Marcus Smith

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Senior Director, Talent Recruitment and Negotiations at ESPN

Los Angeles, California, United States

Overview

Marcus Smith is an Emmy-nominated media executive with over 25 years of experience at industry leaders like ESPN, FOX Sports, and the NFL. Specializing in talent recruitment and contract negotiations, he has a proven history of managing on-air personalities for marquee events like the Super Bowl. People often call him dynamic and professional.

Originally from Cincinnati, his passion for football was inspired by his father, who was a coach. He is a proud alumnus of Morehouse College and stays engaged with the HBCU community. Outside of work, he dedicates time to coaching his daughters softball team, demonstrating a commitment to youth mentorship.

He was nominated for an Emmy for his work as a talent producer on the flagship show "NFL Total Access. "

Personality Overview

Imaginative

Informal

Relationship Oriented

They are really good at seeing what the long-term impacts of their decisions could be.  They are not always early adopters but can be pursuaded by leveraging strong relationships. They are always positive and upbeat, so take their promises with a pinch of salt.

Topics They Care About

Talent Recruitment
This is his core function as Senior Director at ESPN and formerly at FOX Sports, where he leads recruitment, negotiations, and development for on-air talent.
Live Sports Production
He has over a decade of experience managing talent appearances and production requirements for high-profile live events like the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft.
HBCU Advocacy
As a graduate of Morehouse College, he is an active alumnus, having recently participated in an ESPN panel on campus to engage with students.

Media Appearances

Talent Office Bios - ESPN Press Room U.S.. Featured in ESPN Press Room

See Now

Work History

5-2022
Senior Director, Talent Recruitment and Negotiations at ESPN
6-2017 - 4-2022
Senior Director, Talent Relations at FOX Sports
10-2007 - 5-2017
Talent Producer for NFL Media Group (NFL Network & NFL.com) at National Football League
9-2005 - 10-2007
Assignment Desk Associate at National Football League
9-2000 - 9-2005
Lead Production Coordinator at ESPN Zone

Education

1997 - 2002
Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 25 Location : Los Angeles, California, United States Job Level : Senior Designation : Senior Director, Talent Recruitment and Negotiations at ESPN
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Insights For Selling To Marcus

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Do some small talk, ask them how things are going on their side
  • Use phrases like ‘people will love’, ‘massive impact’ etc.
  • Be friendly and entertaining in your conversation

DONT's

  • Don’t push them to make a decision too fast, let them get comfortable first
  • Avoid ifs and buts, don’t talk too much about the risks etc.
  • Don’t be excessively objective, be a storyteller

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Marcus is

  • Relationship and rapport can play an important role, sometimes more than the other factors.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Marcus

  • They will probably never say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Marcus move?

  • They are not the quickest decision makers, their friendly attitude could be misleading.
  • Can Marcus take some risk or not?

  • They can take certain risks that are unlikely to have personal consequences.

You And Marcus

Personality Compatibility


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