Sports Pundit Podcast Network Travis Black [#82]: Managing Olympic and Paralympic Partnerships at Allianz [Marketing with Jamie Corr and Charlie Copsey]
On this episode of the Sports Pundit Marketing Podcast, Charlie and Jamie are joined by Travis Black, Global Lead for Olympic & Paralympic Marketing at Allianz.
Allianz is one of the world’s leading insurance and financial services brands, with a major footprint across global sport, spanning multi-sport events, clubs and teams, athletes, and stadium partnerships.
Travis shares his journey into the industry, sparked by a lifelong passion for North American sport and formative experiences at the Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. He reflects on the importance of curiosity, empathy, and risk-taking in building a global sports marketing career and the cultural fluency required to lead programs across diverse markets.
The conversation also explores the evolving role of athlete partnerships, the shift toward storytelling and purpose-driven sponsorship, and the ongoing balance between global scale and local relevance. Travis offers insight into the internal collaboration required to deliver meaningful partnerships, and how data and AI are shaping the next frontier of fan engagement.
Timestamps
02:00 - Travis Black’s Journey into Sports Marketing
11:00 - Advice for Aspiring Sports Industry Professionals
14:00 - Future Trends in Sports Sponsorship
22:00 - Creating Effective Athlete Partnerships
28:00 - The Unique Appeal of the Olympic Games
32:00 - Balancing Global and Local Marketing Strategies
38:00 - Empowering Young Talent in Sports Marketing
About The Hosts
Jamie Corr is a seasoned sports marketing leader with over 15 years’ experience across partnerships, communications, and brand strategy. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands through roles at Burson, MKTG, H&K Strategies, and the International Olympic Committee, helping activate major global properties including the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and Tour de France. He now consults with LA-based sports content studio MILE 44 and has also served on the Board of Basketball Scotland.
Charlie Copsey is the Founder & CEO of Underground Fan Club. Having began her career producing TV, radio, and film for major UK networks, working closely with talent behind the scenes. It was there she saw the human, unscripted side of stars, a side fans rarely get to access. Frustrated by repetitive, transactional events that kept talent at arm’s length, she set out to build Underground Fan Club, a space where talent could show up as their authentic selves and connect with fans on a deeper, more meaningful level.
About Sports Pundit
Sports Pundit is a community-driven platform for executives working in sport, built around content, events, and conversation. Through its weekly newsletter, social channels, WhatsApp groups, and podcast network, it connects industry leaders across the globe.
At the heart of the platform is the Sports Pundit Podcast Network, a multi-show lineup created for sports executives, by sports executives. The network features six domain-specific podcasts spanning innovation, marketing, finance, performance, and media, alongside a conversational companion show, The Pitch. Together, they deliver insider perspectives that live up to Sports Pundit’s mission to be “The Voice of the Sports Industry.”