The NIL era has created massive opportunities in college athletics — but it has also exposed how unprepared many student-athletes are for the business side of sports. In this episode, Stephen Bienko shares how his company is helping college athletes navigate the fast-changing world of Name, Image, and Likeness through personal branding, athlete development, financial […]
NIL has transformed college athletics, but the biggest challenge may not be sponsorship deals or athlete compensation — it may be athlete development. In this episode, Eric sits down with Stephen Bienko to discuss the future of NIL, personal branding, athlete identity, and the growing pressure facing today’s student-athletes. The conversation explores how Name, Image, […]
The NIL landscape is evolving — and success in college athletics is no longer defined only by social media followers or viral moments. The future belongs to student-athletes with strong personal brands, leadership skills, and sustainable brand identity. In this episode of the SEEN Saturday Series, host Kathrine Nero sits down with Stephen Bienko, a […]
he NIL era is transforming college athletics far beyond endorsement deals and social media sponsorships. In this episode of Highway to NIL, Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys Cal Stein and Chris Brolley sit down with Stephen Bienko — former Division I athlete and founder of 42U — to discuss the future of NIL, student-athlete branding, athlete […]
In this episode, Syracuse University Falk College sport management professors Rick Burton and Dave Meluni dive into the latest developments shaping the ever-evolving NIL landscape in college athletics. Joining the conversation are Val Ackerman and Stephen Bienko, who share insights on how name, image, and likeness is transforming the relationship between athletes, universities, conferences, and […]
For decades, NCAA athletic departments were built on a lopsided foundational model called fundraising first. Development officers, booster clubs and alumni relations teams drove operational revenue. Success was measured not just in wins and losses, but in checks and donors. That model worked well in the amateur era, but that ship has sailed. College athletics […]
