Outstanding Graduate Student ready for sports marketing career

After juggling her degree, a reporting position at The Arizona Republic, a digital marketing in the Cronkite Agency and a graduate assistantship, Mohana Holloway is ready for the next step: A career path she didn’t anticipate.

Holloway originally planned to be a news reporter after getting her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. But when she pursued a marketing internship with a Canadian football team, the lifelong sports fan knew she wanted to learn more, and pivot her career. She headed to the Cronkite School for a master’s degree in sports journalism, and now, she’ll receive an Outstanding Graduate Student award. 

Holloway shared with us her experience at Cronkite and her post-graduation plans. 

Note: The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Question: Why did you choose ASU?

Holloway: ASU was the first school I found when I was looking for graduate programs. I knew that I wanted to do sports journalism, and there isn’t really anything in Canada at the master’s level. So when I was looking, ASU was always a consistent top contender for me. In the end, I actually had a Zoom call with Aric Johnson and he sold me on ASU, telling me about the experiences that I would have. I just had a feeling I would like Phoenix.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: When I look back at when we first started the program, we had to learn all of these different skills like photo, video and writing. We had to go out to games and write game stories; we had a three-hour deadline and, of course, we needed to keep our own stats. That whole experience taught me a lot about working in the sports industry, and how to work on a fast deadline. It really set me up for success moving forward. 

Q: Which professors taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: Bill Hill was my writing professor, and is one of the best professors I’ve ever had. He taught me so much—not only about writing, but how to ask good questions, frame a story in a good way, all of those journalism skills. He’s such a mentor for me and someone I can really rely on not only in terms of career advice, but life advice as well, and we just get along really well. There’s been so many times where I’ve gone to his office and we’ve just talked for hours, and it’s been really nice, especially being in a completely different country to have someone like him here. 

The second professor is Abby Zufelt, my professor in the Cronkite Agency. It’s made me realize that sports marketing and communications is the field I want to go into, because those writing skills that I learned from Bill transfer into marketing and communications. Abby has been so great: I went into the Agency, not knowing anything about digital marketing, and she’s taught me so much in terms of how to create marketing campaigns and manage client services. She’s very inspiring, and I really look up to her; she’s been a great mentor. 

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Never doubt yourself. Always believe in yourself, and take everything as a lesson. Even though something might be really hard, or something you don’t necessarily want to do, or maybe it’s an assignment that you think won’t really benefit you, there is something good that comes out of it. Always push yourself to try new things and diversify your portfolio. 

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I’m in the job search now. Because of my time here at ASU, I’ve been able to find the field that I want to go into. Sports marketing and sports communication is a blend of the two things I love the most: feature writing, and digital marketing campaigns. 

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would create some sort of fund to help kids go to school. It opens up so many doors, and it also helps you grow so much as a person. Financial means is something that hinders a lot of people from pursuing their passions in life and their degrees, so I would create some sort of fund to help kids pursue their dreams and go to university.