Teresa Powanda is Owner of Unleash Sports Business and Athlete Consulting

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[00:00] SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Canada's podcast, the number one podcast for entrepreneurs by
[00:06] SPEAKER_00: entrepreneurs. Hello and welcome to Edmonton's podcast on Canada's podcast
[00:12] SPEAKER_00: network on your host Mario Taniguchi joining me today is Teresa
[00:16] SPEAKER_00: Polanda who is the owner of Unleash Sports Business and Athlete Consulting
[00:22] SPEAKER_00: in Edmonton. Thanks for joining us today Teresa. Thank you Mario it's a pleasure to be
[00:26] SPEAKER_00: here. Okay let me just start by asking you just exactly what the company is and
[00:32] SPEAKER_01: what you do. What I do is basically represent the business side of sports
[00:37] SPEAKER_01: which is an extreme passion of mine. For example we represent athletes mostly
[00:42] SPEAKER_01: clientele are Olympians and then what we do from there is basically work on
[00:47] SPEAKER_01: contracts, sponsorships and partnerships, anything literally that has to do with
[00:52] SPEAKER_00: business side of sports including consulting. Okay what kind of athletes do you have in your
[00:57] SPEAKER_01: area? Currently right now in my area I'm working with Alicia Rizzling so the
[01:02] SPEAKER_01: Bob's Lead Pilot from Caligary as well as Haley Daniels, Knu, Sola Mist and I work
[01:08] SPEAKER_01: with Marietta O'Dine which is from Prince George along with some soccer
[01:12] SPEAKER_00: international players. Okay and can you maybe explain this a little bit more just
[01:16] SPEAKER_00: like you know what exactly do you do for that? What I do is I basically represent
[01:22] SPEAKER_01: them if they need any negotiations with contracts I do that any assistance with
[01:27] SPEAKER_01: branding, I find them sponsorships, partnerships and speaking engagements are
[01:31] SPEAKER_01: really the main areas that I focus on. Now the athletes themselves how you know
[01:38] SPEAKER_00: how important is this for them you know obviously they do a lot of training
[01:44] SPEAKER_00: spend a lot of time training and competing they really do need something you
[01:50] SPEAKER_00: know someone else to handle that part of their quote unquote business I guess right?
[01:55] SPEAKER_01: Right exactly and it is basically a business it's a very good question because
[01:59] SPEAKER_01: especially right now I think it makes a big difference they do spend a lot of
[02:04] SPEAKER_01: time like you just mentioned training they sometimes have two three jobs that
[02:08] SPEAKER_01: they're doing so they're extremely busy and these times right now even
[02:13] SPEAKER_01: including mental health training is a big portion of that as well so their time is
[02:18] SPEAKER_01: very consumed both physically and mentally training as well as any jobs or
[02:23] SPEAKER_01: anything that they have so to have someone like myself that is spending the
[02:26] SPEAKER_01: time with them financially helping them with funding and any speaking engagements
[02:32] SPEAKER_01: branding and any opportunities for partnerships makes an absolute difference.
[02:37] SPEAKER_00: Okay and Teresa can you talk a little bit about just the importance of
[02:42] SPEAKER_00: sponsorship for them obviously you know over the years we've had some
[02:47] SPEAKER_00: challenging times you know at the corporate level I've you know some years
[02:52] SPEAKER_00: support for for athletes is good other years it's down a bit depending on the
[02:58] SPEAKER_00: economy you know why is it critical for them to receive sort of corporate support?
[03:04] SPEAKER_01: It is very critical because for some of them they would not be competing they
[03:09] SPEAKER_01: would not be representing our country a lot of people have the idea that the
[03:14] SPEAKER_01: government funds majority of their equipment travel coaching etc and that is
[03:21] SPEAKER_01: just not the case so sponsorship and partnership opportunities is huge for
[03:26] SPEAKER_01: them because it gives a new equipment for example a new box lead or a new
[03:30] SPEAKER_01: new new new snow equipment to train so it makes a crucial crucial opportunity
[03:37] SPEAKER_01: for them just to keep training because then those funds unfortunately are
[03:42] SPEAKER_01: coming out of their pocket which sometimes makes it extremely difficult
[03:46] SPEAKER_01: because there's only so much I guess family or friends that can help out
[03:51] SPEAKER_01: right and I think people unfortunately don't understand the cost of what it is
[03:55] SPEAKER_01: for example of a box lead the cost are phenomenal. Yeah and I guess do you
[04:02] SPEAKER_00: find then that in the ebbs and flows of that of the economy that impacts the
[04:08] SPEAKER_01: support that they get? It definitely does and you just have to get more
[04:13] SPEAKER_01: creative with the sponsorship and partnership you know ideas you just have to
[04:17] SPEAKER_01: get a little bit more thinking outside the box but there is opportunity out there
[04:23] SPEAKER_01: absolutely but supporting them makes a big difference. Tell me a little bit
[04:28] SPEAKER_00: about yourself like you you mentioned you have an interest in this area can you
[04:34] SPEAKER_00: talk about that like how did you get involved in this and why? I was an athlete
[04:41] SPEAKER_01: myself I played many sports competitively since I was a very young age in
[04:46] SPEAKER_01: elementary school that was a passion of mine it was an outlet I love to compete I
[04:51] SPEAKER_01: couldn't see myself doing anything else and then since high school I just love
[04:54] SPEAKER_01: the business side of sports and getting into it and told basically that I
[04:59] SPEAKER_01: should look elsewhere and think of another career literally is what I told
[05:03] SPEAKER_01: it was told because it's a man's industry and I would never make it and that
[05:09] SPEAKER_01: just fueled me more motivated me more to prove them wrong which I did and I got
[05:14] SPEAKER_01: a university degree in physical education and always wanted to work with
[05:18] SPEAKER_01: athletes. What's it like working with athletes? It's fantastic I love it you know
[05:24] SPEAKER_01: sometimes it could be challenging of course you know they're across the world
[05:28] SPEAKER_01: right so sometimes the communication makes a little bit difficult but you know
[05:33] SPEAKER_01: I love it at the end of the day I'm assisting them and especially with
[05:38] SPEAKER_01: Olympic athletes just seeing you know all the opportunities they have I enjoy
[05:43] SPEAKER_01: doing what I can and it's not just a client for me for me these are friendships
[05:48] SPEAKER_01: these are partnerships and people that I work with know they could reach me 24
[05:53] SPEAKER_01: seven literally because I am here for them not just as an agent or
[05:58] SPEAKER_01: representative but I am there for them consulting they need me any time of the
[06:02] SPEAKER_01: day even if they're you know not feeling good because of what's going on right
[06:05] SPEAKER_01: now and they're you know literally having maybe a difficult time training they
[06:09] SPEAKER_00: know they can reach me anytime. Yeah how are how are the athletes you're dealing
[06:13] SPEAKER_00: with right now? Dealing with the current situation and the fact you know
[06:18] SPEAKER_00: depending on where different athletes are obviously there's been different
[06:23] SPEAKER_01: restrictions on sports etc. It's making it challenging I'm not gonna lie you
[06:28] SPEAKER_01: know sometimes there is some frustration their energy levels have been you
[06:35] SPEAKER_01: know sometimes up and down but maintaining a positive attitude is really the
[06:40] SPEAKER_01: key right and it's learning how to do things a little bit differently so
[06:45] SPEAKER_01: working out at home to some of my athletes work out they've transformed their
[06:49] SPEAKER_01: garage literally into you know workout center instead of going in to do yoga
[06:54] SPEAKER_01: or mental training they now created an area in their home that they can do so. So
[06:59] SPEAKER_01: there has been changes and sometimes it's difficult to stay positive but that's
[07:05] SPEAKER_01: why we have the resources that we do and that's why just trying to you know keep
[07:11] SPEAKER_01: exercising and meditating is also so important. When did you start doing this
[07:18] SPEAKER_01: what year? I started doing this on my own in 2010. When you look forward you know
[07:25] SPEAKER_00: what's your vision of what you want to do with this? I would like to advocate for
[07:30] SPEAKER_01: girls and for women in the industry so I see a huge opportunity to increase
[07:36] SPEAKER_01: participation with girls playing sports and just the opportunity of watching women
[07:40] SPEAKER_01: on TV having more women come into the you know industry because again I still
[07:45] SPEAKER_01: think that till this day unfortunately it's still something that we hear it's
[07:49] SPEAKER_01: really difficult for us to be successful at that level and whatnot as a
[07:53] SPEAKER_01: woman today and I just want to be able to make a difference and a positive
[07:58] SPEAKER_01: impact as much as I can and of course continuing to make a difference with these
[08:02] SPEAKER_01: athletes because they really could use the assistance. Okay now when you started
[08:07] SPEAKER_00: this business as an entrepreneur what were your biggest challenges in
[08:12] SPEAKER_01: starting this? Biggest challenges is to grow a client tell to make the
[08:17] SPEAKER_01: contacts contacts for me to have those proper connections with people and of
[08:23] SPEAKER_01: course it's a different mindset when you're at home or in an office doing your
[08:28] SPEAKER_01: entrepreneur stuff and are you are working for someone else so it's your
[08:32] SPEAKER_01: schedule it's you knowing what works and what doesn't work so it's a little bit
[08:36] SPEAKER_01: of that but definitely having those contacts of the right people whether it be
[08:43] SPEAKER_00: corporate or athletes themselves. Okay and when you look at being an entrepreneur
[08:49] SPEAKER_00: what are the things that you enjoy most about being your own boss I guess so to
[08:54] SPEAKER_01: speak? Probably the most is the flexibility definitely
[08:58] SPEAKER_01: flexibility so if I need to take a day off or if there's something that I need to
[09:03] SPEAKER_01: do or you know what not have that flexibility what also a lot of people
[09:08] SPEAKER_01: understand it's it's not just all cherries on top of whipped cream I mean it's
[09:15] SPEAKER_01: it's sometimes it is difficult and you are working literally 24-7 my mind
[09:20] SPEAKER_01: doesn't shut off right so I could be working until midnight that's just the
[09:25] SPEAKER_01: way it goes I could be up five o'clock in the morning I could be taking calls
[09:28] SPEAKER_01: at 4am right so you know it's it's stuff like that there's a lot of perks to it
[09:36] SPEAKER_01: I mean especially if you want to have your you know meetings with somebody if I
[09:40] SPEAKER_01: wanted to go play around a golf same for example with somebody who owns a
[09:45] SPEAKER_01: company right we can do a lot of discussion on on the golf course or things like
[09:48] SPEAKER_01: that so there's there's a lot of that which is great now when you you look at
[09:54] SPEAKER_00: as I said you have a sports background what do you think you learn from your
[09:59] SPEAKER_00: sports background that that has helped you in being a business owner wow
[10:06] SPEAKER_01: confidence I would say builds up your confidence working both as yourself was
[10:13] SPEAKER_01: an entrepreneur but also with other people I'd say the determination
[10:19] SPEAKER_01: definitely and the motivation and you're also know how to what sort of
[10:25] SPEAKER_01: looking for know how to be better with your schedule right so you know those
[10:32] SPEAKER_01: things there's a lot of things that you learn as an athlete that you can use
[10:36] SPEAKER_01: of those skills especially the things that you learn as a teammate in terms of
[10:42] SPEAKER_00: setting up the business itself well you know did you have any I don't know
[10:49] SPEAKER_00: mentors or did you have any specific pieces of advice that you took to heart I
[10:57] SPEAKER_01: think just the attitude of go for it kind of stuck in my mind it was something my
[11:01] SPEAKER_01: mom always said is you know don't let anything you know pass you by as an
[11:05] SPEAKER_01: opportunity if there's something that you really want to do and then you're
[11:08] SPEAKER_01: passionate about just go for it right so that was the biggest one for me I
[11:12] SPEAKER_01: don't really have mentors but I think just those you know previous experiences I
[11:16] SPEAKER_01: had working you know for other people and seeing how they were as supervisors
[11:21] SPEAKER_01: or mentors through the job or things that maybe I saw that there can be a
[11:25] SPEAKER_01: improvement on you know I can do on my own that kind of drawing I've always had
[11:30] SPEAKER_01: the drive and I've always been one of those people that really wanted to make
[11:33] SPEAKER_01: a difference especially when it came to girls and sports because back when I was
[11:38] SPEAKER_01: younger unfortunately there was no WMBA there was no other sports that
[11:43] SPEAKER_01: wouldn't be more playing except for really the Olympics and maybe props tennis
[11:46] SPEAKER_00: what about having a business in Alberta what are your thoughts there like is
[11:53] SPEAKER_00: is it conducive in terms of the business climate environment to own a business
[12:00] SPEAKER_01: here in this province I think there is always opportunities and it's really
[12:06] SPEAKER_01: who you are as a person if you are very determined motivated and have the
[12:11] SPEAKER_01: drive to be an entrepreneur you'll do whatever it takes to make that happen
[12:16] SPEAKER_01: whether you're in Alberta whether you're out east whether you're in BC I don't
[12:21] SPEAKER_01: think that so much you know plays a role times are just different right now and
[12:26] SPEAKER_01: people have to look at things and think of things maybe a little bit
[12:29] SPEAKER_01: differently of how we do in their business you know obviously here in Alberta
[12:34] SPEAKER_01: you know for example oil and gas of course you know has made a very significant
[12:39] SPEAKER_01: change here and impact but where you would see them you know sponsoring for
[12:45] SPEAKER_01: example some of your Olympic athletes they're not enforcing doing that right
[12:48] SPEAKER_01: now but that just means that you look in different areas so I think businesses
[12:53] SPEAKER_01: can't thrive right now I still do believe that I just think it depends like it's
[12:59] SPEAKER_01: the plan that you put in place and if you're driven and you absolutely this is
[13:04] SPEAKER_01: your dream this is what you want to do you will make it happen so are you from
[13:09] SPEAKER_00: Edmonton like born and raised or I am so you've lived in those province and
[13:15] SPEAKER_00: you've seen the ups and downs because of the oral patch and you know one thing
[13:19] SPEAKER_00: that everybody always talks about in terms of Alberta is sort of the entrepreneurial
[13:24] SPEAKER_00: spirit that's here have you seen that do you notice that I have I actually have
[13:30] SPEAKER_01: and I think community is huge so we like to support those of our own and in
[13:34] SPEAKER_01: the community so I think it's fabulous for that in terms of the athletes that you
[13:41] SPEAKER_00: I guess are targeting for lack of a better word you know for as clients is there
[13:47] SPEAKER_00: anything that do you want to focus specifically on the sort of the Olympians or
[13:54] SPEAKER_00: do you have any intention of going out into the into other areas whether it be
[13:59] SPEAKER_01: professional sports or that's a very good question I've had that before I would
[14:04] SPEAKER_01: not turn down a professional athlete that specifically wanted my help that's
[14:10] SPEAKER_01: just not who I am right and I'd love to help others and I have the opportunity
[14:15] SPEAKER_01: to do that I specifically like working with Olympic athletes just because I just
[14:22] SPEAKER_01: see so much opportunity and the need to help them they represent our country
[14:27] SPEAKER_01: which is amazing and they put all that time and energy and I see that there's
[14:32] SPEAKER_01: so much opportunity for sponsorship and partnerships out there so I love doing
[14:37] SPEAKER_01: that I love making a difference in their life professional athletes they they
[14:43] SPEAKER_01: have you know a lot of things that they can meet and other people that can help
[14:48] SPEAKER_01: but I love working with Olympic athletes it's just what I like to do and you know
[14:53] SPEAKER_01: some opportunities that may come up in Africa things like that people have
[14:57] SPEAKER_01: approached me to work with soccer or football there and whatnot and help their
[15:01] SPEAKER_01: athletes there so that's you know an opportunity that I might look at some
[15:05] SPEAKER_01: projects definitely advocating but I think I'm gonna stay within the a
[15:10] SPEAKER_00: Olympic area of things okay one of the you know the issues of our time is
[15:16] SPEAKER_00: work life balance right everybody always talks about that let me just ask you
[15:22] SPEAKER_00: like how do you think you're doing in terms of that work life balance I think
[15:27] SPEAKER_01: I'm doing good I mean I probably have my days like everybody else right as I
[15:32] SPEAKER_01: put on my wood burning fireplace and just you know look at the flames and
[15:37] SPEAKER_01: listen to the crackle you know it's soothing for me you know it brings that
[15:41] SPEAKER_01: down if I need to I do fairly well I go for a walk every day I meditate I
[15:49] SPEAKER_01: exercise so I think I find that balance very well but with that being said like
[15:54] SPEAKER_01: I do have my moments like everybody else and it's just important to like you
[15:58] SPEAKER_01: said find that balance right that you're not overdoing it and you know you're
[16:03] SPEAKER_01: staying as positive as possible that's really important yeah I guess especially
[16:07] SPEAKER_00: now right and this time it's even more so for for people to remain positive right it
[16:13] SPEAKER_01: is yeah times are different and challenging right now so it's really important
[16:17] SPEAKER_01: especially when there's a lot of people that are staying at home right sometimes
[16:20] SPEAKER_00: that gets a little beat too much yeah what do you think you know if you were
[16:27] SPEAKER_00: offering people words of wisdom and advice about dealing with the especially
[16:34] SPEAKER_00: the times that we're in right now what we just say to them I think just something
[16:38] SPEAKER_01: we just touched on right now you have to find the balance between work home
[16:42] SPEAKER_01: health you have to stay healthy and mindset to be as focused as you can you have
[16:49] SPEAKER_01: to have a positive attitude and it's really hard and sometimes easier said than done
[16:53] SPEAKER_01: but you really have to find the balance I would say if you're feeling down or
[16:58] SPEAKER_01: unfortunately if you're not coping well and you know you feel you benefit from
[17:04] SPEAKER_01: talking to someone or whatnot I would say that use the resources that are out
[17:09] SPEAKER_01: there that's very very important because there are a lot of resources that
[17:12] SPEAKER_01: people can use there are exercises you know meditation things like that that
[17:18] SPEAKER_01: people can you know search and do things at home comfortably in their home I
[17:22] SPEAKER_01: would just say don't give up you know things will get better stay positive and
[17:28] SPEAKER_01: someone is always there if you need them okay super well thanks a lot to
[17:32] SPEAKER_01: Theresa for joining us today thank you I appreciate the time and opportunity
[17:36] SPEAKER_00: you're discussing with you Mario okay super that was Theresa Polanda who is
[17:41] SPEAKER_00: owner of Unleash Sports Business and Athlete Consulting at Edmonton this has
[17:46] SPEAKER_00: been Edmonton's podcast on Canada's podcast network on your host Mario
[17:51] SPEAKER_00: Toneguzi thanks for joining us today