Eddie Taylor, NIL Director at the Institution of the Year’s University of Cincinnati, took to the NIL Awards stage with gravitas, delivering a rousing call to action for every student-athlete and Influencer-in-the-making:  

It’s the best time in human history to be you. Take every inch of it and just build your brand, post your content… it’s your time to BE YOU.

There was a standing ovation. A celebration of the bright lights and big opportunities that lie ahead- for those willing to put in the work. Fortunately for all the student-athletes attending this year’s Influencer NIL Summit, hard work and determination are not something that has been taken lightly – to even be in the room required a nomination from their university. The select 300 in attendance were in for three days of education, inspiration, and connection in the world of Name, Image, and Likeness. 

From NCAA President Charlie Baker’s enlightening session about the future of NIL regulations to Soul Cole’s motivational mindset boot camp, there was much to be learned at the 2024 Influencer NIL Summit! 

Top 5 Takeaways:

1) You Don’t Need 5-Star Athletes to Have A Successful NIL Program 

We can all learn more about innovation from Eddie Taylor, who says, 

We don’t have 5-stars running around, we have 5-star personalities, 5-star brands. And showing them how to use it, how to use what we have… empower your student-athletes to believe in themselves. Once they start running, it’ll take care of itself.

We loved hearing the creative ways NIL Administrations across the country are supporting their student-athletes. From Eddie Taylor’s constant program innovation to the way Maddie Walsh, Assistant Director of NIL at UCLA has adapted their programs to include a wider array of support services, like the incorporation of free contract review from UCLA’s School of Law. Administrator support can change the lives of so many, just by listening and learning from student-athletes in real time. 

2) Change Starts with a Listening Ear

Former Massachusetts Governor, now NCAA President, Charlie Baker, wowed the crowds with a Players Town Hall address to kick off the NIL Summit. As he outlined the new programs in partnership with Meta and the educational resources now available to student-athletes from Invesco QQQ and Influencer, it became clear that every move Charlie makes is made with care and a listening ear: 

The [student-athlete] voice is heard and appreciated and incorporated into our decision-making. It’s important to me that that voice be represented because it has provided us with enormously useful information.

We’re entering a new era of NIL and with it, more NCAA regulations to better serve the athletes. Regulations that came from listening and learning from athletes living, breathing and playing the NIL game now.

3) FACT: If You’re Active with NIL, You’re An Entrepreneur

In the eyes of the US Government, student-athletes capitalizing on their NIL are considered self-employed. So it’s no surprise that most of the sessions at NIL Summit were geared towards helping athletes navigate life as an entrepreneur. Afterall, it’s a journey many are unprepared for as Freshmen just flying the coop. Intuit Turbo Tax’s Kat Reekmans and NFL legend Brandon Cole were onsite to help student-athletes with the two things all entrepreneurs need a handle on: finances and mental fortitude. 

• Kat Reekmans sprinkled her best tax tips and tricks into a session, advising students to tuck away at least 20-25% of their income for tax purposes and keep an emergency savings fund that covers at least three months‘ worth of expenses.
• Soul Cole and Marcus Smith II led a moving meditation that brought tears and heartfelt conversations. The key takeaway? It’s important to integrate mindful meditation practices to keep you mentally strong as you build your brand.

4) A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Despite the individual nature of NIL and how ‘me’ centric it can be, there was a lot of talk about advocacy – about the power we all have to do good – especially after hearing the motivation behind Student Advocate of the Year, Gabe McGlothan’s win. He encouraged others to leverage the power of their brand to lead in a positive way: to be an advocate, not just a social media star. To uplift your community and give back to the village that supports your rise.

5) Content Creation Should Be Fun

Shining bright with a fresh spin on things is the name of the game for content creators. But creative blocks and the pressure to always be ‘on’ can take its toll on student-athletes with a full plate. Luckily partners like Campus Ink and the NIL Store provide student-athletes with the opportunity to celebrate their uniqueness with bespoke merchandise. Their dream team of designers make fly-off-the-shelves merchandise a breeze – it was great to see it live in action at the Expo! 

One thing’s for sure: there are a lot of changes afoot for NIL and collegiate athletics. Stay close to Influencer to support you on this journey.  This summer is an exciting one, with the release of new tech tools from Teamworks Influencer that are sure to change the game for athletes and administrators alike. Stay tuned!