Tina Battock (Jour鈥90) is the general manager of the , one of eight teams that comprise the Professional Bull Riders league. In 2022, she became the league鈥檚 only female general manager (GM). In early 2023, she was named GM of the year by her fellow GMs and coaches, and in January 2023.听
How did you become GM of the Nashville Stampede?听
I started at an advertising agency and then went into media sales. I worked my way up to a publisher position and ultimately an executive role. The company that I currently manage, Morris Communications, has media in the western lifestyle space and, through that, we acquired a professional bull riding team and the Nashville Stampede was born. I decided to go for the GM position because it was an opportunity to learn and develop new skills and connections. After 30 years in the same business, it鈥檚 exciting to accept new challenges.
How did your time at CU 麻豆影院 prepare you for a career that may have seemed unexpected to your college self?
My time at CU 麻豆影院 taught me to be creative, resourceful and curious. I walked away with the tools, experience and foundation to be confident to try different areas of media. It made me brave enough to say 鈥測es鈥 to things that I never thought of doing.
You鈥檝e said you aren鈥檛 in the business of being the best female in your profession, rather, just the best. Do you ever feel you have to work harder to prove this as a woman?听
I don鈥檛 think I have to work harder 鈥 sometimes I have to work differently but that goes both ways. I鈥檝e been afforded opportunities because I am a female, like the Vogue article. There are seven other GMs that are just as accomplished and probably have more interesting lives, but they wanted to talk with me because I鈥檓 the outlier as a female. I work hard and hustle and I think that鈥檚 noticed and respected by the people that work with me. Any preconceptions others may have quickly fall away when you demonstrate your competence.
What are your plans for your career moving forward?
I鈥檓 at a place in my career where I want to keep building and growing businesses that I鈥檓 passionate about. The Stampede has been an incredible amount of work, but it has been one of the most rewarding things I鈥檝e ever done professionally. It鈥檚 a reminder to chase things that are exciting 鈥 whatever that is. You do better when your work is interesting to you.
Your team went from a last-place standing to first place 鈥 all in one season. What do you think allowed your team to make such a big change?
We didn鈥檛 quit. Persistence, focus and teamwork made it happen. It was magical.