Renie Anderson Profile by Jenner Jordan Journalism 271

      Renie Anderson is a graduate from the University of Mississippi with a degree in journalism. After graduating Anderson was not sure what she was going to do for a career. Raised on a farm in Kentucky in a town with 3,500 people, Anderson had no idea she was going to be working as the NFL’s Vice President of business development, sponsorship and media sales. Caring for two daughters, and married to Chris McCloskey, VP of Communication’s for NBC Sports, Anderson works everyday on and off the field.  Now working in her career for six years, she has made her presence clear and has come a long way from where she started. Anderson cannot believe it to this day how much she enjoys her career working with the NFL.
      Being in charge of the league’s 26 official sponsors, Anderson goes by the NFL’s motto, “we are intense, meaningful, and unifying.”  By being in charge of these different brands, she has to be on her “A game” all the time.  Anderson describes the intensity as being “intense on the field every play and the fans being just as intense cheering on there team. We are meaningful, every play counts,” Anderson said. “We are unifying, we bring people together in a very unique way.” Anderson used fantasy football as an example of unity.  This is a way including the fans into every play of every game.
      Anderson has been very successful in furthering her career throughout the years.  When asked about giving other journalism students guidance about the workforce, Anderson had very specific advice, “It’s about finding your gifts, what you’re really good at and what are your weaknesses.  I think you’ve got to be very self aware on that because whatever your weaknesses, you’ve got to work on that stuff.”  She emphasizes self-awareness because she says that the worst thing is being stuck in the wrong job.  Anderson had a friend who once advised her on interviewing for a job.  When considering interviewing for a job she said there are three key things, “I want to respect who I work for; I want to understand the job; and I want to have the ability to do something great.”  She said in her job she understands her roll and has the ability to do great and give 100 percent.  Knowing her strengths and weaknesses has helped her evolve to be the best professional she can be.