The Brainbase Podcast Brainbase

On this episode of The Brainbase Podcast, we speak with sports licensing sensation Terése Whitehead, Vice President, Consumer Products and Strategy at the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). After earning her degree from the University of Michigan, Terése joined Chicago-based HA-LO Sports and Entertainment. Prior roles to HA-LO included the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers as a team marketing executive, working at Williams & Connolly in Washington D.C as Sports Marketing Specialist, and helping launch Tandem Sports + Entertainment, a full-service sports and entertainment agency.

In her current role with the NFLPA, Terése oversees strategic direction for more than 100 sponsors, licensees and new businesses seeking to utilize NFL players in their marketing and digital campaigns. Listen as we dive into her illustrious career, the amazing partnerships she is forging at the NFLPA, the ever-changing intellectual property landscape in sports, and the keys to her success, especially in today's digitally focused environment.

On this episode of The Brainbase Podcast, we're speaking with a true licensing powerhouse, Laura Takaragawa, VP of Consumer Products and Promotions at VIZ Media. Prior to VIZ Media, Laura served as VP of Licensing at Sanrio, VP of Consumer Products at National Geographic, and Head of Licensing at Netflix, in addition to roles earlier on in her career with Guess, Mattel, and Disney. 

Hear how Laura has climbed the ranks throughout her career at some of the licensing industry's biggest brands, her emphasis on the importance of connections, diversity and gratitude, some of the incredibly cool partnerships she has brought to life, and how VIZ Media has taken the anime world by storm. 

On this episode of The Brainbase Podcast, we're speaking with licensing maven Clara Fort, VP Global Brand Licensing at Eastman Kodak. Clara has also worked in licensing for Ben Sherman and Timberland. 

Learn how Clara has grown Kodak's licensing business with long-term strategic partnerships, helping them break into the top 50 in License Global’s 2020 top global licensors list, her keys to success, as well as her take on the challenges and opportunities that come from managing such iconic, global brands. 

On this episode of The Brainbase Podcast, we’re speaking with licensing powerhouse Tanya Visano, Executive Vice President of Global Sales, Business Development, and Licensing at McFarlane Toys. (You may know them as the company behind Spawn and licensed toys based on DC Comics, Fortnite, and My Hero Academia.) She’s also worked for some of the biggest licensors in the world, including ViacomCBS, MEGA Brands, and Disney.

Learn more about Tanya’s experience working as both a licensor and licensee, how she’s seen technology impact her work, and her advice about how to tackle a career in the licensing industry.

On this episode of The Brainbase Podcast, we’re talking with Tyler Rutstein, VP, General Merchandise Manager at Overtime. Overtime is one of the most well-known up-and-coming sports media companies with more than 50 million followers across social media, targeted towards the next generation of sports fans. Hear how Tyler chose to join the team at Overtime after his success at Adidas and Reebok, how Overtime’s collaboration strategies are paying off, and get the inside scoop on Overtime Elite: the new, revolutionary high school basketball league paying young athletes professional wages.

On this episode of The Brainbase Podcast, we’re joined by Josh Goodstadt from THINK450, the NBPA's licensing and business development entity! Listen as Josh discusses his journey into sports licensing, working at HBO (for all you Game of Thrones fans!), and being at the forefront of the NBA Top Shop & NFT craze.