Allison Galer: I am fortunate to have grown up around my uncle, Lon Rosen, a longtime sports business executive and former agent, who set me up with my first internship, in basketball operations for the Los Angeles Sparks when I was a senior in high school. The timing was perfect to be exposed to the basketball side of the WNBA while I was preparing to play basketball at Brown University. I began to learn the league from the inside out, building relationships with management and players, watching practice and games, and doing whatever I could to learn as much as possible.
AG: My first client was Samantha Prahalis, a 5’6” standout point guard from The Ohio State University. Sammy and I met through mutual friends while we were in college, and built a very trusting friendship that eventually led us to a business relationship. Sammy understood that I knew the WNBA and had grown up around the business of being an agent, as well as interning at a sports agency, Lagardere, while at Brown. Fortunately, Sammy took a chance on me, and ended up going 6th overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft. The most recent player that has become a client is Jillian Alleyne, a 6’3” post player who was the 20th overall pick of the 2016 WNBA Draft. Jill was an outstanding player at the University of Oregon, and is an incredible person off the court who I am thrilled to be working with.
DB: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
AG: Celebrating with my clients in their successes. Many people are around to celebrate with my clients in their moments of glory, but few have been by their side when things were tough. Celebrating the “highs” is even more gratifying because I have experienced the “lows” with them.
DB: What are two absolute necessary skills to be an agent and why?
AG: 1) Communication skills are of the utmost importance. In representation of a client, agents have to literally represent their client, which includes having a clear understanding of what the client desires and properly communicating that to others in a manner to get things done. 2) Ability to create, build, and maintain relationships. The business of being an agent is heavily dependent on relationships; relationships with clients, prospective clients, executives across teams, leagues, brands, and so on and so forth.
DB: What’s it like being a younger woman in a male-dominated industry?
AG: The honest truth is that I don’t even think about it or notice it. I see people as people, no matter what their gender or age, and am confident that I can have a conversation and connect with anyone. Starting Disrupt The Game at age 22 in an industry that is difficult to break into, I knew that I would have to do my homework and always be prepared. I am constantly learning and empowering myself and my clients with knowledge.
DB: How long have you been in the sports agent industry? What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned?
AG: I started my company in April of 2012, about four and a half years ago. About a year into it I decided that it would be value added for my clients if I gained more legal knowledge, I enrolled in UCLA Law School from which I graduated this year. I recently learned that I passed the California Bar Exam which I took in July. The most valuable lesson I have learned so far is that hustle is key to building and growing a business; there are a ton of opportunities out there for my clients, and it’s up to me to be proactive and help create and make them happen.
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