MORE ABOUT SEEN
SEEN curates inclusive spaces for Black and Brown professionals in Sports & Entertainment to thrive
OUR STORY
Since 2015 we have been bringing together like-minded minorities and allies in the sports industry to make new friends and enjoy great events. Many of you might also know us by our original name, Sports Industry Influencers.
Over the years we organically grew to a community of 3,000+ professionals in sports & entertainment by hosting over 70 events.
In 2020 we incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and rebranded as Sports & Entertainment Equity Network (SEEN) to better reflect our commitment to increasing DEI throughout the sports & entertainment industry.
Our top priority is keeping the community first and serving them by hosting memorable events and creating opportunities.
Click below if you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved.
THE SEEN COMMUNITY
The SEEN community is made up of 3,000+ minorities and allies of DEI working in the business of sports & entertainment. SEEN community members work in the industry's most elite companies:
5+
professional
leagues
5+
10+
professional
teams
20+
media & ent. companies
professional leagues
25+
consumer brands
30+
agencies
OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS
consumer brands
Advancement
Empowering our members through personal and professional development programming to grow
and accelerate their careers
Community Building
Curating experiences that are safe spaces for minority and ally members to help facilitate authentic relationships
Giving Back
Providing members with impactful opportunities to reinvest their time and resources into the next generation of diverse sports & entertainment leaders
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Melcolm Ruffin
Co-Founder/Executive Director,
SEEN
Tristan Mitchell
VP of Strategy,
Excel Sports Management
WHY SEEN?
SEEN takes a unique approach to how we address DEI
in the business of sports & entertainment
Authentic Relationship Building
SEEN creates a safe space for diverse and like-minded industry professionals to connect in meaningful ways.
We find there is often only “1 degree of separation” between attendees which helps avoid typical networking experiences, which often feels transactional and forced.
Inclusion of Allies and Advocates for DEI
Closing the DEI gap in sports & entertainment is a monumental task that will not occur without the support of allies and industry advocates.
Allies and advocates are an important part of SEEN's community and their [presence/involvement/engagement] helps us build a more inclusive community that benefits everyone.
Crossover Between Sports & Entertainment
Industry lines are becoming increasingly blurred between sports, entertainment, media, and tech and entertainment.
By embracing the intersection of sports & entertainment, we attract a wide range of professionals and corporate partners who are all invested in eliminating the DEI gap.
Experienced Leadership Team
SEEN is organized and managed by a diverse and experienced group of sports & entertainment industry professionals.
Because we are the community we serve, we are able to effectively design memorable events and create opportunities for the greater SEEN community.