AT&T Archives - Boardroom https://boardroom.tv/tag/att/ Sports Business News Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:11:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 All Things Tech at NBA All-Star Weekend 2024 https://boardroom.tv/all-things-tech-at-nba-all-star-weekend-2024/ Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:10:54 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=87072 Boardroom highlights tech-focused activations and experiences from Foot Locker, Meta, Google, and more that are bringing fans closer to the game.

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]]> Boardroom highlights tech-focused activations and experiences from Foot Locker, Meta, Google, and more that are bringing fans closer to the game.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2024 is upon us in Indianapolis, and once again, the technology presence is stronger than ever, with artificial intelligence securing the spotlight as expected.

To kick off the busy weekend, the NBA hosted its 24th annual NBA All-Star Technology Summit, bringing together leaders across tech, sports business, and media to have off-the-record dialogues about trends and innovations across their industries. On the record, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama unveiled NB-AI, an NBA-trained voice assistant that leverages AI tech to personalize the live game viewing experience for fans. The new platform uses generative AI to recreate live games as fans see fit, even if that means watching games in the form of dramatic films.

Take a look at NB-AI in action.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1758528912609468454?s=20

There are a lot of tech-focused happenings slated over All-Star Weekend, but here are a few that stand out from big-name brands, such as the NBA itself, Meta, Foot Locker, and more.

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NBA All-Star LED Court

The NBA unveiled a video-enabled LED court that will be used for the main NBA All-Star events hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium over the weekend. The tech-focused court features interactive displays, full-color changes, live replays and game stats, and interactive games to engage fans in-arena.

Google Pixel Combine

Google is stepping out of the box once again with its Google Pixel Combine activation, where it transformed a space into the ultimate hoops heaven.

The activation has many fan engagement stations, from a rookie photo moment to skills training sessions, an open court, and a vintage locker room setup packed with NBA All-Star memorabilia. Throughout the venue, fans can find Google Pixel 8 Pro devices to capture fun moments throughout the experience. Throughout the weekend, Google is also hosting daytime programming and musical performances during the evening.

Ticketmaster’s Game and Go Arcade

Ticketmaster created an NBA arcade experience at NBA Crossover that will draw fans to play NBA Jam, compete in hoops trivia, and test their skills on pop-a-shot. Each fan who stops by will be awarded a scratch-off ticket revealing Ticketmaster prizes. Taylor Rooks, Dominique Wilkins, Joakim Noah, and Jamie Jacquez Jr. are expected to make appearances in the space throughout the weekend.

The Puma x Cheetos Interactive Experience

Puma is syncing up with Cheetos to immerse fans in a 3D larger-than-life Cheetos bag featuring a live mazze, basketball court, and more. Puma and Cheetos linked up for this activation to highlight the cross-section of hoops and snacks, and of course, fans who visit the experience will get a chance to win some giveaways and prizes. Puma and Cheetos’ activation also comes as they drop their sneaker collaboration on Feb. 16.

Coinbase Moonshot

Coinbase constructed a 29-foot-tall geodesic dome at NBA Crossover with one goal: to challenge fans to score a basket at the speed of crypto. To accomplish this, the crypto leader is using a panoramic screen to take guests into space as a basket loaded with high-tech sensors determines the speed and precision of their shot. Participants will have a chance to win limited-edition gear, NFTs, and a meet-and-greet with Indiana Pacers‘ Tyrese Haliburton.

Foot Locker’s Home Court

Foot Locker is taking over downtown Indianapolis with its custom 50,000-square-foot Home Court activation. The unique space features engaging experiences, events, and an interactive LED half-court. The sneaker company will host daily basketball clinics, sneaker trialing, customization stations, exclusive product releases, athlete appearances, and more in the space.

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The Meta Quest Suite

The Meta Quest 3 is the official virtual reality headset of the NBA, so it’s only right the brand is showing up in various places throughout NBA All-Star Weekend 2024. Meta is hosting invite-only experiences during the main events of All-Star Weekend to welcome select guests to get hands-on with Quest 3 devices and see how VR is bringing more fans closer to the game in a unique way. Invited guests can experience a variety of basketball and entertainment apps, including watching courtside NBA games in VR via Xtadium and getting shots up in Gym Class VR Basketball during the Panini Rising Stars and the All-Star game events.

AT&T at NBA Crossover

AT&T is hosting a few activations at NBA Crossover with different tech twists. Here is a rundown of each:

  • AT&T Dribble Town: this immersive gameplay experience features NBa avatars who will act as guides for participants through a dribbling game. Guests get to select who they want their NBA motivator to be to offer real-time feedback and commentary.
  • AT&T Splashville: this activation features a virtual court where fans can compete as their favorite Western Conference player and ace against the clock to make it into the NBA All-Star game.
  • All-Star Mural: AT&T sponsored an interactive mural that lets fans get creative and make their own digital painting that can transform with augmented reality.

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]]> Loading unnamed Loading Building NBA Con, a Unique Fan Experience with a Global View https://boardroom.tv/nba-con-las-vegas-fan-experience-global/ Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:00:55 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=73933 NBA Con hit Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last weekend, the culmination of a four-year project vying to take the fan experience global.

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]]> NBA Con hit Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last weekend, the culmination of a four-year project vying to take the fan experience global.

For more than four years, the NBA looked to improve upon and globalize its fan festival concept NBA Crossover, which debuted at the 2017 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. Led by Joey Graziano, the NBA’s senior vice president of business operations and strategy, the league looked at its own events and other industry conventions like Comic-Con to bring fans closer to the game in one-of-one ways they were never going to experience anywhere else.

The first-ever NBA Con finally came to life last weekend inside the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where 25,000 fans over three days saw everything from the unveiling of the new NBA in-season tournament, appearances from more than 125 players, including seven from the 75th-anniversary team like Jerry West and Ray Allen, musical performances from artists like 2 Chainz and Toosi, and unique installments and activations from league partners both new and established.

NBA Con
Joey Graziano and Ron Walden ceremoniously cut the ribbon to officially open up NBA Con. (John Leong / Victory Creative Group, Inc.)

The goal is to make NBA Con an international franchise with multiple fan-centric conventions a year all over the world, including at tentpole events like All-Star Weekend, the NBA Draft, preseason games in cities like Abu Dhabi, and regular-season games in cities such as Paris and London.

For Graziano, his main objective was for fans to leave the event and say they couldn’t have experienced anything like this without showing up in person.

“You’re asking them to get off the couch and to come here. So you have to raise the bar and deliver them more,” Graziano told Boardroom. “Whether that’s a piece of merchandise they want to acquire, something they want to collect, a photo that they couldn’t have gotten or they want to meet another fan or they want to see a conversation, I want our fans to leave and say, ‘that was worth it.'”

The NBA partnered with Emerald — which runs more than 50 trade shows, from Advertising Week and The Pizza Show to Surf Expo and cannabis conference MJBizCon — to plan and scale the event to hundreds of thousands of square feet. For Ron Walden, Emerald’s senior vice president of strategic partnerships, his job is to bring his expertise to help the NBA reach consumers and create immersive environments via non-endemic partners not directly related to basketball.

The league ended up bringing 46 exhibitors and global partners, including AT&T, ESPN, Amazon, Michelob Ultra, Pepsi, New Era, Mitchell & Ness, iHeart, and CrunchyRoll. But Emerald’s trade shows are largely B2B, connecting manufacturers with retailers. Here, the NBA was trying to connect the culture of basketball to the fans themselves.

“Basketball is one of the few sports that really translates well and transitions off-court into a lifestyle,” Walden told Boardroom. “For trade shows, we try to imagine conceptually of what the experience would be.”

In these types of convention spaces, Emerald starts with a giant physical square and then divides those spaces into different neighborhoods. Each of these incorporated elements of the NBA culture, focusing on fashion, art, music, and technology, to name a few.

NBA Con
2 Chainz performs at NBA Con on the Amazon Music stage. (John Leong / Victory Creative Group, Inc.)

The Park included a court where NBA teams held practices, courts for kids and adults to play, a store powered by Amazon Music, a pickleball court, and an autograph stage. The Drip offered exclusive drops and opportunities to buy streetwear and merch from brands like Cross Colours and Wararie Boswell. The Collection gave fans the chance to take a photo with an NBA championship ring and buy game-worn jerseys and card drops from Panini.

AT&T also had space at The Drip, expanding the company’s Fit Cam from All-Star Weekend celebrities in Salt Lake City to fans who wanted a taste of the red-carpet treatment. For Andrea Wilson, AT&T’s director of sponsorships and experiential marketing, she felt like the company had to be there.

“We want to make sure that we are finding ways to elevate the experience for these fans that are here,” she told Boardroom. “These are the most passionate NBA fans, the ones that live the culture day in, day out. We wanted to find a way to complement their experience that they’re going to have here in a way that’s giving them something like social ready video for them to post online when they get their new merch.”

To bring the NBA Con concept to life after years of iteration and ideation, Graziano and his team looked to not just the league’s own events, but industry sensations like Comic-Con for exclusive collaborations and moments fans couldn’t possibly get elsewhere. For Comic-Con, he said, it’s the way in which they bring people together and provide not just products but conversations. For the NBA, it was a mix of live podcasts, panels, and special conversations between unprecedented combinations, like when Victor Wembanyama chatted with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“They had to be not just about the right time and place, but also the right moment,” Graziano said. “Things that only really make sense at this bespoke moment. That’s the type of thing we learn when you look at what Comic-Con has done so well. People show up for those types of moments and conversations because they know if they miss this one, it won’t happen ever again.”

NBA Con
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Victor Wembanyama chop it up during a panel at NBA Con. (John Leong / Victory Creative Group, Inc.)

For Graziano, Walden, and Wilson, putting on this event was complicated by the short runway everyone involved had in order to pull NBA Con off. Circumstances dictated that the league, Walden, and partners only had 90 days to set up this inaugural event.

“This is unprecedented in event business, to put on an activation and event of this size and scale in less than a year,” Walden said.

For partners like Wilson, the window was even smaller. She said she found out about full details 60 days out, but AT&T is in the live event business all the time and was able to produce a fun fan experience under a tight deadline.

Graziano acknowledged asking everyone to make sacrifices to come to Las Vegas under tight timelines, one of the challenges the NBA faced in launching this new business, but he told partners that NBA Con was a franchise and platform with sticking power.

“So if you miss the first one, we’ll see you at the next one,” he said. “For some of the brands that couldn’t come out for this first NBA Con, we know they’re going to have a brand new identity for the next one and we hope to see them there.”

NBA Con
(Photo courtesy of AT&T)

Graziano believes there’s a desire to make NBA Con a commercial, profit-driving entity, and its partnership with Emerald is crucial in that regard. What Walden and Emerald were telling prospective exhibitors, sponsors, artists, and celebrities was “Look at what we’ve been able to do in 90 days.”

And while it’s hard to bring live games around the world, it’s a lot more feasible to bring something like NBA Con to audiences in far-flung continents. Now, it’s up to Graziano and the league to ensure each edition of the event has its own distinct vision where fans and partners can experience and curate a bespoke environment that’ll never be seen again.

Walden said Emerald’s intent is to be back again for the next NBA Con in December, likely in a US city that doesn’t have an NBA team. And whether it’s a net promoter score or a fan poll, this first event will be judged by whether promoters and attendees are happy with how things turned out.

“We want to know if the fans had a good time and found value in the propositions,” he said. “I don’t know any place else in this city or any other city where you get to meet with players, get to watch players play, have most of those conversations with players and other influencers, while also having full-blown concerts.

“Ultimately, the fan will tell us if it was done right.”

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]]> NBA-Con-2023-Ribbon-Cutting-with-Joey-Graziano-and-Ron-Walden Joey Graziano and Ron Walden ceremoniously cut the ribbon to officially open up NBA Con. (John Leong / Victory Creative Group, Inc.) 2-Chainz-Performing-on-The-Stage-Powered-by-Amazon-Music-at-NBA-Con-2023 2 Chainz performs at NBA Con on the Amazon Music stage. (John Leong / Victory Creative Group, Inc.) Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-Gives-Victor-Wembanyama-Advice-at-NBA-Con-2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Victor Wembanyama chop it up during a panel at NBA Con. (John Leong / Victory Creative Group, Inc.) BF1_0880-1 (Photo courtesy of AT&T) Loading Max vs. HBO Max: What’s the Difference? https://boardroom.tv/hbo-max-vs-max-streaming-details/ Tue, 23 May 2023 19:46:32 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=70089 Warner Bros. Discovery’s new world order is coming to a smart TV and mobile device near you — here’s what you need to know about HBO Max and Discovery+ joining forces as Max. The

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]]> Warner Bros. Discovery’s new world order is coming to a smart TV and mobile device near you — here’s what you need to know about HBO Max and Discovery+ joining forces as Max.

The newest streaming service on the block isn’t actually new at all; it simply combines the offerings of two major platforms into one. In the wake of the mega-merger that married former AT&T division WarnerMedia with Discovery to form Warner Bros. Discovery, the predecessors’ respective streamers — HBO Max and Discovery+ — were reborn on May 23 simply as Max.

So, what does that mean, exactly? Just a fresh coat of paint?

Well, sort of, as Warner Bros. Discovery has made a point of assuring viewers that the film and television experience they came to love (or perhaps willingly tolerate?) will be preserved in as many ways as possible.

With that in mind, let’s discuss what’s up with Max now that it’s officially dropped the HBO.

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Max vs. HBO Max: Everything You Need to Know

When did HBO Max become Max?

On April 12, Warner Bros. Discovery announced the rebrand at a company event. Tuesday, May 23 is the official launch day for the rebooted product.

Why did HBO Max become Max?

HBO Max was meant to be an expansion of the preceding streaming platforms HBO Go (for HBO television subscribers) and HBO Now (for any paying customer under the sun) that took into account newly formed WarnerMedia’s full library of streaming IP following AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner in 2018. For the first time, HBO enthusiasts could not only binge Game of Thrones and Sex and the City — and perhaps even the beloved Robert Wuhl vehicle Arliss if you’re a total sicko — but also Warner Bros. offerings from the wide world of DC Comics, New Line Cinema, Turner channels like Cartoon Network and TNT, and Hanna-Barbera. It also acquired rights to stream third-party material from networks like Comedy Central.

After AT&T sold off WarnerMedia in 2021 as part of the latter’s subsequent merger with Discovery, Inc., the content umbrella got even bigger, so Warner Bros. Discovery decided to merge its predecessors’ existing streamers to form Max.

What’s different about Max versus its predecessor?

In a word, though it retains certain aspects of HBO Max branding (and half of its name, if you hadn’t noticed), it supercharges its previous content library by introducing Discovery properties like its namesake channel, HGTV, Animal Planet, and Food Network.

Do I have to sign up for a new service or download anything new?

If you already had access to HBO Max on May 22, you still have it today. Period.

Does the Max subscription price mean I now have to pay more?

All existing HBO Max subscriptions will continue on at Max at the same rate for at least the next six months, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. Pricing tiers include:

  • $9.99 per month for “ad-lite”
  • $15.99 for classic ad-free supporting up to two simultaneous users
  • $19.99 for “ultimate” ad-free supporting up to four simultaneous users

What happens to my account settings and viewing history?

Don’t worry, all that carries over! If you had downloaded content locally on any of your devices, however, an official company explainer notes that you will need to do that over again.

So, HBO Max as we knew it is dead. Is the same true for Discovery+?

No, actually! If you’re only interested in 90-Day Fiancé, you can choose a Discovery-only option for $4.99 per month.

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]]> Loading The Elevation of Mac McClung https://boardroom.tv/mac-mcclung-nba-dunk-contest-sixers-playoffs/ Sat, 20 May 2023 14:00:27 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=69721 Whether he's going viral with his highlight-worthy dunks or earning accolades for his play in the G League, Mac McClung is making a name for himself in the NBA.

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]]> He’s known for going viral with his highlight-worthy dunks, but Mac McClung has earned plenty of other accolades — on and off the court. Boardroom catches up with the Dunk Contest champ.

Mac McClung is no stranger to the spotlight.

The hooper that began going viral in high school due to his bouncy bunnies and ridiculous dunks has had eyes on him for some time now. At Gate City High School in Virginia, McClung was not only racking up millions of views with his highlight yams, but breaking state scoring records held by one of the game’s greats: Allen Iverson.

A few stops in college followed by a couple of stints in the G League led McClung to the Delaware Blue Coats — the Philadelphia 76ers‘ affiliate — for the 2022-23 campaign. Coming off a season in which he was named the 2021-22 G League Rookie of the Year, the 6-foot-2 combo guard averaged 19.8 points and five assists per game this season while helping the Blue Coats win the 2023 G League Championship.

While it’s likely many didn’t catch that title game, nearly everyone in the basketball world saw McClung show out February in Salt Lake City in during the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend. Though the event has received criticism in recent years due to a lack of innovation and household names, McClung was a breath of fresh air with his high-flying throw-downs — some of which have never been seen in the competition before. Players, coaches, and fans were all locked in on the 24-year-old, with some watching in disbelief as he had Vivint Arena rocking.

Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Reggie Miller went as far as saying, “Mac McClung has saved the Dunk Contest.”

Since that high-flying Saturday night, McClung’s portfolio has grown dramatically. These days, he’s kicking back and watching the NBA Playoffs while teaming up with AT&T — the official 5G innovation partner of the NBA — to participate in the NBA Dunk Pool. What that means is simple: For every dunk in the NBA conference finals, AT&T will contribute $5,000 (five Gs, if you will) to a “dunk pool.” Entrants can then claim a $50 credit from that pool to be used at the NBA Store website.

Like his corporate partner, McClung has been answering the call all year long, from All-Star Weekend to a G League title. Right on cue, Boardroom recently chopped it up with Mac to talk about the playoffs, his hometown of Gate City, and what’s next for him in his young career.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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GRIFFIN ADAMS: No slowing down for you in the offseason. Talk about the AT&T NBA Dunk Pool and how this partnership is going.

MAC McCLUNG: I’m so excited to be a part of the AT&T Dunk Pool. They’re the official partner of the NBA and the Slam Dunk [Contest], so I think it made sense. … Dunking is what kind of brings us all [together]. Either side we’re cheering for, we love to see the dunk and how many dunks there’s gonna be. I’m so excited to see how much they donate and how many dunks actually happen in this conference finals.

GA: Speaking of the playoffs, what are your thoughts on the first two rounds?

MM: It’s been really interesting. I think this year was a year that I really felt like it was open for any team, and that’s really fun to follow. Of course, we wanted the Sixers organization to be there and unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But yeah, I’m excited, man. There are a lot of fun teams to watch, fun players to watch.

GA: You were part of a Sixers G League team — the Delaware Blue Coats — that took home the league championship, with you playing a huge part in that. What was that experience like with that team?

MM: It was awesome. It was a grind. The G League, as we know, is a lot of players trying to make it to the league, but our team and group really came together as one family and kind of put our pride aside, and we came and won it. You know, it’s a G League championship, but a championship at any level is special and it takes a special group to do that. I was just so proud of my guys and we had a great time with it.

GA: With the 76ers having locked up their seeding for the postseason, you were able to play in two NBA contests to close out the regular season. How was that?

MM: It was so much fun, man. It was just a long year that you finally got the chance to kind of show your stuff and I was so excited. I love playing basketball at the highest level, so it was the most fun day I’ve had in a while and I’m glad it turned out well.

GA: As you mentioned earlier, getting to the league can be a grind. Was there one specific moment you can recall where it just clicked for you, maybe telling yourself, “Yeah, I can hang with these guys?”

MM: It was a gradual buildup, but I think this summer was huge for me in Summer League, and then being with the Warriors and being around those guys. And as my stints have come and I’ve got to play pickup, I just really believe in myself. I know who I am and know I can help a team win, and my confidence is full with that. So, really just waiting on the opportunity and the right timing, God’s timing, and I’ll be ready when that’s called.

GA: As a high flyer, casual fans may see you as solely a dunker, but your 20-9-9 stat line against the Nets in April proves otherwise. What part of your game do you think has grown the most?

MM: I mean, it’s hard. I don’t ever play trying to prove something to someone else. You just watch one game and I think you would know I’m not just a dunker. And there are numbers, statistics, all that you could look at, but I’m not really looking to prove anything to anybody but myself and the team that wants me. I’m really just focused on myself in that situation and I feel like that’s what’s helped me grow, really not worried about the outside noise in any way.

GA: Speaking of outside noise, there was plenty surrounding All-Star Weekend this year where you stole the show at the Dunk Contest. How have things changed for you since?

MM: My schedules have changed a lot. I think [it’s] just adjusting to having something to do all the time, and I think, you know, just a little bit more of being known where I’m at and stuff. If I’m in the airport or if I’m somewhere just eating or something, my life has changed a lot in that. So, just adjusting to it, and it’s no problem. It’s all a blessing.

GA: Another big thing that came out of All-Star Weekend was your partnership with Puma. What is your relationship like with the company, and what sets Puma apart in your mind?

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

MM: My relationship with Puma is great. They took a chance on me. There were some other brands that took a chance on me, but they were the brand that I was most interested in that took a chance on me. They’ve taken care of me and my family in the greatest ways. From top to bottom, they have a great, classy business. I got a lot of love for Puma and always will.

GA: Do you have a favorite shoe that you wore during the season? Or is there a favorite for you that you like to stick with?

MM: Yeah, right now, I like the TRC Blaze. It’s my favorite right now. I like the Puma Nitro, that’s the one I was wearing for the dunk contest. But there are so many I haven’t tried out that I have to try out. That’s just what I kind of stuck to this season.

GA: No matter what you’ve done in your young career, you seem to never forget your roots. What does it mean to have the support of your hometown of Gate City, Virginia and the community there?

MM: Man, I can’t even put it into words. I’m just a lucky dude to be from where I am in the community that supports me and they’re watching all the games and they’re so invested. It’s not just my hometown, but the surrounding areas. I want to give them credit as well just for really just supporting me and coming home to that is so cool. I can’t explain it; just the people you grow up with and something good happens in your life and you get to celebrate with them, and there’s nothing cooler than that.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

GA: Switching gears a bit here, the San Antonio Spurs just locked up the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, giving them the chance to select Victor Wembanyama. Have you seen much of the hyped prospect?

MM: I’ve seen some highlights. I haven’t watched a game or anything, but I mean, just seeing his structure and all his potential. I mean, man, there’s no ceiling for him and I hope everything goes well for him. I wish him the best. I think he’s gonna be an incredible player.

GA: What’s the next step for you in your career? What are your goals?

MM: A lot of things, man. First I want to get to the NBA, and I believe I will in God’s time. But, really, I like to be secretive about my goals and just keep ’em in my own manifestation. But no, I got a lot of big goals, man. I really do. I believe in myself and that’s all credit to my family and all the people who have helped me.

GA: Real quickly before you go: Are you superstitious at all? Any pre-game rituals?

MM: I really used to be super superstitious about everything — like what underwear I was wearing, what I had to wear, the same socks. Then eventually, I was like, “What am I doing? Let me get my life together.” I actually saw a player that — I won’t say his name, he’s a great NBA player — and he was so superstitious. I was like, “Man, this can’t be good.” I kind of realized this is what I’m doing, too. It’s like, just be your best self every day and prepare yourself that way, but don’t worry about what socks you’re wearing. You know what I mean? I’d catch myself mad if I couldn’t find my socks. That was enough of that. So no, I’m not anymore.

GA: Anything else you’d like to add about the AT&T Dunk Pool as we wrap this up?

MM: It’s a great, collaborative relationship because we’re both focused on just creating deeper connections to fans and communities. I’m super happy to be a part of this. I feel like we align in a lot of ways and I’m just super excited, man. I can’t wait to watch how many dunks happen and that’s so cool that they’re donating “5Gs” for every dunk. Super excited about that and can’t wait to watch.

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]]> Mac McClung: Answering the Call %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% He's known for going viral with his highlight-worthy dunks, but Mac McClung has earned plenty of other accolades -- on and off the court. AT&T,basketball,Endorsements,G League,Interview,Mac McClung,NBA,NBA Playoffs,Philadelphia 76ers,Mac McClung Loading 2023 NBA All Star – AT&T Slam Dunk Contest Alex Goodlett/Getty Images 2023 NBA All Star – AT&T Slam Dunk Contest Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images Michelle Jordan is Making a Difference at AT&T https://boardroom.tv/michelle-jordan-att-diversity/ Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:30:33 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=64850 Boardroom talked to AT&T's chief diversity officer about the telecommunication company's plans to foster a diverse talent pipeline.

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]]> Boardroom talked to AT&T’s chief diversity officer about the telecommunication company’s plans to foster a diverse talent pipeline.

AT&T Chief Diversity Officer Michelle Jordan is responsible for ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded into the company’s DNA and business strategy.

Before taking over in her current position, Jordan served as the company’s VP of talent and leadership development. She was head of talent strategy and acquisition, executive experience, and leadership development in that role. Jordan joined AT&T with extensive experience across multiple industries, including executive communications, customer service, product management, strategy, and more. Before jumping into those fields, she even put her chemical engineering degree from Florida A&M University to use for a few years at Honeywell, where she worked as an environmental engineer.

So, how did Jordan end up leading AT&T’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts?

“I feel like every single one of those experiences and seeing the world from various vantage points has prepared me for an incredible opportunity to be chief diversity office for AT&T,” Jordan told Boardroom in an exclusive interview. “We’ve made progress, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

Jordan said she didn’t hesitate to accept the top DEI role at AT&T when the opportunity came her way. She is the fifth executive to hold this role at the multinational telecommunications holding company. Jordan is passionate about DEI work and ensuring underrepresented communities are well-represented across every facet of AT&T’s business and operations.

Boardroom recently talked to Jordan about how she plans to hit DEI goals at AT&T and foster a diverse talent pipeline.

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A Clear DEI Vision

On a day-to-day basis, Jordan’s work focuses on taking care of her employees, boosting employee engagement, and spending time with her team to ensure the alignment of all of their tactics. At AT&T, the DEI team is housed in HR. Jordan said her team spends a lot of time coordinating and collaborating across various teams to trace how DEI initiatives are progressing.

“We spend an abundance of time making sure that our communications are on point,” she said. “We understand what measures of success look like, and that requires a lot of meetings and stakeholdering.”

Due to the nature of her role, Jordan often feels right in the middle of her work since she’s an executive vouching for the people. While a lot of work, it’s a fun job nonetheless, she said.

“I spend a lot of time with the executive leadership team, so it’s, it’s nothing for me to have a calendar full of sit-downs to provide updates to our executive leadership team on themes that we’re hearing from our employees, areas of opportunity, things we need to be celebrating, where I need their help, and where I need their investment,” Jordan said.

One of the biggest goals Jordan wants to achieve is to make sure professionals and talent from underrepresented communities are seen and heard across AT&T. This goal spans the company’s sponsorships, partnerships, and representation across senior leadership teams.

“A huge area that we’re focused on right now is identifying talent from underrepresented communities,” she said. “Not just racially underrepresented communities, but also making sure that our LGBTQIA community is represented, along with our veterans, disabled persons, and the list goes on and on.”

Another way AT&T is driving diversity is by being intentional about its sponsorships. For example, the company served as the presenting sponsor for the NBA HBCU Classic during All-Star Weekend 2023. AT&T donated $100,000 to the participating HBCUs, Grambling State University and Southern University, to support academic resources, athletics, and wellness services as part of the sponsorship. This is the second year in a row that AT&T served as the presenting sponsor for the NBA HBCU Classic, which is part of the telecommunication company’s strategy to identify talent matriculating through HBCUs.

“That’s one way that we will keep our pipeline flowing,” Jordan said. “That’s one way that we are making a difference. We believe in the community, so we’re investing in that talent pool and paying it forward.”

Defeating Challenges

AT&T reported in 2021 that its workforce had as many as 202,600 employees. When addressing DEI, Jordan said she isn’t just thinking about internal company challenges but also global challenges that might affect people, such as mass shootings, economic instability, mental health, and more. Jordan describes AT&T’s workforce as a small microcosm of society, and everyone shows up from different environments with different needs that she’s charged with remedying.

“Work is a big rock that you’re pushing up a steep hill, and sometimes it feels like the hill gets steeper, and then it flattens because you were able to get some quick wins, and then it deepens again,” Jordan said. “This is an everyday challenge. When things happen outside of our walls, I ask myself, how are we going to show up? What are we going to do while recognizing that we can’t have a stance on every single thing? Still, how do we make sure that our employees’ needs are met?”

Jordan’s biggest obstacle is supporting employees through challenges often out of her control. She overcomes this by consistently meeting with employees, simply asking them what they need, and then meeting those needs.

“That’s a regular part of my rhythm,” she said. “I’m based in Dallas, and I can’t just sit in the ivory tower there, you know. It’s another thing to get out in the field and hear from our employees to help us address some of those challenges outside of our walls.”

Leaning into DEI

Jordan suggests DEI professionals looking to make strides in the industry should ensure they protect their mental and physical health and take care of themselves on this journey.

“You can get so immersed in this work, and if you’re not seeing the progress that you would hope that you would see, it can be taxing. It could weigh on you mentally. That’s why those priorities are so important,” Jordan said. “Define what success looks like and eat at it one piece at a time so that you aren’t trying to boil the ocean.”

DEI isn’t just the responsibility of the chief diversity officer; it’s a team effort. Employees look to DEI leads to connect them to greater possibilities, which starts with cultivating a culture where employees feel seen, heard, and supported.

“Everyone owns and plays a role in creating a culture where everyone feels included,” she said.

Chief diversity officers are often seen as the superheroes of HR teams, but there is no magic behind the real hard work it takes. Jordan expressed that DEI work takes a lot of courage. Passionate professionals drive the work, bolstered by support teams who understand the vision.

“You can’t solve it all. So I think getting really clear on areas where you see where the biggest opportunity exists and making sure that you have the resources you need to tackle it,” Jordan said. “You have to make sure everyone understands where that focus is, how they can help, what their roles are, what the needs are, and what success looks like at the end of the tunnel.”

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