Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Bernardo.
Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Howdy!
My name is Rachel and currently, I’m a graduate student at UCF in the DeVos Sport Business Management program where I’m working on my MBA and Masters’s in Sports Business Management. I’ve always had a strong passion for sports, particularly running.
The passion I have for the sport of running was cemented during my collegiate athletic career at Texas A&M University (whoop!). I ran cross country and track for four years, and really began to realize that the running community is home. Over my time in College Station, I also began working at Brazos Running Company, where my interest in the footwear industry began. I was enthralled by the technological advances in the performance running shoe sector.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic turned my reality upside down in many ways. I struggled to find motivation in my athletic career with the constant uncertainty surrounding my return to competition. COVID also left me with a lot of time for self-reflection and forced me to really sit with myself and my thoughts in a way I felt I hadn’t before. While it’s challenging to feel that I lost some of my time in college to the pandemic, I’m happy with the direction I’ve been able to move since.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, much of my time is filled through my studies at UCF, as well as my part-time employment at Track Shack in Orlando. A true creative at heart, I fulfill my passion to create however I can within the limitations of my schedule. I value content creation and enjoy creating social content including TikTok’s, reels, and writing social copy. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok give me the power to flex my creative thinking with projects that aren’t overly time-consuming.
Some of my current roles include working as a Sales & Marketing Intern with Navigate, a data-driven sports consulting group, assisting with social media content for Track Shack, as well as overseeing the social media for The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, also known as TIDES. Each of these roles has helped me grow as a young professional in the sports space and has allowed me to sharpen my social media marketing skills. I also have the opportunity to occasionally write for Believe in the Run, helping to cover the latest happenings in the running performance footwear space.
My understanding of trends and culture across the footwear industry coupled with my general curiosity for life allows me to be flexible in my creative pursuits. I would describe myself as a multipotentialite- I enjoy engaging my creativity, yet also see the value in developing a stronger working knowledge of the world of business.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
As both a rising professional in the sports industry and a creative who looks to expand my portfolio, I’m generally just open to connections! Reaching out to me on LinkedIn, or staying in touch through Instagram (@rb.nard) Are both great ways to see what I’m tackling in both my personal and professional pursuits.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rb.nard/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=3Pu2ImNntRaBU-rmvSP3PQ
- Other: https://rachelbernardo36.wixsite.com/rachelbernardo
