On Tuesday, Oct. 14, students interested in breaking into the sports industry got an inside look at what it takes during a meeting of the Future Sports Development Network at Oakland University. The group welcomed guest speaker Meg Maurer, partnership engagement manager for the Detroit Pistons, who shared advice on networking, career building and finding balance in the fast-paced world of sports.
Graduating from OU during the pandemic, she faced a lack of sports-related opportunities but refused to let that stop her.
“It’s weird being back,” Maurer said, laughing as she began her talk. “When I was here, there was nothing sports-related – no majors, no minors, no clubs. I had to find my own way.”
That path began with a yearlong internship in digital marketing and social media for the United Shore Professional Baseball League.
“They didn’t have much of a social media presence at the time,” she said. “I basically started from scratch, which was terrifying, but also one of the best experiences I could have asked for.”
After her internship, Maurer joined the Detroit Red Wings as part of their “Red Patrol,” a street team focused on fan engagement. From there, she continued exploring the industry, taking a summer internship with the Northwoods League in Wisconsin – an opportunity she described as “the best learning experience” of her early career.
“Even if you don’t want to work in baseball, I always tell students to look into the Northwoods League,” she said. “You learn everything – marketing, event planning, game operations – and it pushes you completely out of your comfort zone.”
That willingness to take risks led her to Bismarck, North Dakota, where she accepted a full-time position as the Director of Fun for the Bismarck Larks baseball team.
“Yes, that was actually my title,” she said with a laugh. “I moved 20 hours away to be the Director of Fun.”
In Bismarck, Maurer created game scripts, activations and on-field entertainment for fans – an experience she described as both exciting and eye-opening.
“It was wild, but it also showed me what I didn’t want to do,” she said. “And that’s just as valuable. I realized my real passion was working with people and building relationships.”
That realization led her to sponsorships and partnership engagement, a role that would become her long-term career path. After two seasons with the Larks, Maurer moved closer to home, working with the Lansing Lugnuts before landing her current position with the Pistons, where she is now entering her third season.
As a partnership engagement manager, Maurer serves as the go-between for sponsors and the Pistons organization, managing contracts, signage, tickets and in-game activations.
“I’m basically the middle person between our sales team and our partners,” she said. “My job is about communication and making sure every part of a sponsor’s deal comes to life during the season.”
Maurer emphasized the importance of adaptability and patience when finding a career niche.
“It’s really rare to get your dream job right out of college,” she said. “I switched what I wanted to do in sports four different times before I found what really stuck. Be open to failing, trying new things and changing directions.”
She closed by encouraging students to stay determined and positive as they pursue their goals.
“Everyone’s path looks different,” Maurer said. “If you stay persistent and surround yourself with good people, you’ll get where you’re supposed to be.”
