Today we’d like to introduce you to Orlando Arnold.
Orlando, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, to parents who were athletes, it was natural to fall in love with sports, even as a toddler. That love parlayed into a baseball scholarship at Alabama State University, a historically black university (HBCU) in Montgomery, the capital city of the State of Alabama. As my college aspirations of playing professionally did not mature, shortly after graduation, I began a career in Sales and pursued an MBA degree from Troy University. My journey throughout corporate America led to positions as a Sales Representative, National Sales Trainer and District Manager in the Hospitality and Pharmaceutical industries, respectively, for over ten years. The experience led to the critical skills that have prepared me for my current role; contract negotiation and client relationship management. Although I was highly successful in my corporate position (earning my company’s national recognition as one of the “best”), I was not fulfilled.
My true purpose and passion were not being realized. It wasn’t until I volunteered as the RBI Director for Major League Baseball’s youth program in Montgomery that it hit me – I was still in love with sports! Not as some hobby or past time, but as a profession that would allow to help athletes both on and off the field. An opportunity to also empower athletes with the knowledge to be successful beyond sports. It was an awakening! I realized that after my faith and family, the love of sports is what brought purpose and passion to my life’s journey. In that moment, I stepped out of faith, resigned from my corporate position and decided to pursue a career as a Sports Agent. Pyramid Sports & Entertainment Group was birthed, and four years later, it has become a testimony of faith, grit, perseverance and passion.
As President & CEO, it has been a unique journey, but I wouldn’t change anything about it. God has me on a unique path to take the business of sports to the next level, and I am proud to have been chosen. My wife and I currently reside in Miami, FL where my agency is based out of.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Find a me a successful entrepreneur who has never experienced the long days and nights from building a company outside naysayers who question your reason “why” and the hustle and grind of trying to prove doubters who don’t believe it’s your time. Those are just some of the challenges and struggles I’ve experienced in my journey as a Sports Agent, but I’ve been blessed to have a strong support system that has offset the challenges faced in a profession where I am the minority. My journey is a story of faith and hard work! Resigning from a successful career to start your own company is never easy, but the will to be successful and help others has inspired me to keep going. As it is always said… find me some that is successful and then ask them their story because true success don’t happen overnight.
Pyramid Sports & Entertainment Group – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Pyramid Sports & Entertainment Group is a full-service Sports Agency, who represents professional athletes in the National Football League and Major Baseball League, in addition to, coaches and media personalities looking to take their career to the next level. Our goal is to be the premier agency in the world; by providing a high level of attention, focus, care, and integrity to our clients. Our team’s mission is to ensure that our clients are provided with the best opportunities to grow, succeed, and excel in their life’s passion. As the President & CEO, I have the great pleasure of leading an amazing team of industry professionals with over 30 years of experience. Our proudest moment includes staying true to ourselves. Maintaining a moral compass that is not comprised by the “glitz and glam” of our profession. Our client’s testimonials speak to the belief that we value and support our clients in every aspect of their life.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success comes in many forms; it is the call our client gets on draft night, the gratitude and thanks expressed by a parent who is comforted by honest advice, or the feeling I get when our company is acknowledged for the great work done in the community. As I continue to define what success means to me, I am reminded that success is not always seen immediately; it is a work in progress that we don’t see overnight. It is our ability to sustain our company during trying times and inspire our clients to use their platform for the greater good.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pyramidsportsgroup.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pyramidsportsgroup/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pyramidsportsgroup/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pyrmdsportsgrp?lang=en
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