Amber Billups is a sports activities editor for Fanatics. She was on the Fritz Pollard Alliance Basis Feminine Trailblazers occasion the place Maria Taylor and different trailblazing ladies in sports activities spoke on a panel. After the occasion, Amber spoke with rolling out about her journey to changing into a sports activities editor.
What do you do at Fanatics? I work in Fanatics collectibles, and I principally create the playing cards. I began in August of 2024, and my first undertaking would be the Rookie Premiere. I get to go to Rookie Premiere and inform the athletes tips on how to pose for the playing cards. It’s a rookie account that I’ll be doing. Proper now, I’m simply choosing photos from their faculty profession, after which we’ll be switching out these jerseys till we get these precise pictures from their Rookie Premiere.
What are some challenges you confronted in your method to changing into an editor? I confronted numerous challenges. I’m nonetheless in class proper now, getting my grasp’s at Texas Christian College (TCU). I bought my undergrad at College of North Texas (UNT), and it was a protracted journey. I’m additionally a mother. My son is 15 years outdated, so he watched my journey develop from the bottom up. It was robust as a result of I used to be coping with work-life stability. The extra that I put into my profession, the much less I put into spending time with my son. It was very onerous, so now I’m simply making up that point.
Do you’re feeling like Fanatics has unfair benefit within the collectibles recreation due to their unique licensing agreements with the NFL and NBA? I believe it offers us a very good benefit. Fanatics is rising yearly. We’re simply right here to remain, and it’s wonderful coming into work on daily basis. We’re hiring proper now, when you guys wish to come work in collectibles.
What’s your all-time sports activities card? I simply bought a CJ Stroud rookie card. You understand, he was Rookie of the 12 months final yr, in order that’s positively my favourite card proper now.