“Go, Rise, and Become a Player…”
—David Brantly, guest speaker from the Los Angeles Lakers
David Brantly shares snapshots of his career in the sports industry with PRSSA LB and CSUDH PRSSA Wednesday night at California State University, Long Beach.
The atmosphere in the Journalism and Public Relations classroom at California State University, Long Beach, buzzed with excitement as students arrived an hour early for a highly anticipated talk by David Brantly, Director of Global Partners with the Los Angeles Lakers. The event even attracted students from PRSSA Dominguez Hills eager to meet Brantly on Wednesday night.
“If there is one thing I really strive to understand, and what I want to share with you, it is to understand relationships,” Brantly stated within minutes of his arrival.
Throughout the two-hour event, he shared a myriad of stories. He consistently emphasized that building and maintaining good relationships by understanding others' interests has propelled his success in the sports, news, and television industries.
“If there is one thing I really strive to understand,
and what I want to share with you,
it is to understand relationships.”
Brantly also includes stories from colleagues about how their situations changed, even when the immediate results didn’t materialize. Showing how maintaining good relationships can help open the door to golden opportunities.
He did so with humility, checking back in with the class and asking whether they had any questions for him. "I'm here for you, whatever you want me to answer, I'll answer it!”
David's Story:
David is a Speech Communication major from CSULB who has always been interested in working in media since High School. He spent his first 10 years working as an account executive for various television stations, including KDOC, The Weather Channel, Telerep, and NBC. David would pivot into his next chapter, working at Fox Sports as a senior account executive for 11 years, giving him the freedom to raise his family and pursue a new career in sports. With the experience he gained at Fox Sports, David would further his passion for sports at FanDuel and eventually with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Throughout his experience, he mentioned that he recognized early on that building good relationships with everyone would help him in every job, role, or pursuit in both his personal and professional life. He even demonstrated it in his most recent accomplishment with the Lakers, a one-night event in collaboration with the anime “One Piece”. David would credit the success of that night to his constant communication with Bandai Namco, which made that first-time moment possible. He was also inspired to connect with his son, who is a huge “One Piece” fan.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS Collaboration Report
David's biggest takeaways and advice:
Relationships are the Key.
It is game-changing to develop, maintain, and build relationships in every area of life.
Doors are more likely to open when someone is there with a smile.
Be a Player
Go to the brand, set the ego aside, and be a riser.
Be a disruptor, because that’s what everyone is looking for.
There are so many unknown jobs and roles in every industry.
Talented individuals will always reach the top.
Work Hard
Stay in a job for at least two years.
In the first year, learn everything you can about it.
Second year, improve to make your mark.
Be the first one in and the last one to leave daily.
Never stop growing.
Never get too comfortable in a role or job where you're no longer being challenged.
A good job isn't your end-all, and you should continue to pursue your best self.
Joseph Vargas
Public Relations Major, Spring 2026
Joseph Vargas is a Communications Ambassador for PRSSA LB.
