From the Field.

This year, I had the privilege of returning to AthleteCon for the second consecutive year on behalf of the Livvy Fund, an experience that continues to be one of the most rewarding opportunities in the NIL industry. As the only NIL convention that provides student-athletes with live brand deal opportunities, AthleteCon brings together athletes, brands, and industry leaders who are actively shaping the future of college sports. This year, I was proud to help bring one of our brand partners, Junkless, into the event. In addition to sponsoring the Wellness Night, with product from Accelerator, and hosting a booth, Junkless participated in the brand deal competition and awarded a student-athlete a partnership opportunity—exactly the kind of authentic, career-building NIL experience the Livvy Fund strives to create.

Throughout the three-day event, I had the opportunity to share my expertise through my presentation, "The Anatomy of a Viral Post," where I broke down the storytelling, content strategy, and audience-building techniques that help athletes grow their platforms and attract brand partnerships. I also joined the "Athlete to Entrepreneur Playbook" panel alongside Cade Higgins, C.J. Watson, and Morgan Williams, moderated by Grant House, to discuss the evolving opportunities available to athletes beyond competition. The weekend concluded with Livvy being named Creator of the Year at the AthleteCon Awards, an honor I was proud to accept on behalf of the Livvy Dunne team. Seeing student-athletes eager to learn, build their brands, and create meaningful opportunities for themselves reminds me why this work is so important. It is incredibly fulfilling to help educate the next generation of athletes in an industry that I have been fortunate to help shape from the very beginning.

I was honored to serve as the keynote speaker for the Wall High School Business & Finance Academy Graduation, where I had the opportunity to share a message that has shaped my own journey: life is filled with expectations, but, sometimes, the unexpected is what leads to your path. Drawing from my experience transitioning from a pre-med student to building a career in sports marketing, athlete branding, and the creator economy, I encouraged graduates to embrace change, stay open to new opportunities, and trust themselves when life takes an unexpected turn. Speaking to a room filled with ambitious future business leaders was incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful to Wall High School for the opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2026 and help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals.

Julz had the privilege of speaking to clubs and classes in the David B. Falk College of Sport at Syracuse University. Julz was able to engage with students in the SPM club, SPOC, WISE, and SAAC members and discuss personal branding, NIL, and the business of sports. Julz was given the opportunity to be a guest speaker in Associate Teaching Professor Dave Meluni's Name, Image, and Likeness classes along with guest staring on the NIL Clubhouse podcast.

Julz took the stage at the Beyond Now Summit in New York City — a forward-thinking conference bringing together athletes, creators, and industry leaders to explore what's next in sports, business, and culture. Sponsored by Shopify and Summer Discovery, the event brought high school and college athletes face-to-face with the people shaping the future of the industry.

On the "Inside the Game" panel — moderated by Kent Padgett and featuring speakers from Snap, the Chicago Bulls, and more — Julz shared the real story behind building a multi-million dollar brand. Here are some highlights from the conversation:

It was a full-circle moment — going from behind the scenes to center stage, sharing the playbook with a room full of aspiring athletes and creators ready to build something of their own.

Julz and Livvy Dunne took the stage as headliners at AthleteCon in NYC — a premier conference bridging sports, business, and culture presented by Sam Green. Together they opened up about the strategy behind building one of the biggest personal brands in college sports.

From negotiating 90+ brand partnerships with companies like Meta, ESPN, and TikTok, to building a content engine reaching 13M+ followers — Julz broke down the playbook that turned athlete branding into a multi-million dollar operation.

The conversation covered the evolution of NIL, how to evaluate brand deals, the importance of authenticity in content creation, and why the creator economy is changing the game for athletes. Julz also shared actionable advice for aspiring brand managers and strategists looking to break into the sports industry.