DAY 1

(30 minutes) 4:00–4:30 PM ET | 1:00–1:30 PM PT
1. Welcome & Summit Overview

• Introduction + Action Plan Orientation
• Purpose, outcomes, and how the day is structured
• Overview of the 5-Step Framework for Purpose-Driven Partnerships
• How brand partnerships fuel athlete longevity, wellbeing, and legacy

(25 minutes) 4:30–4:55 PM ET | 1:30–1:55 PM PT 
2. The Why: Collaboration for Holistic Athlete Development

• Why athletes and those who support them must collaborate
• The gap between performance-driven sponsorships and human-centered impact
• Aligning wellbeing, education, cognitive health, and career sustainability

(25 minutes) 4:55–5:20 PM ET | 1:55–2:20 PM PT
3. Core Skills for Successful Brand Partnerships

• Relationship-building and trust
• Values alignment and shared language
• Communication across disciplines
• Advocacy and storytelling
• Interprofessional education & collaboration

(20 minutes) 5:20–5:40 PM ET | 2:20–2:40 PM PT
Happy Hour Networking 

• Informal connection & conversation

VIP EVENING IMPACT & NETWORKING

(30 minutes) 5:40–6:10 PM ET | 2:40–3:10 PM PT
4. What Makes Partnerships Work (and What Doesn’t) 

• Characteristics of successful partnerships
• Pros and cons of different partnership models
• Common pitfalls and misalignments to avoid

(25 minutes) 6:10–6:35 PM ET | 3:10–3:35 PM PT
5. Simulation Lab: What Good Brand Partnerships Look Like

• Interactive partnership simulations
• Interpersonal collaboration exercises
• Role-based scenarios:

• Athletes
• Brands
• Nonprofits
• Institutions

(20 minutes) 6:35–6:55 PM ET | 3:35–3:55 PM PT
6. Partnership Models & Ecosystems

• Corporate partners
• Local B2B partners
• In-kind partners
• Media partners
• How each supports different stages of athlete development

(20 minutes) 6:55–7:15 PM ET | 3:55–4:15 PM PT
7. Real Case Studies & Lived Experience

• Case studies from:

• Athletes
• Brands
• Organizations
• Community partners

Insights from honorees:

• What they said about partnerships
• What actually moved the needle

(25 minutes) 7:15–7:40 PM ET | 4:15–4:40 PM PT
8. Action Plan Workshop: Interprofessional Collaboration in Practice

• Workbook-guided session using the
  Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practices Workbook
• Advocating for speech-language pathologists and other professionals who support athletes with brain health and mental health 
• Facing challenges, filling gaps, evaluating outcomes
• Translating insight into partnership strategy

(20 minutes) 7:40–8:00 PM ET | 4:40–5:00 PM PT
9. Keynote Speakers
Visionary leaders in:

• Sports advocacy
• Holistic athlete development
• Brand partnerships
• Innovation, leadership & cognitive resilience

(15 minutes) 8:00–8:15 PM ET | 5:00–5:15 PM PT
10. Real Conversations That Lead to Revenue

• Securing partnerships, resources, and sponsorships
• Building recurring revenue
• Moving from transactional deals to sustainable collaborations

(15 minutes) 8:15–8:30 PM ET | 5:15–5:30 PM PT
11. Mapping Immersive Experiences & Activations
Partnerships in action across:

• B.E. Collective+
  Sports Business & NIL
  Education Summit Series
• HBCU House
• Esports Culture & Content

(15 minutes) 8:30–8:45 PM ET | 5:30–5:45 PM PT
12. Global, Youth & Brain Health Impact Initiatives

• Global Impact Series
• Football for Change
• Pro Legends (ages 8–14)
• ETA Sports & Exposure

Athlete Brain Health campaigns:

• My Cause, My Cleats
• Concussion Care Packages
• Media & social advocacy

Experiential Engagement & Networking

• Brain Workouts & community challenges with athletes + instructors (teams & sports medicine)

(10 minutes) 8:45–8:55 PM ET | 5:45–5:55 PM PT
13. Annual Events, Community Engagement & Activations

Summit & Luncheon Awards:

• Advocacy
• Peak performance
• Innovation
• Leadership & cognitive resilience

Community outreach:

• NIL activations
• In-store brand events

(5 minutes) 8:55–9:00 PM ET | 5:55–6:00 PM PT
15. Closing: From Summit to Sustainable Impact

• Key takeaways and commitments
• Next steps for partnerships and collaboration

Call to action:

• Building ecosystems that serve athletes during and beyond the game 

* Subject to change. We reserve the right to make necessary changes.

DAY 2 

(15 minutes) 4:00 – 4:15 PM ET | 1:00 – 1:15 PM PT
Welcome & Opening Charge

• Summit purpose and outcomes
• Setting the tone: athlete voice → access → opportunity
• Overview of audience and stakeholder groups

(15 minutes) 4:15 – 5:00 PM ET | 1:15 – 2:00 PM PT
Panel 1: Inside the Mind of Decision Makers: Holistic Athlete Development  

Who’s at the table:

• Sports partnership executives
• Marketing professionals
• Sponsorship & brand decision makers
• Athletic administrators

Focus:

• How decisions are really made about athletes' representing sports activations, sponsors, corporate and small business strategic partnerships, sports philanthropy, and  collaborative research 
  
• What gets athletes noticed (and what doesn’t) 
  
• Common misconceptions athletes have
  Where athletes lose opportunities before the “yes”

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(15 minutes) 5:00 – 5:15 PM ET | 2:00 – 2:15 PM PT
Live Poll + Survey Activation 

• Collect real-time data from athletes and decision makers
  
• Key topics: access, readiness, communication gaps, knowledge gaps 
  
• Insights will be shared post-summit

(45 minutes) 5:15 – 6:00 PM ET | 2:15 – 3:00 PM PT
Panel 2: Inside Market Intelligence – Whole Athlete Advantage Partnerships
Featuring:

• Sports partnership leaders
  
• Agents
  
• School partnership managers
  
• Event coordinators (CIAA, classics, All-Star games, Super Bowl-related events)

Discussion points:

• Market trends shaping athlete opportunities for brain health and cognitive wellness 
• What brands, schools, and events need right now
• Where athletes and institutions can align faster

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(10 minutes) 6:00 – 6:10 PM ET | 3:00 – 3:10 PM PT
Break / Networking Rooms 

• Athletes
• Decision makers
• Educators, administrators & practitioners

(45 minutes) 6:10 – 6:55 PM ET | 3:10 – 3:55 PM PT
Panel 3: Filling the Gaps – From Talent to Opportunity
Participants:

• Current & former athletes
• Coaches
• Educators
• HBCU alumni

Focus:

• Why talent alone isn’t enough
  Education, preparation, and positioning
• How athletes can better communicate value and use their cognitive wellness routines as strengths
• Where institutions can do better supporting the whole athlete

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(45 minutes) 6:55 – 7:40 PM ET | 3:55 – 4:40 PM PT
Panel 4: Athlete Health, Brain Performance & Family Decision Making
Head to Speech Decision Makers
Featuring:

• SLP & health administrators
• Sports professionals
• Sports parents
• Brain workout & performance leaders

Topics:

• Brain health and performance readiness
• Educating parents and athletes
• Long-term athlete development
• Community and school-based support systems

+ VIP HOT SEAT  

(45 minutes) 7:40 – 8:25 PM ET | 4:40 – 5:25 PM PT
Panel 5: Community, Access & Collective Power
Featuring:

• Group sales & Giving Circle leaders
• Community leaders
• Athletic event coordinators

Discussion:

• Collective buying and group opportunities

• Community-driven sponsorships

• How athletes and communities can move together

• Creating sustainable pipelines beyond one deal

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(25 minutes) 8:25 – 8:50 PM ET | 5:25 – 5:50 PM PT
Live Data Review & Key Takeaways

• Review early survey insights

• Patterns across athletes vs. decision makers

• What surprised the room

• What needs immediate action

(30 minutes) 8:50 – 9:20 PM ET | 5:50 – 6:20 PM PT
Collaborative Roundtables
Breakout options:

• Athletes + Agents
  

• Athletes + Brand leaders
  

• Coaches & Administrators
  

• Parents & Health Professionals
  

• Community & Event Leaders

Goal: Action steps, not theory

(10 minutes) 9:20 – 9:30 PM ET | 6:20 – 6:30 PM PT
Closing: Amplifying the Athlete Voice Forward

• Key commitments from decision makers
  

• Next steps for athletes and partners
  

• How data and insights will be shared
  

• Call to continued collaboration

* Subject to change. We reserve the right to make necessary changes.

DAY 3

(15 minutes) 11:00 – 11:15 AM ET | 8:00 – 8:15 AM PT
Welcome & Intentional Framing

• Why evaluation matters more than inspiration
• From “good partnerships” to repeatable success
• Overview of outcomes and takeaways

(45 minutes) 11:15 – 12:00 PM ET | 8:15 – 9:00 AM PT
Session 1: What Do Successful Partnerships Actually Look Like?
Real Case Studies from Existing Partnerships
Focus:

• Defining “success” beyond revenue
• Short-term vs. long-term wins
• Alignment of mission, value, and outcomes

Case Study Spotlight:

• Head To Speech
• B.E. Collective+
• ABC Sports Foundation

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(45 minutes) 12:00 – 12:45 PM ET | 9:00 – 9:45 AM PT
Session 2: Partnership Evaluation – The Good, the Bad & the Useful
Giving the Partner Perspective
Topics:

• Back-end realities of partnerships
• Benefits (what worked well)
• Challenges (what didn’t)
• What was actually manifested vs. expected
• Understanding value from both sides
• There is no single way to build a successful partnership.

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(15 minutes) 12:45 – 1:00 PM ET | 9:45 – 10:00 AM PT
Break / Reflections 

• Where partnerships stalled
• Where value was misaligned
• What gaps still exist

(45 minutes) 1:00 – 1:45 PM ET | 10:00 – 10:45 AM PT
Session 3: Strategic Planning & Application
From Case Study to Action
Topics:

• Outreach strategies: emails, meetings, follow-ups
• Building understanding before asking
• Filling gaps with real value
• Valuation without overselling
• Revenue generation + mission impact

Focus:

• Turning partnership insights into repeatable systems

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(45 minutes) 1:45 – 2:30 PM ET | 10:45 – 11:30 AM PT
Session 4: Additional Opportunities & Reimagining Partnerships
Using Partnerships in Different Ways
Discussion points:

• Unlocking additional opportunities
• What is advantageous for each partner
• University partnership goals
• Non-monetary partnerships that move the mission
• Finding partners without money attached

Key message:
You scale faster by partnering, not by doing everything alone.

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(45 minutes) 2:30 – 3:15 PM ET | 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM PT
Session 5: Building the Ecosystem – Skill Sets That Matter
Strategic Infrastructure for Growth
Topics:

• Board matrix development
• Advisory councils
• Partner onboarding process
• Activations that create real engagement
• Prospecting & relationship management
• Understand how to structure support, not just chase deals.

+ VIP HOT SEAT 

(30 minutes) 3:15 – 3:45 PM ET | 12:15 – 12:45 PM PT
Roundtable Discussions: Join the Conversation
Breakout themes:

• Partnership prospecting
• Valuation & impact measurement
• Revenue + nonprofit balance
• Scaling sports businesses & foundations
• Guiding principle: Help someone, help someone.

(25 minutes) 3:45 – 4:10 PM ET | 12:45 – 1:10 PM PT
Resource Development & Outcomes

• What is needed to move the mission forward?
• Identifying gaps in time, talent, and treasure
• Matching people to opportunities

(20 minutes) 4:10 – 4:30 PM ET | 1:10 – 1:30 PM PT
Ways to Get Involved & Closing Activation

• Partnerships aren’t transactions—they’re shared responsibility for impact.

* Subject to change. We reserve the right to make necessary changes. 

FOLLOW UP 

Roundtable Discussions with: 

• Current and Former Elite Athletes
• Athletes who have successful brand deals, businesses and nonprofits 
• Thought leaders
• Active partnerships
• Decision Makers
• Marketing directors
• Community outreach directors
• Strategic partnerships
• Founders
• Entrepreneurs
• Strategic media partners
• Leaders of community organizations
• Leaders of employee resource groups in sports

Dr. Tabia Pope is the Founder, President and CEO of Head To Speech, Incorporated, the first ever nonprofit organization dedicated to educational, scientific and charitable initiatives in athlete brain health and the effects of sports concussions on speech, language, hearing, and cognitive-communication skills. Head To Speech has earned national recognition from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, NFL's My Cause, My Cleats, NFL Foundation, and Black Sports Business Symposium.

Dr. Pope specializes in sports speech-language pathology, concussion management, athlete brain health and the bottom line in sports management, sports philanthropy, athlete social impact branding, and the integration of cognitive wellness into athletes' physical exercises and career transition. She has created brand activations with Nike Glenarden and BE Collective+, as well as has maintained successful partnerships with the Player Networking Event during the Super Bowl and Purpose Over Position. 

Dr. Pope is a highly sought after public speaker, media personality, clinical instructor, and Black Men's Brain Health Conference Scholar. In her upcoming book, Protect Your Brand: A Healthy Brain is a Wealthy Brand™ she writes how to protect the brand of athletes as they play sports and transition to the next phase of their career by empowering them to integrate healthy brain strategies into their lives in order to maintain a wealthy brand. 

She is also the Owner of Bia Communications, LLC, a social impact branding, communication skills and image enhancement agency providing courses, coaching and consulting for social entrepreneurs and purpose-driven brands in image, communications, health, wellness, sports, and lifestyle industries. In her bestselling book on Amazon, Align Your Brand with Social Impact: The 5-Step Process to Massive Growth and Sustainability, takes readers on a transformative journey through the world of brand alignment.

Additionally, she facilitates The Sports SLP Society, a membership community and lifestyle brand for individuals connected through sports, health, wellness, and fitness, as well as those pursuing professional certification or receiving coaching in business and practice management.

BE Collective + is a sports marketing agency that helps athletes, brands, and Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) build real opportunities through on-campus summits, esports workshops, and immersive brand activations. We facilitate partnerships and bridges the gap for HBCU student-athletes to utilize their name, image and likeness (NIL), and the corporate world through digital marketing and community outreach. 

Antoine Burrell is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia with a degree in Sports Management. He has worked extensively across the sponsorship and partnership landscape with professional sports franchises such as the Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals and collegiately with Georgetown University Athletics.

Ashley Danielle is the Founder and Executive Director of ABC Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering a range of services in nonprofit management, event management, and education tailored for athletes at every stage, from middle school to post-professional careers. ABC Sports Foundation empowers athletes and their families through its comprehensive educational curriculum, which includes the Empowerment Playbook for holistic development and the Elite Engagement Series for NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) education. These programs cover essential topics such as financial literacy, legal and tax compliance, media relations, contract negotiations, brand building, community engagement, wellness, and career development.

In addition to her role at ABC Sports Foundation, Ashley serves as the COO of MVP (Mission Vision Purpose) Agency, where she oversees marketing and management for athletes and businesses, providing tailored solutions that amplify their brands and maximizing financial opportunities. She holds both a law degree and a Master’s in Sport Management, Ashley leverages her extensive expertise to bridge the gap between sports, education, and community impact.

Aaron Crawford is a former NFL Player, Head To Speech Board of Director and serves as the Chair of the External Affairs Committee. He grows the organization's brand partnerships, marketing and communications. He emphasizes the importance of both athletic and cognitive function in order to perform at a high level! 

Aaron graduated from the University of North Carolina with double majors in Economics and Management & Society. He also completed his Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School while in his second year playing in the National Football League (NFL).

While in Chapel Hill, he was a four-year starter, elected as Team Captain, and a member of the team’s Leadership Council. He was awarded All ACC Honorable Mention, UNC Football Comeback Player of the Year, and was graded as Pro Football Focus’ best run defender among all Power 5 interior DL. He is also a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Professionally, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens and spent three years in the league between both them and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Since retiring from football, his aim is to assist all athletes and educate them on the significance of taking care of both their body and mind. Since retiring from the game he has played his entire life he had an urge to give back to the athletic community.