Client services, UFC and me.

When I started as an Account Director at Odopod, my first client was Zuffa, the company behind UFC. I train service dogs, I weave and knit, I cry at Pixar movies, I’m a girl. It didn’t make immediate sense. But my friend Shamus taught me the lingo, pointed me to some good books* and I started learning. If you don’t like the clients you’re working on, you’re not trying hard enough to discover what makes them tick. I grew to love working on UFC.

Despite what you might think, they’re a progressive brand and always explored the latest technology (connected TVs, mobile apps for fans, etc). One of my favorite memories from working with them was flying down to Las Vegas and presenting to the owners, the Fertitta brothers, as they drank their protein smoothies and looked hella tough.

So it’s interesting to learn that after Dana White said “We’re not for sale…but, if somebody shows up with $4 billion, we can talk,” UFC sold itself for $4 billion. I expect some interesting changes soon…

*Highly recommended reading: A Fighter’s Heart and A Fighter’s Mind, both by Sam Sheridan