Inspiring Conversations with Gerardo Hernandez of Optimal Sports Management

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerardo Hernandez.

Hi Gerardo, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Gerardo Hernandez, and I’m the CMO and Co-Founder of Optimal Sports Management, a sports marketing agency specializing in securing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for our clients. NIL is a relatively new concept that allows athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness, and this sparked the decision for my partner Christopher Gil and me to create our agency. I’ve been passionate about sports for as long as I can remember, and while I didn’t have the talent to play professionally, I knew I wanted to still work in the world of sports. That’s why I took every class I could on sports at the University of Southern California, where I developed a deep understanding of the sports industry. With the emergence of NIL, we saw an opportunity to create a sports marketing agency that could help high school, collegiate, and professional football players profit off of their name, image, and likeness. We advocate for our players to help them secure endorsement deals with companies that align with their interests and values.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve been very blessed with a smooth road. I’m lucky to have found my passion early in my life (during college). My business partner is one of my best friends; I love sports and being an advocate for our student-athletes. Sometimes it’s hard as an entrepreneur because you can never be 100% sure the work you are doing will have a real impact, but I remain confident and grateful because I believe in our company.

As you know, we’re big fans of Optimal Sports Management. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
With the emergence of NIL, we saw an opportunity to create a sports marketing agency that could help high school, collegiate, and professional football players profit off of their name, image, and likeness. We advocate for our players to help them secure endorsement deals with companies that align with their interests and values.

At Optimal Sports Management, we have a very in-depth onboarding process where we take the time to get to know our players and their families. We also stay up-to-date by reading every college football and NIL article, which helps us stay ahead of the curve.

What sets us apart from other sports marketing agencies is our approach. We intentionally keep our roster size small and elite to ensure we can give every player our absolute best. We also meticulously match our clients with companies that align with their interests and values. This has proven successful, as companies often see the value proposition immediately because the fit is so natural.

The main thing I want potential clients/followers/fans to know about Optimal Sports Management is that we are a dedicated team of professionals passionate about helping athletes achieve their goals. We take a personalized approach to ensure our clients are matched with companies that align with their interests and values. I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve been able to help so many athletes profit off of their name, image, and likeness, and it’s gratifying to see our clients succeed both on and off the field.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I want to thank our CEO, Christopher Gil, one of the most driven people I’ve ever met. We are so lucky to have such a passionate individual steering our ship. I’d also like to thank our partner Frank Yip for the priceless wisdom he has passed on to us. Frank has expedited our growth tremendously by sharing the secrets of his successful 40+ years of experience in the world of sports as an agent. It’s such a tremendous advantage to bypass a significant portion of the learning curve when you have such a wise individual in your corner. Frank knows the world of football like the back of his hand, and he’s got the stories to prove it. Through my countless hours on the phone with Frank, I’ve grown wiser in everything from football to airplanes. Thank you, Coach!

Contact Info:

• Website: optimalsports.net
• Instagram: thegerardohern
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardohernandezosm/ 

Image Credits
Christopher Gil