By: Tyler Rattler
Matthew Warren is the CEO and the Executive Director of the United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA/PNW). For an assignment in MEDA 240, Tyler Rattler spoke with him about his career, the biggest challenges he faced, why he thinks sports is important for any person, and his advice to young students trying to get into the sports business. Warren will guest lecture on Wednesday, September 30 at 11:45 am in Marsh Auditorium as part of the Future Sport Professional lecture series.
Tyler Rattler: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?
Matthew Warren: I am from Florida where I grew up playing tennis. I was in love with the game of tennis. Being around and playing tennis made me realize that I love being competitive and can see myself doing something with my career within the game of tennis. I first started by getting into fundraising then met a good friend that allowed me to have a job that ultimately led me to be a CEO.
TR: What led you to want to become the CEO and Executive Director of the USTA Pacific Northwest?
MW: After maintaining and having good connections with certain people in my life that ultimately blessed me with an opportunity to have a chance to run things. I wanted to do the same with this tennis company. I wanted to give people who do or don’t play tennis a chance to play. Whether you want to come for fun or be competitive. And also wanting to keep people out of the streets and harm. I feel sports can bring people together and keep people out of stuff they should not be in.
TR: In your opinion what makes tennis different from other sports?
MW: Well for one you are all by yourself out there on that tennis court. Unlike basketball, football, and soccer there is no team that can back you up. So everything you do is by yourself. You have to learn by yourself when you’re in a match, adjust to people on the fly, and get through adversity by yourself. There is no one to try and get you out of your head, it’s you and only you for the most part.
TR: As a CEO how do you balance making decisions that are important for right now while also thinking about the future?
MW: That’s a great question. Well it is kind of a push pull thing and that is the toughest battle that I have to deal with. And I am glad that I have such a great team around me that helps me with these kinds of decisions. But even though I have a great team I know that at the end of the day I make the final decision and I feel like something is going to be more beneficial for this association than something else, I have to make that decision that I think is best.
TR: You mentioned sports bringing people together. Why do you think sports can do that?
MW: I think it unifies people. Sports have the ability to bring people together by getting your mind off things and just enjoy watching people play sports or even just your family.
TR: You have built a great career in this sports industry being CEO for 15 years, what would be your advice for a student trying to get a job in the sports industry?
MW: I would say have a direction you want to go. Have a clear vision of what you want and where you want to be. Not everything is going to go your way, but that is okay as long as you have a clear vision, direction, and a clear passion for what you want you are going to be fine. Don’t be in survival mode when it comes to this business, typically the ones that have that mindset don’t go very far.
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