Lara Price is on a first name basis with a good portion of the Philadelphia 76ers.
"I'm very close with Allen" Iverson, Price said almost nonchalantly.
Price, the senior vice president of business operations for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, came to speak to students at Jon M. Huntsman Hall last night as part of the Women in Leadership series.
Her speech, geared mostly toward females, gave insight into being a high-ranking woman in the sports world, as well as into various other aspects of the business.
"Working in the sports industry is a ton of hours and not a lot of money for what it is," Price said. "At some points, I feel like I am working for a dollar an hour, and I have a dog that doesn't even know who I am. But I go home every night and say how much I love my job and how different it is every day, so it's worth it."
After graduating from Colorado State University with a major in business, Price, through a family connection, got an internship with the Continental Basketball Association's head office. She spent three years as the director of team operations before transferring over to a position with the National Basketball Association's head office.
Nine years ago, at the age of 27, Price decided to start working for an individual team, and chose to go with the Sixers, despite being warned that the job would be much more stressful.
There she went from being the director of advertising to the vice president of marketing to the vice president of communications and was promoted last June to her current position.
Price tried to offer as much advice as possible to the mostly female audience about how to get involved with the business side of professional sports.
"As in most other fields, try to distinguish yourself from everyone else," she said. "Don't be afraid to take a lower-level job or think that something is above you when you start off. Just focus on learning as much as you can."
She also advised the approximately 20 attendees that having previous experience in the world of professional athletics is not necessary.
"Everyone wants to work in sports, but you don't even need to have a sports background to be successful. If this is your dream, then stick to it and persevere. The amount you put into the work you do once you start, no matter how small, you will get back the effort tenfold," she said.
College freshman Sharon Orbach said she was impressed with Price's speech.
"Hearing from people like her makes having a job in the real world more tangible, and it definitely gave me some ideas for the future," Orbach said.
College freshman Veronique Valcu shared similar feelings on the presentation.
"For me, it's great to go listen to women in the sports industry," Valcu said. "I'm amazed at what she could do at such a young age, and it definitely gives me more confidence for my goals."
