We were lucky to catch up with Melyna Blanco recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melyna, appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

As a Sports Industry Professional, I am familiar with both the administrative side of a sports facility, but also the customer-facing, service side. To understand how I got here we need to look back almost 10 years. I had reached the end of my competitive figure skating career and I was wrapping up my studies towards an International Business major at San Diego State University. The ice rink has always been my happy place and I knew that whatever I pursued in my career, I would always want to be involved in the community that gave so much to me. I decided that the next step for me was to explore how to apply my technical skills and newfound business knowledge towards becoming an Ice Skating Instructor. The rink I grew up skating at was only a couple streets away from the university. I knew some of the coaches and the Programs Director, so I started here. Something I learned over time was when you want an opportunity, you need to ask and let everyone know what you are looking for. You will be surprised how many people will help you and how many doors will be opened to you. I applied for a Junior Instructor position and began coaching part-time, assisting beginner classes. This was one of the best things I could have done and it brought me so much fulfillment that is it something I still do to this day.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My story about how I got my first job in the field highlights my passion for figure skating. However, something I did not mention in this story, was my love for beauty and fashion. At the same time that all of this was happening, I was filming makeup tutorials and uploading them on various social media platforms. I picked up gigs in the aesthetics industry and freelanced during the time I was not occupied with school. This connected me with business owners, large and small, and I learned marketing, graphic design, and operations first-hand. I had began to build my clientele inside and outside of the rink. Then, everything came to a stop with the pandemic. School went online and the rink temporarily closed. I remember attending my last class and closing my laptop, reaching an anticlimactic end. Finding a corporate job proved challenging and I spent 6 months searching to no avail, so I left for Spain. As a dual citizen, this was easy to do. Over there I went headfirst into influencing, dedicating all my time to content creation. After 4 months, I returned to the United States with a newfound energy. I got an entry level job at a racquet sports facility through an influencing connection I had made while abroad and began rebuilding my private lesson business at the ice rink. I progressed at the company very quickly which I attribute to my hard work, but also my willingness to take on every opportunity that came my way. This is something I continue to do. This month will be my 3 year anniversary with Youth Tennis San Diego, who owns and operates the Barnes Tennis Center. I am currently their Administrative Director and I work closely with almost every department at the company. During this time, I have continued to coach group and private lessons at the Kroc Center Ice Arena on the side. I am most proud of the contributions I have made towards impacting our youth at both of these nonprofit sports facilities. It has been challenging to share my story with all the different things I do on social media, but I am finally at a point where I feel that I have found the right balance not only for myself, but my audience as well.

Any advice for managing a team?

Here are my 5 tips for managing a team and maintaining high morale:

1. Cultivate an environment where your team feels comfortable adapting to changes and experimenting with new ideas. Give them the freedom to explore different ways of achieving success and support them when they take calculated risks.

2. As a leader, delegate tasks based on team members’ strengths and development goals. Empower them by trusting them with responsibilities that align with their skills, which will help them feel valued and contribute to their sense of purpose.

3. Provide opportunities for your team to learn new skills. Whether it’s through training, mentorship, or new projects, ensure that team members feel supported in their growth and know they have the chance to level up.

4. Regularly celebrate individual and team successes. This could be through shoutouts during meetings, team-building activities, or even small rewards that show appreciation for hard work.

5. Support team members in pursuing their individual projects or hobbies, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their main responsibilities. Providing flexibility for personal growth outside of work can lead to increased happiness and creativity at work.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Building genuine relationships has been the most effective strategy to growing my clientele. Referrals are my of my greatest sources for new clients. Clients who have positive experiences with you are more likely to return and recommend you to others. Building a strong reputation for reliability and quality is essential for long-term growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melynablanco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melynablanco/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melynablanco