mentorship isn't easily available, and only one person has had a career in the sports world. I want kids like me, and from where I'm from, to look at me and be inspired to chase their dreams.

What are your future career goals?

My future career goals involve an athlete-facing role where I can contribute to success on the court/field and success in the world. One day I'll tell you professional coaching, one day I'll tell you professional player personnel, and one day I'll tell you that I'm going to be P4 AD. I know that the year with Torch will help me flesh out exactly what my near-future career goals are and where I want to put my full effort first.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

Sports are a world of people, and it's the people who make sports special. I want to meet those people and become one of those people!

Leah Richardson

Hi! My name is Leah Richardson, I am a 2nd year MBA candidate with a concentration in Sports Management and Entertainment at Clark Atlanta University from Tracy, CA.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

I was inspired to apply for the Torch Mentorship Program after seeing some of my peers go through the program and grow both personally and professionally. I had the opportunity to speak with them about their experiences, and they shared nothing but positive things about the program and how impactful it was for their development. Hearing how Torch helped them gain confidence, build relationships, and grow in their careers made me want to experience that same opportunity for myself. I knew that Torch could provide the mentorship and guidance I need as I continue building my career in the sports and entertainment industry.

What are your future career goals?

My goal is to build a career in the sports and entertainment industry, particularly in partnerships, premium services, event operations, brand activation, or fan engagement. I want to work for a major sports organization or brand where I can create meaningful experiences and build strong relationships with clients, partners, and fans. Long term, I hope to grow into a leadership role where I can help create opportunities and increase representation for women and Black women in the sports industry.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

I believe Torch will help me reach my career goals by giving me access to mentorship, industry knowledge, and professional connections. Learning directly from someone with experience will help me better understand how to navigate the sports and entertainment industry and make informed career decisions. I also hope to gain confidence, strengthen my professional skills, and learn how to position myself for future opportunities.

Madison Galloway

I am Madison Galloway, a junior Business Marketing scholar at Norfolk State University, hailing from Detroit, Michigan.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

When applying for the Torch Mentorship Program, I was attracted to the small cohort and how personal the program felt. I loved that I would be able to have one-on-one sessions with my mentor while still being able to connect with and learn from my peers through online communication and our in-person meetups throughout the semesters. I truly admire the dedication the program has to developing the younger generation and preparing us for the real world.

What are your future career goals?

In the future, I want to continue pursuing a career in sports marketing and/or fashion retail marketing. These are industries I have been passionate about since my early teenage years, and opportunities like this make those career goals feel more real and achievable.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

I think participating in Torch will help me reach those goals by giving me the opportunity to learn directly from someone who has experience in the industry. Having a mentor who can give me advice, answer my questions, and help me navigate different career opportunities will allow me to become more confident and intentional about my next steps. I also believe the connections and experiences I gain through the program will help prepare me for the professional world.

Nile Thaxton

I'm Nile Thaxton, a graduate candidate studying Business Analytics at George Mason University.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

What inspired me to apply for this program was to be able to further expand my knowledge and network of the sports industry along with taking another shot since I didn't make it last year. Along with that, understanding how this program focuses on putting students like myself in spaces we aspire to be in.

What are your future career goals?

My future career goals are to work within a professional basketball front office and eventually become a president of basketball operations or general manager.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

The program not only provides me a wealth of resources and network directly tied to pro basketball operations but with my mentor having previously worked as a general manager in the NBA G League, I'll have the opportunity to build and chart my oath and to utilize the new positions and space the program opens me up to along with utilizing my current spaces and opportunities effectively.

Travis Dalton

My name is Travis Dalton. I am a senior at Morehouse College majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. I am from Augusta, Georgia.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

I was inspired to apply for the Torch Mentorship Program because of its personal approach to professional development. The opportunity to receive one-on-one mentorship from established leaders within USA Basketball while also learning alongside a small cohort immediately stood out to me. I knew the program could expose me to new areas of the sports industry and help me become more intentional about my career.

What are your future career goals?

My future career goal is to become a sports agent representing professional athletes in the NFL and NBA. I want to advocate for athletes beyond contract negotiations by helping them build their brands, secure valuable partnerships, prepare for life after sports, and make a lasting impact in their communities.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

I believe participating in Torch will help me reach my goals by giving me direct access to experienced sports professionals who can provide mentorship, knowledge, and honest guidance. The program will also help me strengthen my leadership and communication skills, better understand the business behind an elite sports organization, and build relationships with people who share my passion for the industry.

Will Sears

My name is Will Sears, and I’m originally from Westchester, New York. I’m currently a senior at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in Business Administration.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

Torch has been on my radar since I first got to college. I’ve had the chance to see people I know go through the program, and they always spoke highly of their experiences and the relationships they were able to build. Seeing how they grew and were able to leverage the program made me want to experience it for myself.

What are your future career goals?

My long-term goal is to become an NBA agent. I want to build a career where I can represent athletes and help them navigate opportunities both on and off the court.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

I want to build my career in basketball, so having the opportunity to learn through USA Basketball is something I’m really excited about. I believe Torch will put me in rooms with people I can learn from, give me the chance to share my goals, and help me build meaningful relationships. I’m grateful that Torch is putting me in the game, but I also know it’s up to me to perform and make the most of every opportunity.

Zuri Sims

Greetings, I am Zuri Sims, a spring 2025 graduate of Florida A&M University and a current Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Sport Business Management (MSBM) candidate at the University of Central Florida in its DeVos Sport Business Management Program, graduating in the spring of 2027.

What inspired you to apply for the Torch Mentoring Program?

My path into sports was unique in the sense that I grew up as an athlete but never considered a career in sports until I was about halfway through college. I thought I'd left the sports world behind after high school to focus on business, until an internship with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024 pulled me back in with no prior sports business experience. Since then, I've built experience across the NBA, NFL, NHL, USGA, and collegiate athletics, largely by saying yes to opportunities and following my curiosity. Now, as I near the end of my dual Master's program, I'm looking for mentorship to help me make sense of everything I've gathered and turn it into a clear next step to jumpstart a career.

What are your future career goals?

I want to build a career at the intersection of community engagement, athlete relations, and business strategy. I don't believe my "dream" job title has been created yet, which gives me room to keep being a sponge and apply transferable skills across multiple areas of sports business. As a Spring 2027 graduate, my immediate goal is to step into the industry full-time with a clear sense of direction, even if that means starting in one specific avenue first.

How do you think participating in Torch will help you reach those goals?

Torch would guide me to figure out how to start focused without losing sight of the bigger, more integrated career I'm working toward. With the help of mentors, I hope to streamline my experiences into a clear and compelling journey for employers. I also believe participating in Torch can help me use my final year of grad school as intentionally as possible before I enter the industry full-time.