Influential Woman · Sports Broadcasting Media

Madison Mendez

President of Jaguar Sports Network at TAMUSA, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

San Antonio, Tx, TX

1Award received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Texas A&M San Antonio Degree Communications Major (current Degree Incoming sophomore) Degree Heido High School Degree Katy Degree Texas (graduated)

Her Story

About Madison

I'm an incoming sophomore at Texas A&M San Antonio, where I'm majoring in communications with the dream of becoming a sports reporter. I originally went to high school at Heido High School in Katy, on the outskirts of Houston, and chose Texas A&M San Antonio after getting capped from Texas A&M College Station. I decided to stay an extra year because of the incredible opportunity I have in San Antonio right now. Last year, I got promoted from an intern for my school's sports network to president of the Sports Network for Texas A&M San Antonio, and I've been in this role for less than a year. My day-to-day involves balancing my two to three classes with managing our sports network. I spend as much time studying as I do preparing for games and broadcasts. Most days, after class, I go to our media room to prepare everything, keep in contact with my team, help everybody set up, answer any questions, and make sure everyone understands what they're doing so our broadcasts and podcasts run smoothly. Beyond my work in sports broadcasting, I also enjoy painting and do photography on the side, and right now I'm learning videography for sports board. Five years from now, I hope to have graduated from college and be entering the sports industry, working my way up at a news company in San Antonio or Houston.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Madison

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say that I just want to make sure that I never make any excuses with what I do in my work, and I want to make sure that I work as hard as I can to be able to be successful. I don't let anything hold me back or give myself reasons not to push forward. It's about putting in the effort and staying committed to doing my best in everything I take on.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Probably to not be afraid to try new things and to apply for jobs even though I'm still young. A lot of people, especially my advisors, they tell me just to go for it and that I can learn along the way. That advice has really stuck with me because it's encouraged me to take opportunities I might have otherwise been too hesitant to pursue.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

One of the biggest challenges is just being a woman in sports. There's a lot of times where I've received comments from men or from referees and stuff like that, just about my job, and some people not taking me seriously. I had to learn how to respond to that and how to not let that discourage me. It's a male-dominated industry, so navigating that and proving myself has been an ongoing challenge.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I always say to stay kind to everybody that I meet. And I want to do everything that I do in the future and right now to help women in sports, because it is a really big male-dominated industry. I just want to make sure I'm kind to everybody, and I want to let other women know that they can also work in sports without having to be intimidated by others or stuff like that. Kindness and supporting other women are at the core of what I do.

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