Atlanta Falcons, Wells Fargo fellowship aims to change the game for off-field inclusion
Students from Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities are learning from sports and entertainment industry veterans as part of the Atlanta Falcons HBCU Fellows Program presented by Wells Fargo.
Key takeaways
- HBCU students explore careers in the sports and entertainment industry during an intensive paid fellowship with the Atlanta Falcons and Wells Fargo (1:50).
- For the past two years, front-office veterans from these organizations have coached 27 fellows, passing on industry wisdom and marketable skills.
- The first-of-its-kind NFL program is designed to break down barriers between young talent and careers in sports and entertainment.
It’s not every day college students get to pitch executives and network with NFL players. For roughly a dozen students in Atlanta each year, these experiences are just part of fall semester.
These high-achieving college students have learned how to develop a career in the sports and entertainment industry after graduation through a paid program launched by the Atlanta Falcons and Wells Fargo. They’re all students of the city’s dense cluster of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) within walking distance of the Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Atlanta Falcons HBCU Fellows Program presented by Wells Fargo is meant to address barriers for traditionally underrepresented students and front-office careers in the sports and entertainment industry. The program, which is open to Atlanta University Center (AUC) students from Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Morris Brown College, is the first of its kind in the NFL.
“We really started from our North Star: We want to create opportunities for students — skill-building, networking, and career development opportunities — and to level the playing field,” said Tai Roberson, Wells Fargo’s senior vice president of Philanthropy and Community Impact.
“My Wells Fargo mentor has really focused in on making sure I’m able to get the most out of this program. And it provides me a safe space where I’m able to share my career goals and share what comes next.”
— Lauren Thompson, 2024 fellow and Spelman College student
“During the fellowship program, I gained the most important skill of becoming a better inclusive leader.”
— Chase Armstrong, 2023 fellow and Morehouse College Graduate
Up close to the action
Fellows get up close to the action by engaging in hands-on work experience and get a behind the scenes view of highly sought after careers in the sports and entertainment industry. They spend up to 15 hours each week at the Falcons training facility (0:27) and headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, or Mercedes-Benz Stadium downtown Atlanta. The fellows even have professional game-day responsibilities during several Falcons home games (1:01), including the team’s home opener (0:42).
Students form mentor relationships with leaders at Wells Fargo and AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE), parent company to the Falcons. These leaders — who manage player engagement, marketing, design, sports technology, and other critical off-field roles — become coaches, guiding the students through what they’ve learned during their careers.
By the end of the program, they’ll have completed a final project aiming to solve a business challenge, such as how the team can better reach young fans. Latonda Henderson, AMBSE’s chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, said their marketing team is looking to implement their ideas.
“Fellows produce a body of work. It’s not just an exercise. They learn a lot, but our organizations also get that perspective on how to reach the next generation of fans,” she said.
The level of networking opportunities is “unheard of,” Henderson said. Select fellows recently flew to New York to meet with top leaders of Wells Fargo and participated in a networking event with prominent business leaders, including current and former Falcons players, at Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta.
“Our fellows get two families: Our Wells Fargo family and our AMBSE family. We come together. We are a blended family. Students get the best of both worlds,” she said.
Coaching makes a lifetime impact
Among the program’s organizers are Henderson and Roberson, both Spelman alumna. Looking at the fellows, it’s not hard for them to picture their younger selves and what will make an impact in their lives and careers.
“This is about us intentionally pouring the best of our organizations and our personal experiences into our 20-year-old selves,” Henderson said.
So far, results from the fellowship’s first two cohorts are promising. Several graduates have already landed competitive internships in the industry, including jobs within the NFL, other professional sports leagues, and the Olympic Games.
Whether fellows plan a sports and entertainment career or not, the program is designed to help them for life through coaching, networking, or learning new skills, Henderson said. These students learn financial wellness from Wells Fargo experts and personal branding from media pros, too. Many participants are already putting it to use, whether they’ve launched a business like a clothing brand or are exploring a home purchase, Roberson said.
“The coaching and mentoring you get lasts a lifetime. We can all think back to our favorite manager, our favorite leader, or favorite coach and how they had a lasting impact on us, no matter where we go,” Henderson said. “I want to set [these fellows] up for success, for life.”
If you’re interested in applying to or following the program, sign up for updates at atlantafalcons.com/community/hbcu-fellowship-program.
