Tulane University’s American Marketing Association hosted Mike Stanfield, senior vice president of sales for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans on Oct. 21.  

Stanfield, who has worked with the Saints for 25 years and the Pelicans for 13, shared his advice with students about how to attain their dreams while working hard.  

Stanfield started in sales after pitching himself to baseball teams at a local conference.  

“I stood in the lobby with a suit on and talked to anybody that would talk to me. I knew it was important to dress well as well I did. I wanted to look like I meant business because I did mean business,” he said.  

Many students in the audience aspire to work in the sports industry like Stanfield. He advised them on how to achieve their goals and have success in many areas of their life.  

“I understand what I have; I have heart, and I have desire. I also know that I’ll go through that wall in order to get something done. I know that nobody’s ever going to tell me no, and I’m going to get it done no matter [what].” 

Stanfield also expressed the power of teamwork — using your college counselors, friends and family as teammates to help you in your career path.  

“The real world out there, it ain’t always fun, it ain’t always pretty, and there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs with people’s careers,” he said.  

Stanfield also detailed his own journey. “Have I been fired? Yes, I have been,” he said. “I’ve had every ups and downs in this business that you can have…When things get tough, can you look beyond that, and do you have that emotional support from the people that love you, ones that help you get here right now, or the people that are in your professional career?”