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breathe
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Read Monica Aguado’s, Humas Resources and CFO, insightful comments about the importance of corporate meetings on an era where remote work is growing fast and is not going anywhere anytime soon.
1. First of all, can you tell us about your job as HHHR & CFO Director?
I’ve been working with ISL since the company was founded, back when it didn’t even had an Human Resources structure. It has been a big challenge to create and shape this department; it definitely has been a learning experience and it’s amazing to see how far we’ve gotten. Part of my daily tasks also includes hand-in-hand work with the CEO preparing financial reports and tracking the cash flow which is crucial to make strategic decisions.
2. Taking into account that currently most of ISL’s employees work remotely, do you consider that corporate meetings are important?
During COVID times, ISL was introduced to remote work; nowadays most of the team works remote or hybrid. Because of this, many team members interact only virtually with the rest of the team. We consider that corporate meetings, now more than ever, are a must in our annual calendar of activities.
3. Which is the main objective of a corporate meeting?
The main objective of a corporate meeting is to boost physical and emotional experiences that we may lack in a daily basis. To achieve this, during corporate meetings we organize team building activities, meetings where we recap annual results and share future projections, luncheons and other interactive activities.
.4. How many corporate meetings a year do you think are necessary for ISL?
We’ve always aimed to held 2 corporate meetings per year and we hope to maintain this frequency, even though the company keeps growing and it’s hard to find a few days in the calendar where the whole team can meet.
Read Pere Segarra’s, our director of talent relationship, take on the current player market, the skills a Professional Player must have to thrive, and the importance of mental health in the football industry.
The market is on fire, especially in MLS. There have been two-star signings for LAFC: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) and Giorgio Bellnini (Juventus), two European legends who will make a difference in this league.
And as for Europe, there have been several star signings such as Halaan, who has signed with Manchester City, and Pogba’s return to Juve.
Many American players have the potential to enter the European market.
European clubs are interested in having young American promises to make the club grow in the United States, it is a good marketing tool, and obviously, the talent in the United States is increasing.
2. What skills should have a Tandhem player to represent him?
We mainly value the player’s professionalism and his commitment to his career. We also highly value the player’s projection and talent, but his dedication is critical.
You must be mentally strong and aware that there will be times that are tougher than others. We also consider his education and his closest environment, which are a support rather than a burden on his way.
3. And regarding mental health, is it essential that high-performance athletes take care of it?
Mental health is a taboo subject among footballers, which is not talked about enough, and it is the key and the big difference between a professional and non-professional player.
I recommend it to any player who feels that he doesn’t know how to handle pressure well, criticism, who has more negative thoughts than usual…
Certain players are affected much more than others, and due to their ego, they prefer to keep this fight quiet, and all they do is harm themselves.
Resorting to professionals will always provide a more significant improvement than any advice from someone who is not specialized.
4. Do the big teams consider physical and mental health when they are interested in a player?
Yes, both aspects are of vital importance for the clubs. The scouts of any club monitor not only the player on the field, but also his mental state, which I mentioned before: his environment, family, education…
The clubs have it very present. They discard the player if they believe that the player is confrontational or will not fit in well in the locker room because of his behavior.
Talent is what weighs the most in the balance, but each case must be taken into account individually.
On a physical level, they also study if the player has any irregularity that could cause future injuries or reduce his performance. Many millions are invested for each footballer, and the team takes care of even the smallest detail so that the operation is successful.
ISL takes a step further in business development and cutting-edge trends, by helping to bring soccer to the frontline of digital technology.
Ethernity is a unique digital asset platform that produces limited edition digital collectible NFT’s and trading cards, by brilliant and elite artists featuring mainstream celebrities, notable and historical figures, athletes, musicians, entrepreneurs, gamers and much more!
Blockchain technology is used to ensure the scarcity, authenticity, and eternal existence of these collectibles.
The Winklevoss twins, Djs Dimitri Vegas and Alesso, Pro Skater Tony Hawk, MLB star Fernando Tatís, boxing legend Muhammad Ali and top artist Bosslogic, are just some of the names on the exclusive Ethernity collections.
ISL & Ethernity Chain
ISL is always at the vanguard of new sports and technology trends, thus it makes only sense to be Ethernity’s first and official partner for NFT’s creations in the soccer industry.
“As a 360 sports management agency, we are continuously focused on bringing value and new opportunities to our clients and partners.NFT’s have revolutionized the digital space and they provide a uniqueness and scarcity that match perfectly with our sports properties”, explains Alex Isern, ISL co-founder and CEO.
“This strategic partnership with Ethernity will allow us to create a unique digital artwork with world-class athletes, clubs, leagues and other sports organizations.We have already locked down several sport icons and we can’t wait to release their first NFT’s collection very soon”, says Marc Segarra, ISL Managing Partner.
The first soccer NFT collection will be announced in the next few weeks with a world renowned player.
NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are “one-of-a-kind” assets in the digital world that can be bought and sold like any other piece of property, but can’t be duplicated, replaced or traded for something else, as they have no tangible form of their own.
For example: while you can exchange and trade money or bitcoins, and get the same value in return, an NFT is like a one-of-a-kind trading card, if you trade it for a different card, you will not receive the same value back. The groundbreaking revolution of NFT’s is that both physical or virtual assets, such as artwork, can be “tokenised” to create a digital certificate of ownership.
This certificate can be bought and sold, but can’t be duplicated, unlike most digital folders. NFT’s use the same technology as crypto currency: a record of who owns what is stored on a shared ledger known as the blockchain. The records cannot be forged because the ledger is maintained by thousands of computers around the world.
How much are NFT’s worth?
It is their unique non-fungible feature that makes NFT’s so special and valuable, and the reason why they have been moving millions of dollars around the globe!
The boom of the digital tokens became a reality when an animated GIF of Nyan Cat – a 2011 meme of a flying pop-tart cat – was sold for more than $500.000. The trend kept growing as musician Grimes sold some of her digital art for more than $6 million Dollars, and recently Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has promoted an NFT of the first ever evert tweet with bids hitting $2.5 million.
MORE EXCITING NEWS ABOUT ISL FIRST SOCCER COLLECTION x ETHERNITY COMING SOON!
Stay tuned!
After a decade of providing the world’s leading sports organizations, brands, and athletes with first class marketing support the ISL founders decided it was time to establish a full on 360 marketing department which would focus on helping other industries.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marc Segarra one of the managing partners realized that ISL was not maximizing it’s capacity in terms of marketing services. Together with Alex Isern (ISL CEO) they decided it was time to capitalize on this opportunity since the company was facing loads of uncertainty, given the fact that the pandemic was having a rough impact on the company’s major programs. It was this very moment that led to the creation of this new department called Marketing 360.
Both Alex & Marc have always stated that service is the number one priority when it comes to ISL. The company is all about fostering & establishing long term partnerships, and this has been the case with families whose kids have attended the FC Barcelona camps throughout the years. “We have done such good work establishing proper social media campaigns together with mastering email marketing, that we need to share our level of expertise with other companies” stated Marc.
Marc insists that ISL would not be were it is today, had it not been for the support of the families whose kids have participated in the Barca academies, camps, and travel experiences. An important factor behind this new project was the fact that we want to offer marketing solutions to the families that have been with us all this years. Throughout the years, our soccer programas have enabled us the privilege of meeting executives from Fortune 500 companies to lawyers, doctors and business owners.
“We just want to thank the parents for the continues support throughout the years”. Were the words of Marc when describing the important role families have played in ISL’s success. Now we have a solution to offer parents who run small businesses or need help with marketing. Good service is an essence at ISL and we now have the tools to offer additional services not just to the families whose kids attend camp, although to the greater public.
It has different parts, but it can only perform properly when all those parts work together towards the same goal. At ISL, we enforce this interrelatedness and believe that an integrated approach is essential to attain the best results. Our 360 marketing approach takes strategies to a new level to communicate a consistent message through all the marketing mix elements. By implementing a broad strategy and the right tools, we will pursue and reach your target audience.
1 – Social Media Management Social media is one of the best ways to engage with customers and potential customers. Our Social Media Management team will successfully manage your platforms while strengthening relationships, raising brand awareness, and interacting with followers.
2 – Content Strategy Every successful business needs a solid content strategy. We transform your business objectives and goals into a plan that uses content to reach those goals and aligns with your target audience.
3 – Digital Advertising Digital advertising has become an essential tool to help businesses stand out and succeed among competitors. From awareness to purchase, we use digital media advertising to drive revenue to your business.
4 – Web Development & SEO We work behind the senses to make your website look great, perform its best and assure users a smooth experience. Our SEO experts will make sure you build better relationships with your audience, drive more traffic to your site and increase conversions.
5 – Email Marketing It is one of the most cost-effective digital marketing strategies to attract and retain customers with personalized messages that promote your brand, content, and product or service. We will keep your customers and prospects informed and engaged.
6 – Creative Design & Video From logos and images to videos, we create visual content that captures your company’s vision and values. Aligning content value to consumer goals is step one in better attracting, engaging, and converting the audience that matters to your business.
7 – Brand Development Branding makes an excellent impression on consumers and, as a result, lets your customers know what to expect from your company. Brand building has a lot to do with Psychology, and that’s why we will make sure your business’ logo and graphic identity align with the attitudes, aspirations, and needs of your target audience.
8 – Influencer Marketing & PR Tradition and innovation are powerful tools. That’s why at ISL, we believe in Influencer marketing and classic PR; at the end of the day, both concepts share the same goal: showing the public the right reasons to love a company. We have the right connections to help you build relationships between your business and a variety of media outlets and, as a result, increase your business’s brand awareness and reputation.
From the offset of forming ISL as a company the main focus has always been about community and giving back. Each of us that make up the team come from different walks of life and have at some point needed a hand up to move forward, in one way or another. It is with that sentiment and the current global climate of COVID-19 that we collectively agreed that there has to be a way to get involved and be able to put our efforts into pouring hope into the lives of those who are desperately in need during this time.
Recently we rolled out a “Same Team. Same Goal.” campaign in tandem with the global call for people to stay at home in hopes of combating this pandemic and flattening the curve. We received an overwhelming and positive response to the mocked up “Home Shirt” jerseys in the graphics we laid out for social media and an article written to support the campaign. The only logical thing to do at this point was to move the concept forward into production and ultimately do good with it.
Now, there are many companies that are vying to get involved and help out in aiding those in need, but for the most part those donations are being funneled into a centralized disbursement organization and the turn around to get them to those people who are now reliant upon receiving those distributions are being lost in the shuffle or having to hold on a bit longer until they are able to receive aid.
For us, immediate disbursement of aid was non-negotiable. People are going without and the goal for us is get them help as soon as possible. ISL is going on 7 years strong now, but we have done well at remaining true to our roots. The early days began in Charlotte, NC and although we now call many parts of the world home, the Queen City will always hold close in our hearts.
Soccer is the world’s game and if you are a part of it you will come to quickly understand that it is a very small and close knit community with many arms. Soccer serves many purposes outside of being a game to watch. It unifies cities and countries. It’s colorblind. It doesn’t know or care what your socioeconomic status is. But, above all it serves. Soccer and the players that we have come to cheer on have always poured resources back into one outreach or charity that they are fortunate to be partnered with. To us, we have always had the utmost respect for our friends at Project 658.
Project 658 believe in transforming communities and pouring hope into restoring each life they are able to engage with, regardless of race, sex or religion. These are values that we believe in and only hope to try to replicate in our daily lives. 658 are a holistic ministry providing services for at-risk families in Charlotte and Nashville, moving them toward sustainability; with a key focus on the international and refugee communities. This is a non-brainer for us, as many of our team are from different parts of the globe.
The beauty of this project was two fold, in that we had the opportunity to help those in need, but additionally it gave the folks at 658 the chance to put a few of their staff back to work, even if it were for a short period of time, as they have an onsite screen printing and distribution department. Given the climate of things right now being able to uncover a company to do this project and turn it around in a timely fashion could present itself as a bit of a challenge, so we were excited to learn that this was a capability of theirs.
Beyond being an outreach ministry, 658 have diversified their facility to be host a variety of different things such as wedding receptions, to continued education classes, vocational training classes, an after school daycare and tutoring, to a fully operational restaurant style kitchen to which they have the ability to cater events on the premises, as well as feed those in need. They even have the ability to convert the banquet space into a fully capable futsal court for local youth to play on.
Without the delay the concept of #HomeFC was born. The purpose behind the jersey was a simple call to stay home, save lives in the attempt to get this pandemic behind us and to get back out on the playing field. Additionally, it gave us the opportunity to be able to reach out to our network to help those who are most in need.
With all hands on deck we ran a limited time offer jersey sale for 7 days utilizing our ISL social media channels and an email marketing campaign. Orders from around the U.S. started coming in almost immediately, which for us validated even more the type of community we have come to know and love. As quickly as it began it was over. All in all we sold over 200 jerseys and raised over $5000.00 for Project 658 and a couple other organizations affiliated with our foundation.
This number may not seem like much, but for the lives of those in need during this time it truly made an impact, even if it were for a short period. To everyone that helped support this campaign, thank you. You may never meet the folks who you help support, but we can assure you that they are equally grateful to you too.
To learn more about our foundation and organizations that we work with follow this link.
We work in a world that can be characterized into two simple words, “Sports Marketing.” This however can bring a lot of questions as to what goes into sports marketing, and could make someone unprepared when one is offered the chance to rattle off a dreaded 30 second elevator pitch. It’s in that vein and of the utmost importance to give clarity to these questions, but more importantly to separate yourself from other companies who claim to be in the same field.
By definition Sports Marketing is a subdivision of marketing, focusing both on the promotional aspects of sporting events and the teams that compete in those events, as well as the promotion of products and services associated with those sporting events and sports teams. It is a service in which the element promoted can be a physical product or a brand name.
Like most vibrant companies we are diverse and multifaceted, meaning that we are not just siloed into a specific space. Although our focus is that of the sports industry, we have many arms that make up our brand, all the while we continue to branch out into other new and exciting areas. ISL prides itself on being cutting edge, as well as hiring some of the most talented folks in the industry to help make dreams become reality, not just as a company, but for our clients and guests.
We have a variety of services to offer. To date there are 8 different ways in our portfolio to be able to engage with current clients and new potential customers. This includes everything from experiential design, brand development, marketing and sponsorship, event production, tours and friendlies, product research and development, travel management, and all the way to our player management arm. Each services works with one another to seamlessly achieve our clients goals.
As a company we like to meet challenges methodically and head on. So, as our brand continues to thrive and grow into new areas. We are proud to be a Sports Management and Marketing agency, providing sports business services and solutions for clients and partners, as well as ISL owned and operated brands.
To learn more about ISL, the different services we have to offer and how we are able to work together contact us. See you on the field.
We’re living in unusual times that require actions that are going to make a difference, and ISL recognize that we can aid in the efforts. In partnership with Innjoo, ISL will be working to distribute Innjoo’s healthcare products to the sports industry and other businesses within the United States of America.
ISL will use it’s network within different American institutions to help prepare leagues, federations, sports commissions, and governments with Innjoo’s healthcare equipment, ensuring people have access to safe, reliable and certified products when sports and life return to normal.
With the current climate of COVID-19, we have all come to truly value the power of sports and the way it brings people together. We all miss cheering on our favorite teams and players with thousands of other spectators and staff. Someday soon players, fans and staff will be able to return to sporting events, enjoying the pastimes that have built relationships and connected communities to one another. When we are able to return, things may look a bit different than before with social distancing protocols becoming a fabric of our society for some time. The protocols will require products that keep us all safe while enjoying our favorite sporting events and quotidian moments. Face masks, protective gloves, thermometers and hand sanitizer will become a part of our “new normal”.
ISL hope we can all work together in order to prepare ourselves for when life goes back to normal. If you believe you can aid in ISL’s efforts to supply healthcare products and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Sporting, Healthcare or any other organization in need, please contact us below.
Innjoo are a global technology and healthcare products provider who have been invested in the sports industry for some time, exemplified in their jersey sponsorship of RCD Espanyol. They are also the official healthcare provider of the Spanish government, and have been on the front lines combating the COVID-19 crisis and keeping healthcare workers safe. The variety of product Innjoo offers varies from different facial masks (Surgical, KN95, 3M), gloves, Rapid COVID-19 test and other Personal Protective Equipment. All of Innjoo’s products are FDA Approved, and meet all of the legal requirements for use in the American Market. Innjoo can supply large product quantities in less than a week as they are manufacturers of these products and have their own fleet of cargo planes.
Innjoo and ISL are looking forward to providing solutions to our communities that will help us all return to a life we all miss.
Learn more about Innjoo here www.innjoo.com
It’s been a little over four weeks now since what seemed like just another news story playing in the background from a different part of the world, has now made its way to every corner on earth. Global events of this magnitude seem like something we’ve read about in history books or even seen in blockbuster science-fiction movies, but to actually live it out in real life is nothing short of surreal. It truly gives us a better perspective that we are all a part of something bigger now than just our own myopic worldview we typically live in.
Temporarily we are all on hold. Activities have been suspended and scheduled events have been pushed back to dates that are still to be determined. For the most part everyone is complying with the universal stay at home orders, in helping the greater good. Neighbors are once again being neighborly and doing their part to combat the spread of COVID-19. That said, the earth is still rotating on its axis, and life continues on.
None of us know when we will be able to return back to “business as usual,” but it is certain that we will not be starting over from scratch, but rather adapting to new topography. This is a seemingly daunting thought to wrap your mind around no matter the industry you find yourself in, but just like our ancestors, we adjust and fight on.
ISL’s primary focus is sports, which when cancelled around the globe made the whole coronavirus pandemic very real, not just for us, but for every walk of life as we are all vested in it one way or another. Be it cooler talk at the office amongst peers or simply a way to bond with loved ones, sports and sporting events are unifying.
“No one in our lifetime has ever experienced extraordinary events like this. We are all learning how to move forward by trial and error in each of our respective businesses.” – Alex Isern (CEO of ISL) “Start where you are and with people you have on your team. Be bold enough to take risks, even now, but more importantly if those efforts fall short, get up, dust yourself off and try again.”
So, what does this mean specifically for sports marketing? Two of the most affected continents in this global crisis are Europe and America, where ISL holds 100% of its operations. The postponement of most soccer leagues and federations worldwide, coupled with our vast Travel, Talent and Tour and Friendlies Management arm, has put our families, clients, and partners on the bench.
For all, this disruption means rethinking how to manage upcoming scheduled activities, messaging for marketing campaigns and the events associated with them, and of course, how this will affect everyone financially. Some companies are in reactive mode, while others are in survival mode, but either way you look at it we are all in an adaptive mode, trying to get a better grasp of when things will resume back to normal. It’s during this time however that companies, like ISL, dig in and pivot.
This means recognizing what is going on currently, adjusting strategies and looking down the road. We are not naive to the gravity of this crisis. We know that this current situation is monumental, but the ISL team remains steadfast and positive. Our outlook is laser focused on continuing to change the global soccer landscape and more than ever we are committed to our players, our clients and our partners in delivering unparalleled experiences and solutions. We take pride in what we do and in servicing our customers, because at the core of everything we are is ultimately you.
“We are one in this! From our early beginnings, ISL have always been there for its team, families and clients. In these uncertain times, we need you more than ever to sustain all that we have built together.” – Marc Segarra (Co-Founder of ISL) adding, “These are unprecedented times, so please stay home and be patient. Take this time to spend with family and loved ones. Sooner than later we will get the (soccer) ball rolling again, together.”
So for now, home field advantage is global and the rules are universal. Although we may be rooted separately, our paths will ascend together. We are one team. Will you wear the home shirt?
Same team. Same goal.
In the past little had been known about this fast growing sport, or as some have referenced it as the little brother of soccer, but futsal is the only form of indoor soccer endorsed by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). It earned the status of FIFA’s official form of indoor soccer in the 1980s as it was recognized as a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors. It is a 5 v 5 small-sided game played on a hard surfaced, basketball sized court with a smaller, heavier low bounce ball. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, Messi, Kaka and Katia grew up playing the game and credit futsal with developing their skills.
The mission of our indoor program is simple, develop top tier players and people through the uniqueness of this sport, all the while providing a comfortable platform for all to learn and advance on and away from the court. The philosophy is unconventional in that the overall approach is holistic and centers on the encouragement of individual creativity and player intelligence. In itself, futsal is a very distinctive game, and often takes players out of their comfort zones in order to stretch their skills to reach their next level. The goal in these circumstances is to help ensure players are constantly striving for loftier goals and succeeding.
Since forming, Futsala has experienced a string of rapid successes for both players and coaches. It has even gained national and international attention for top level play on the court. Recently our ‘03 Team were crowned the National Champions In addition, there has been recognition at National ID’s, with six of our players getting invited to participate with the US National Youth Team.
Programs vary, depending on interest and individual development within the game, but can be specialized to fit specific needs of the player. There are 2 core categories that are open to players, with a week long summer camp option for all skill levels looking to continue to refine their techniques or simply check out the sport for the first time.
Trips that were once just a short drive from home to the courts are now around the country and abroad to compete against the best the nation and world have to offer. It is a far departure from its humble beginnings, but a journey that is just beginning and with a big, bright future ahead.
Today is an exciting day as ISL Agency continue to expand its sports business service offering with the announcement of Tours And Friendlies to its portfolio. In our short yet busy history, we’ve been proud to continue offering high quality sports business solutions to our partners and clients, the addition of Tours And Friendlies is no different. We are excited to continue helping expand our clients brand, discover new fans, and achieve unmatched sports management results.
ISL will be assisting professional clubs, federations, leagues or promotors to organize friendly games, tours or tournaments, as well as broker sponsorship opportunities as a result of these agreements.
ISL CEO Alex Isern said on the exciting new service, “We are very excited to offer this opportunity to professional clubs that are looking for new revenue streams, but also to increase their fan base abroad. We have already started talking with several clubs and our goal is to manage more than 50 games next summer.”
In recent years, soccer clubs have increasingly ventured outside of their home country in search for new surroundings during pre-season training and matches. Not only do clubs find training inspiration in new environments, and playing challenges against foreign competition, but the opportunity to expand their brand and discover new fans. Tours And Friendlies blends a clubs aspirations with competing against new opposition, and commercially grow the clubs brand.
For additional information, contact Bruno Diaz via email at bdiaz@islagency-old.nntesting.com or via phone +1 954-505-1378 (US) and +34 654 538 125 (Global).
