Veronica Cribbs

I would say resilience and my mantra - I'm a firm believer in if you want to be her, you have to see her. When I got into sports, I had moments of self-doubt because I didn't go to a big school, didn't graduate with a big network, and didn't really have any connections that would pull for me or vouch for me. I really felt like I didn't belong. But once I started to put myself out there and be a little bit more vulnerable, every step along the way, whether it was a different position somewhere else, was a constant reminder that without tests, there is no testimony, and I am supposed to be here. It's gonna be a little hard because it's different, but I'm exactly where I belong. I just gotta continue to be myself and continue to better myself so I can continue to be here.

The best career advice I've ever received sounds really vague, but it's just keep doing what you're doing, especially when it comes from people who are in positions that I aspire to be in. Getting that reminder that they might have that bigger title, but they've also been there, and having them applaud what I'm doing reminds me of that. Also, if it was easy, everybody would do it.

The advice I would give to other women entering this field is that you can do it, as long as you constantly keep the mentality that you can do it. Essentially, you're untouchable as long as you keep that mentality. Once that mentality slips, that's when things don't start going your way. You have to, as crazy as it sounds, you have to somewhat live in this delusion that it is all going to work out, because eventually it does.

I would say the biggest challenges would definitely have to be just getting the opportunity. It took me a while to really get where I wanted to be, but trusting the process was key. The whole network thing - I didn't go to a Big Ten school, I didn't know anybody who knew anybody. So networking is huge. Going to school is great, getting your education is great, but you are hit so hard in the face with the reality that unfortunately, sometimes that is not enough when you are applying for roles. Witnessing that firsthand and experiencing it was such a learning curve for me, and it still is. I've had people ask me how I got my job, and I was like, I applied. It's a very double-ended question sometimes, and I haven't been on the end of it where I know somebody who knows somebody and was able to really get in there for an interview. I've just been very fortunate with my experiences to where they've got me there. Even talking with others in sports, it's really difficult when you don't have an internal connection sometimes to get in that space. But it's a learning curve, and it's allowed me to build those internal connections, so I'm able to move forward and help others who are trying to navigate this space.

My values that are most important to me, going back to the if you want to be her, you have to see her mantra, is just representation. I want to be able to walk so other women in sports can run alongside me in the years to come. I feel like just being in these spaces gives other young women that nod, or hey, you're supposed to be here, or a reminder that it is possible. But that's just more so for work-wise. Value-wise, just my family, being able to represent them in both of my cultures as well as possible, because it's a little bit different for me to be in this. I come from a pretty traditional family, where it's either you're a nurse, a secretary, or a teacher, and switching it up and saying hey, I want to go work in sports is a little bit crazy. They were like, well, what are you gonna do? But showing that I come from a very resilient group of hardworking people, women and men, and reminding myself that my family has been able to put me in this position. Working in sports is truly a privilege, and with my mom and dad just being so supportive and active in my life, and at all of my sporting events, that's definitely high value for me.