Orlando Ashford, Chief People Officer of Fanatics, Inc. | Your First Job

On the premiere episode of Your First Job, Leilani catches up with Orlando Ashford, Chief People Officer of Fanatics, Inc - a leading digital sports platform specializing in licensed merchandise, trading cards, and sports betting. Their conversation takes place just before Fanatics Fest, the company's inaugural event in NYC set to attract over 100,000 fans. Orlando shares insights on mobilizing talent to pull off such a massive event, discusses his career journey, early beginnings, and reflects on his first job as a "bird boy".  What is a bird boy?  Listen to find out. ABOUT ORLANDO As Chief People Officer for Fanatics, Orlando manages global human resources and oversees culture, talent development, corporate communications, corporate social responsibility, total rewards, and HR infrastructure. In addition to his role as CPO, Orlando has a focus on expanding and advancing efforts across Fanatics’ principles of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Allyship) as well as energizing philanthropic initiatives, which includes oversight of the Fanatics Foundation.  Prior to joining Fanatics, Orlando was a Strategic Advisor to Sycamore Partners, a private equity company specializing in retail and consumer investment, where he served as a thought leader, confidant, and coach to senior executives on human capital and business issues with the Board, C-suite, and HR functions. Orlando has held senior level HR roles with several Fortune 500 companies, including Marsh & McLennan Companies, The Coca-Cola Company, and Motorola, Inc., and previously served as President of the Holland America Cruise Line. In addition to his role at Fanatics, Orlando serves on the Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish America and Perrigo (NYSE: PRGO). He also serves as Chairman of Perrigo.   ABOUT THE SHOW Your First Job is a podcast hosted by Leilani M. Brown, CEO of Giant Steps, LLC, exploring the early career experiences of successful individuals across various industries. Each episode features in-depth interviews with established professionals, executives, and thought leaders who share the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned in their first jobs. By debunking myths about overnight success and showcasing diverse career paths, the podcast aims to inform and inspire the next generation of talent, encouraging them to embrace and learn from their own initial work roles and every step—and stepping stone—along the way.