# @sportsgrad on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=lONVKSSust0
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70306130-sportsgrad-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/13f801c389.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-13T14:47:26.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** SportsGrad (@sportsgrad) — https://gondola.cc/sportsgrad

## Caption

Meet Tori Coleman M.S., Aaron Llavore and Amalia Sofia Navarro, M.S., three of the people building the San Francisco 49ers.

In front of a packed room during the 49ers' first-ever National Football League (NFL) game week in Melbourne, the panel pulled back the curtain on what it actually takes to work in US sport, and how three very different paths led to the same organisation.

Tori is the Senior Coordinator of Youth Football Development and Community Programming. She started in education technology, moved through PR and comms in the athlete and agency space, did PR for the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Sacramento Kings, and worked in college sport before landing at the Niners, proof that a non-linear start is a strength, not a setback. 

Aaron is the Creative Director, a decade into the 49ers, leading a "small but mighty" team of six that touches everything creative in the organisation. He got his first sports job as an assistant creative at the Golden State Warriors, from a post on Craigslist, then built his craft from the ground up. 

Amalia works in strategy and impact across the 49ers Foundation's international programming. A comms major from a family of educators, she got her foot in the door through community relations at the Oakland A's and the 49ers museum, working at the intersection of sport, philanthropy and education.

Lots to look out for in this episode, including how to turn an "unconventional" or non-sport background into your edge when breaking in, and how roles inside a major sporting body keep evolving, so getting in is the start, not the finish line.

If you liked this ep, give these a go next:

#237: How Josh Growden launched The Kicking Consultant https://youtu.be/ua6IcoasrkE

#277: Journey from Event Coordinator in Melbourne to NFL Stadium Director with Eray Saban https://youtu.be/-t0-RT1r7O8

#243: Living the dream at the NFL, IOC & Brisbane 2032 Olympics with Tom Hickey https://youtu.be/4gjC7luU8xw

Thanks for listening, much love!

## Stats

- **Views:** 135
- **Likes:** 0
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## Tags

243, 277, 237

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