Meet Spry Team Member Jackson Donahue
Meet the team behind Spry’s compliance solution. Each week we share stories from the team at Spry highlighting their journey to joining the team, the work they do, and some quirky fun along the way.
Jackson Donahue
Position on the Team: Business Development Manager
Hometown: Pawcatuck, CT
Joined the Team: At the beginning!
Tell us a little bit about your background and what you did prior to joining Spry:
I am a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Class of 2019, where I enjoyed a 4-year career as a student-athlete on the Men’s Basketball team. I then decided to continue my education and attended Columbia University as a part of the Sport Management Masters program Class of 2020. I have worked a wide-variety of different jobs across different industries (Sports, Tech, Hospitality, Consulting and others), and know all of these have allowed me to bring a unique perspective to the Spry team!
In your own words, what do you do at Spry:
As the youngest member of the Spry team, I provide a fresh perspective on the life of a student-athlete. I’ve been fortunate to have had a hand in many different projects here at Spry, but my primary focus is on Business Development and having conversations with administrators and student-athletes to see how Spry can make their NIL journey easier.
What has been your favorite moment while being a Spry team member?
When we onboarded my Alma Mater (UPenn), I was able to reach back out to some of my former teammates who are still playing for the school and hear all of the great things Spry was able to provide for them on the NIL front. It’s certainly a gratifying feeling to give back to the teammates and University that made my experience as a student-athlete so special.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Play with my Pup ?
What is your favorite college sport to watch?
Basketball
Did you play a sport in college? If so, tell us about your experience as a student athlete:
My experience as a men’s basketball player at the University of Pennsylvania was everything I could have hoped for. I was blessed to have a phenomenal coaching staff that truly cared about the well being of their players above all else. I was surrounded by a great group of guys each of the four years I was there, whom felt like my brothers. And I had an athletic department that provided endless amounts of support and resources to their student-athletes so they could have a four year experience they would remember forever.
What is your biggest hope that NIL unlocks for student athletes?
I hope it unlocks the ability for them to finally reap some of the rewards that they help create for the entire industry with their hard-work and dedication.
If you could give one piece of advice to student athletes, what would it be?
Your position as a student-athlete shows that you’ve already proven that you can provide value to an organization. Take NIL as another opportunity to show your worth and capitalize on the opportunities that are now before you!
