Shawn Sullivan

THE JOURNEY STARTS WITH THE TIP OF THE FIRST DOMINO…
A lifelong runner, Shawn earned a scholarship to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) as a cross-country student athlete, where he excelled on the course and discovered his passion for working in college athletics. Originally aiming to go into sports journalism/broadcast, after serving as the newspaper’s editor and completing a sports broadcast internship, he realized he truly loved the university sports environment and began working as a Sports Information Director at UIC.

After two years, Shawn ventured into the Arena Football space, heading up community relations for the Chicago Rush, where he connected with an impressive range of future leaders and learned about the pro side of sports before returning to UIC and then crossing town to join Northwestern University’s Athletic Department as head of Sales and Marketing.

His better half (as he proudly shares) earned a job in leadership at Butler University, prompting their move to Indianapolis, where they currently reside with their five children. After nine years at Ball State University, where he earned a role as Deputy Athletic Director, he left last year to pursue other opportunities and is now Associate Commissioner of Branding, Messaging, and Strategic Initiatives at the Horizon League.

To scratch his broadcasting itch, Shawn began doing voice work as an emcee and host at prominent Chicago events, including the Chicago Red Stars, Sky, and Fire, which led him to opportunities as the voice of NBA 2K Pacers, the Indiana Pacers, Fever, and Indy Eleven during his stay in the Hoosier State.

BEYOND THE EVENTS:
Outside of work, Shawn prioritizes spending time with his family, finding ways to include them in his work, and also creating memory-making trips and experiences that they can enjoy together.  Shawn launched The Voice For Good (TVFG) to support mental health initiatives. Through TVFG, Shawn donates a portion of all his voice-overs, broadcasting, and speaking engagements to support mental health.

What Shawn loves most about sports is how integrated life lessons help build your character, from confidence and teamwork skills to dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of success and falling short. 

Shawn’s advice: “Always have a growth mindset and cultivate the ability to deal with uncomfortable situations. He tells his kids daily to approach life with curiosity and kindness. For new grads, he stresses the importance of being able to read & write well and always follow up and write a thank you—it’s almost all about relationships, less about the business and more about how you operate. Networking is important, sure, but kicking ass in each role you take creates the best network you can find–colleagues who will recommend and refer you!”