WHAT’S INSIDE

Headlines: Bad Bunny's halftime show breaks Emmy records, Nike exits the S&P 100, and Olivia Rodrigo's festival banks $20M.
The Career Note: September is your January
Upcoming Events: A screen industries summit in Toronto, Fast Company's Innovation Festival, and Brandweek hits Atlanta.
Leaders Making Moves: Big shifts at the Warriors, WNBA, Disney, NFL, and Angels.
New Jobs: NBCUniversal, Diary Of A CEO, GRAMMY Museum, NFLPA, and more.

HEADLINES

Water Cooler Convos

Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show won 7 Emmy Awards, making it the most-awarded Super Bowl halftime performance in history (Deadline).
Nike exits the S&P 100 Index (Yahoo Finance).
Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival raises $20 million (Forbes).

LEADERS MAKING MOVES

Shaping the Industry

Amanda Chin is promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at Golden State Warriors (LinkedIn).
Cathy Engelbert steps down as WNBA Commissioner, retiring at the end of 2026 (Reuters)
Jennifer Creegan joins Disney as its first Head of Marketing Technology and Operations from Xbox (Variety).
Roger Goodell earns a four-year extension as NFL Commissioner through the 2030 season (ESPN)
Stan Kroenke acquires the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno in a record $4B deal (via ESPN).

THE CAREER NOTE

September Is Your January

Before you plan next year, make sure this year gets credit.

Hello! I’m Lauren, Founder and Principal of First Focus, a career navigation and leadership development advisory firm.

I am partnering with Arena to bring practical gems to you each month through “The Career Note.” Let’s jump in!

Drawing from more than two decades of HR expertise spanning fintech, media, and sports, I am driven by a deep commitment to ensuring every professional regardless of their starting point has equal access to career fulfillment and success.

While most people hold out for January 1st to make a fresh start, businesses quietly pull off their real reset every September. Budgets are re-forecasted, goals for the coming year are drafted, and strategic planning shifts sharply to future priorities.

Fresh off Labor Day weekend, you are likely feeling that push back into fall routines (looking at you, PSL fans!). Without rushing the calendar, it is time to get ahead of what is right around the corner: REVIEW SEASON (cue the emotional reaction 🫣 ).

When attention pivots to what is next, current achievements can easily fall off the radar. That game-changing workflow you built or the huge deal you closed ahead of schedule quickly become old news as fresh goals take center stage. Before moving on to the next chapter, take this as your cue to look back and capture your wins.

Here are a few ways to start:

PRO TIP 1 If you take only one action from this list, make it this one! During your next 1:1, ask your manager: "How do you think my year has gone so far?" This opens a direct window into their current evaluation, giving you the opportunity to address any gaps and realign expectations before final reviews are set in stone. If you do not currently have regular 1:1 meetings with your manager, request one immediately.
PRO TIP 2 Draft a timeline of accomplishments. Use your calendar, meeting recaps and sent emails as a refresher of your accomplishments. These can help fill in the gaps and quantify how you spent your time.
PRO TIP 3 If your goals changed mid year or are no longer relevant to your work, note why NOW! Do not wait until your performance review to answer this on the fly, it rarely goes well and may be read as excuses or defensive. If a blocker hindered you from getting work done, consider providing feedback on how this can be improved in the future. Good leaders want to know how they can clear the path for you to succeed.
PRO TIP 4 Request testimonials from team members who relied on your work and benefited from your input. Never assume your manager knows about these accomplishments. Taking this step makes a significant difference, as promotions typically go to team members whose positive impact is both clear and widely experienced.

If you want to learn more about First Focus services or chat about all things career, leadership and the world of work you can schedule a time here. In the meantime, enjoy the candy corn!

-Lauren Lopez

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mark Your Calendar

Access Canada Summit | Hosted by Access Canada Inc. in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter | Sept 14-16 | Toronto, ON | Register | A premier screen industries summit with keynotes, panels, and a pitch market connecting creators, producers, buyers, and studios.

NEW JOBS

Who’s Hiring

NBCUniversal | Manager, Marketing Strategy | Universal City, CA | $75K/yr - $105K/yr
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment | Director of Community Relations | Brooklyn, NY | $100K/yr - $125K/yr
The Diary Of A CEO | Senior Producer | Los Angeles, CA | $110K/yr - $120K/yr
GRAMMY Museum | Senior Director, Partnerships & Development | New York, NY | $145K/yr - $155K/yr
NFL Players Association | Senior Director, Strategy and Operations | Washington, DC | $265K/yr - $300K/yr

That’s everything this week In The Arena of sports, media & entertainment! Forward this newsletter →

-Arena founders | Parul Khosla, Adriene Bueno & Olivia Schwartz

Want to partner with Arena? Get in touch with us.

September is your January