Game Changer

Sports fans find pleasure in playing the game, watching others play, and use it as a way to bond with other sports fanatics, family and friends. However, for Heidi Lee (Business ’25) sports not only represent entertainment but also an avenue in both personal and professional pursuits.

Growing up in New Jersey as the only girl amongst four brothers, Lee and her family bonded through their love of sports. “Trading cards, NFL, NBA, MLB and some soccer through my father,” Lee said. “Sports is one thing that always keeps us connected. The love of the game.”

Lee’s family roots originate in Central America. Her parents migrated to the United States during and after the Nicaraguan Revolution. Her mother was 19 years old when she came to the United States and her father served in the civil war in El Salvador during the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). “My father was captured by the guerrillas but managed to escape,” Lee said. He was only 16 years old when he was drafted. They knew he was underage, so they changed his age to have him fight during that war.” 

When Lee’s parents arrived in the United States, they settled in New Jersey and built a life for their family with their construction business. Lee started working for her family’s business at the age of 8, which is when she also began to grow a passion for sales. “My mom would often ask me, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” Lee said. “I knew it was something in sports and I’d often say maybe a lawyer or writer with it. I couldn’t pinpoint as a kid but I remember watching [the film] Jerry Maguire around 7 years old and saying, ‘That's it! I want to help the players and be around sports.’” 

Growing up, Lee played sports and was on the track team in high school. “Sports was something I had the most passion for,” Lee said. “I even remember joining a cheerleading team in elementary school just so I could be on the sidelines watching the game. My brothers laughed at me but I knew I had the best view!”

Lee decided to pursue an opportunity for herself by mixing her interests for business and sports into a career. “I heard that there was a new sports program that Stan Emert was leading at UW Tacoma,” Lee said. “I knew Milgard School of Business was an excellent school so I transferred and signed up.”

Lee’s journey leading to UW Tacoma began in 2015 when she enlisted in the U.S. Army. “I went to South Carolina, Fort Jackson for basic. Then Fort Benning for Airborne School. After that, I was stationed down south at Fort Polk in Louisiana at a special operations training detachment as one of my first assignments. I loved it there,” she said. Lee spent several years in the Army with her final assignment being stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Washington.

As Lee settled in Tacoma, she started to slowly phase out of the military and began collecting sports trading cards, a hobby she once had as a child that re-captured her attention. Honing in on her people skills, Lee began to work her business in-person and online websites like Instagram, eBay, and other trading sites. “I started collecting trading cards again and amassed a huge collection. I remember seeing Patrick Mahomes play for Texas Tech and knew, just like many, that there was something so amazing there,” she said. “It's what prompted my collection of many college rookies and elite players. I have a huge Patrick Mahomes collection! Collecting and selling trading cards also became a side business at the time. It’s extremely lucrative. I respect the hustle and the many people who do this on a daily basis.”

In 2022, Lee transferred to UW Tacoma from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she was studying project management and technical business. She is now studying to graduate in Spring ‘25 from Milgard School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in sports enterprise management. “No matter what career I was in during the military, I decided sports and business were what my endeavors would remain. I want to intertwine sports and social responsibility whether it be through community development, community initiatives, philanthropic charitable donations, fan appreciation, health related initiatives, and community-based environmental programs,” Lee said.

During her time at UW Tacoma, Lee has triumphed over various challenges. “I enrolled in school and I knew I would be moving to Washington state at the same time. I knew it was the way to go for the business I’m pursuing in sports. My son, Hampton, age five at that time, and I made the move to Washington. I had heard about the great facilities for children on the autism spectrum. Allowing him to hone in on his hobbies and himself is so important to me. He enjoys music, animation, and being active. I was maneuvering through a lot of things in my personal life but my decision to excel and do the best for my son and myself never went away from me,” Lee said.

“I remember a few things a mentor told me during my time in the Army: ‘When your body knows it's not going to quit, it will adapt.’ And he was right! It’s a mindset I have had for a very long time; a work ethic that I live by. I also admire this quote from retired Navy Seal, David Goggins. He said ‘Don’t stop when you're tired, stop when you're done.’ That resonated with me so many times in my life,” Lee said.

While at UW Tacoma, Lee has taken courses in-person and online. “My experience on campus has been amazing. Certain individuals I’ve met and come in contact with are really positive and want you to thrive,” she said. “I love that.” One of Lee’s favorite courses, Sports Enterprise Management with Stan Emert, allowed her to participate in the MLB All Star Week along with various other opportunities.

“I went on the MLB site when my mentor emailed me a link about MLB Week offered to SEM students. I reached out and found a job opening that accepted me,” Lee said.

Lee was a member of the Experience Team and enjoyed her time working while having fun. “When I was there, I was amazed with the whole experience. It was amazing meeting legends like Jeff Nelson. Ken Griffey Jr. was a couple feet away from me!” she said. “Being on the floor on Draft Day among the athletes was another breathtaking experience. Seeing how their lives were about to change was an opportunity I’ll never forget.”

Another pursuit within the sports industry that Lee is passionate about is the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy with college athletes. This policy from the National Collegiate Athletics Associate, or NCAA, allows college athletes to be compensated for their personal brand. Lee is certified in NIL and in her personal time has begun working on portfolios of athletes that she has a special interest in. Lee hopes to ultimately start an agency with NIL as its focus. “I’m building a team where we can assist college athletes through sponsorships, connections and a focus on social responsibility,” she said.

Lee has written articles on NIL and athletics and recently covered football spring training. “It’s great seeing the players practice against one another or what’s happening with the transfer portal,” she said. “I’m excited to see the talent like Offensive Lineman Gaard Memmelaar, Wide Receiver Russell (Deuce) Davis, Safety Kamren (Kam) Fabiculanan, and Linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala.”

Lee has future plans to host a NIL podcast. She plans to interview UW football alumni and other current and past college players. “I feel like athletes are in the spotlight and with that comes a great responsibility. Giving back to the community around you. I want them to start out with a solid foundation taking them into their personal careers. Whether it is to remain on the field or off. Mental health, brain health, wellness, and neurodiversity are all causes I care about,” Lee said.

In February, Lee attended Leigh Steinberg’s annual Super Bowl party in Las Vegas where she met with the premier sports agent himself. “Leigh Steinberg is the most iconic agent there could be in sports history,” Lee said. “I always want to learn from the best and I always knew from a kid that he was the best. It felt like a full circle moment. It was symbiotic in a sense meeting like-minded individuals who were just as excited about NIL as I am. There is so much opportunity there and I plan to keep going and seeing where this takes us!”

After meeting Mr. Steinberg, Lee invited him to speak to one of her Sports Enterprise Management classes at UW Tacoma. “He was glad to do it,” she said. “I thought it was such an excellent moment being able to have other students hear from someone who has been in the industry and has an abundance of insight!”

Lee’s story is a testament that your passions at a young age help shape the person that you are today. Her dreams of being in the sports business have come true in many facets of her life with a promising future of helping student athletes.

“I think I made an excellent decision coming to UW Tacoma,” she said. “I wouldn't have it any other way. When there is a strong mental fortitude this can assist in navigating through many positive and negative aspects of life. Through my career in the sports industry, I plan on enhancing the lives of many athletes, their families and communities around them.”