Brittany Gilman, owner of BG Sports Marketing and PR Firm, says before you envy her very cool job, try walking a mile in her stilettos. Gilman didn’t get the “street cred” needed to represent some of the biggest NFL players in the league without being a little battle tested. She refers to her years as a strength coach intern in USC’s high profile athletic department as an “initiation” into the male dominated sports world.
“Picture at 5″3′ my little self trying to order these massive men around and fight the stereotype that I was trying to meet athletes or get ‘wifed up.’ The whole time I was there I walked on egg shells to do everything right and to be the best strength coach I could be… The clothes they gave me hid the fact that I was a woman, the shoes were three sizes too big. People thought I had really big feet!”
It’s no wonder Gilman’s attire was such a big deal during her tenure at USC, given all the scrutiny women in the sports world have received over their attire in recent weeks. ESPN reporter Hannah Storm was recently criticized for a short dress she wore out on a shoot at a basketball court. Then there was the whole Ines Sainz “bootylicious” jeans in the locker room debacle. Gilman says it’s as much a responsibility of women in the sports world as it is of athletes to draw boundaries and maintain a level of mutual respect.
“It takes a very strong and independent, intelligent woman to be able to work in the industry and draw that line. Those types of women are very rare. I personally have heard of women in the industry with not the best reputations. I don’t know if it’s true or not and I don’t always believe what I hear. I’m sure there are many (women) out there who are about their business. But I think there’s definitely a few bad apples that make it very difficult for any woman to come in the industry.”
Gilman also acknowledges that there’s a double standard in the sports industry in terms of how men and women are treated and perceived. She says she gets around these double standards and stereotypes by being direct and clear with potential clients and those she interacts with in the industry.
“I’m just extremely forward and tell them I’m about my business. I’m in this industry because I can help (them) so much on so many different levels. So yeah, (they) can hit on me and be attracted to me and I’m flattered but that’s not why I’m here. It’s just being true to yourself and being straight up.
Gilman’s direct approach is obviously working in her favor. BG Sports Marketing represents names like the Patriots 1st round pick Devin McCourty and Saints players Garrett Hartley and Roman Harper. She also does p.r. for Saints’ running back Pierre Thomas and Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley. Her success should serve as inspiration for other women aspiring to break into what’s been a “man’s world” for so long.
About nolachick
