The Rise Of Eric Walker

The Rise of ERIC WALKER

By Publisher Swan Simpson

Eric Walker CEO of Legends & Legacy

Black (American) Moguls Magazine

The one thing I could tell about Eric Walker before ever having a conversation with him, was that he is persistent. We spent most of this past year trying to coordinate schedules and time resources just to get this interview done. His follow up and follow through impressed my team. Whatever it takes, we had to get this cover story done. So, here we go!

Seeing Black faces on the court and on the gridiron is very common. But seeing those same kinds of faces working behind the scenes, making true boss moves is absolutely rare and uncommon. Professional Sports Marketing is big business and it seems to be cornered by others who work tirelessly to keep those seemingly limited opportunities amongst themselves.

Many young dreamers in the inner city see professional sports as a ticket out of the despair that is their lives. But the odds of making it big in the game are just not high enough to allow room for everyone dreaming of coming up by playing sports. Eric Walker was one of those dreamers whose life decisions and smart choices put him directly on the path to achieving his dream of working in the game, but not necessarily on the field.

Eric is the CEO of Legends & Legacy, a sports marketing firm headquartered in Detroit, Michigan with clients all over the world. He got the vision for the company in 2014. He spent a couple of years learning from some of the best in the business all while perfecting his plan. And by 2016 his company was fully operational.

Eric always knew that he wanted to be an Entrepreneur not just an Athlete. After serving 4 years in the military he went to work for ADT selling security systems door to door. It was this professional sales training that helped him master the skill of negotiating.

Legends & Legacy matches Athletes with Agencies. And provides real time statistics and research for companies like industry giant Wasserman. The passion for sports and entrepreneurial drive fuels the growth of his company which he has grown organically, one opportunity at a time. Sports Marketing is more like a marathon than a sprint. It is the kind of business you grow by networking more so than merely education.

Having played football in college, it is easier to relate to the needs and wants of a college Athlete as he was once in their shoes. It’s this kind of relatability that gives Eric an edge in this brutally competitive space. His approachable demeanor and humble attitude has drawn some of the biggest names in professional sports in his direction. Alssene Saintilus, Jeremy Johnson, Derunnya Wilson, Sam Beal, and Greg Jennings of the Minnesota Vikings are among the top names he has loaned his talents to.

The big picture vision of Legends & Legacy is to give exposure to high school and college Athletes who want to transition into professional sports. The company is big on attracting corporate sponsorships and endorsements like Nike, Sprite, and Pepsi.

I told Eric that our readers appreciate honesty and authenticity. So, this would mean me asking some tough questions. He stepped up and brought real talk about the state of sports as an industry.

Tell us about the industry.

First, Sports Marketing as an industry is small and very limited. Not a lot of opportunity.

20 www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com

Do You Have A College Degree?

I am finishing my MBA at Florida Atlantic University. But that is not something necessary to do well. Don’t focus on the kind of school you attend, focus on putting in the time and your work ethic.

For those young Athletes reading your story and wanting to work with you. Who is your ideal client?

Top Tier Athletes (pros) and up and coming lower end Athletes.How are things improving on the racial front?

I compare it to President Obama winning, you think it’s impossible then someone breaks the barriers. There are not a lot of Black people in Sports…not as owners or at executive levels nor as marketing partners. Just as players. We are not visible. The industry needs diversity. One of the problems is preparation. Not a lot of preparation and education offered to help minorities choose this as a career path.

Your Thoughts On Concussions in the NFL?

I personally know of players committing suicide. Concussions are a real problem. Based on my experience and research, memory loss effects a number of players’ brains. All that needs to happen to solve the issue is to change the player’s helmets.

The equipment needs to be built better. There should be better protection methods.

How Do You Make Money?By charging for services based on ongoing efforts.BluePrint Advice To Black American Mogul’s Readers1. Attend Networking Events and Conferences2. Find Like-minded contacts to open doors.

3. Research-Find the area you are passionate about (football, basketball, etc)

4. Persist- You may go after 100 opportunities. Don’t stop! Go on to #102, #103, #104 etc.

5. Be Patient. Not going to happen overnight.

Eric Walker ig @EWalk1Fun

Black Moguls Magazine

www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com