Niyah Baldwin, a rising senior at Florida A&M University (FAMU), is making waves in the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program. With her roots firmly planted in Holliday Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and her faith guiding her every step, Niyah’s journey to the fellowship is both inspiring and a testament to her dedication.
"My faith played a huge role in my decision to apply for the Fellowship," Niyah explains. "As I have grown older, I see more and more the impact that God has on my life and how blessed I truly am. I put my complete trust in God and allowed Him to guide me through this process. I’m so thankful that He blessed me with this amazing opportunity."
Out of 11,000 candidates, Niyah was selected as one of 71 students for the 2024 NBA HBCU Fellowship cohort. Reflecting on this achievement, she shares, "I felt amazing. It was truly a blessing, and I immediately thanked God for this opportunity. This was a highly competitive interview process, so being chosen reassured me that I'm on the right path."
Representing FAMU in the fellowship, Niyah is proud to show how hardworking and qualified HBCU students are for such prestigious opportunities. "This gave me the chance to show how hardworking and qualified HBCU students are for these opportunities. Securing this internship put me in the position to make more room for Black women and HBCU students in the sports industry," she says. "I am setting a standard for those that’ll come after me and opening doors for more individuals that look like me to have the same opportunity."
During the three-day orientation at the NBA offices, Niyah was inspired by the behind-the-scenes work that goes into maintaining the NBA's success. "My experience at the NBA Offices was so much fun. I truly enjoyed seeing how much goes into the NBA. People don’t realize how much behind-the-scenes work goes into the upkeep of NBA teams and the successful flow of NBA games," she recalls. Meeting former Fellows, now working full-time with the NBA, was a highlight for her.
The networking session with over 50 NBA employees opened Niyah’s eyes to the vast career opportunities within the organization. "The networking session showed me how many different components there are within the NBA employment-wise. There’s a space for everyone to excel and so many departments to choose from," she says.
Interning with the Charlotte Hornets in their Marketing Department, Niyah is excited about her projects, including the Theme Night project and creating a marketing plan for the Hornets Hoops Summer Camp. "I’m most excited about working on my Theme Night project, where I’ll be coming up with In-Game and Concourse Activations and a pre-game event for the Buzz City Appreciation theme night. I’m also excited about creating a media and marketing plan for the Hornets Hoops Summer Camp," she shares.
Niyah was pleasantly surprised by how well she adapted to sports marketing. "This is my first time working in sports marketing, but I’m doing so well, and it’s such a blessing to watch it unfold and witness my success so far this summer," she reflects.
Diversity and inclusion are crucial values within the NBA, and Niyah believes this fellowship program plays a significant role in promoting these values. "Diversity and Inclusion are important in every corporate and workplace environment. It creates a space where everyone can fit in and feel a sense of belonging within the company they work for," she explains. "This fellowship contributes to those values as it places young, ambitious Black professionals in corporate spaces and gives us the tools to excel and leave our mark."
Her involvement in the church has profoundly shaped Niyah's values and approach to leadership. "I have always been a leader within my church, from being a leader within the youth choir, dance group, and holding district level positions," she says. "The church has helped create a foundation and set of values that I follow throughout life. Being in this new work environment, I have walked by faith and not by sight, which is one of my greatest values."
Niyah hopes to inspire her church community to pursue professional opportunities like the NBA HBCU Fellowship by taking leaps of faith and trusting in God's plan. "I hope to bring back the message of taking a leap of faith and trusting God’s plan for you. I want to relay that it’s so important to invest in yourself and your future by taking the chance to nurture your professional development by seizing opportunities such as this," she advises.
Looking ahead, Niyah plans to leverage her experiences and connections from the fellowship to achieve her long-term career goals and make a significant impact in the sports industry. "I plan to make connections that last beyond my time here. Networking and creating strong relationships are so valuable because you never know how those relationships can assist you along your career path," she says. "I will leave my mark on the sports industry in a tremendous way, and I will do it with God by my side, ordering my steps."
Niyah Baldwin’s journey through the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program is a testament to her faith, determination, and the support of her community. She is paving the way for future generations and proving that with hard work and trust in God, anything is possible.
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