Impact NextGen: Jessica Bryant

Jessica Bryant remembers going to the Palace of Auburn Hills with her dad to watch the Detroit Pistons play, and knowing she wanted to work at the venue in some capacity. She’s come a long way from scanning tickets
before a college internship in 2014, hitting her 10-year mark this year.

She had what she calls a “full-circle moment” working the Midwest Regional for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament this year, considering her first experience working at Little Caesars Arena was as a volunteer with the host college for the first and second rounds of the tournament in 2018.

“Now, in 2024, I managed the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 [tournaments] and it was one of the most fulfilling moments in my career so far,” Bryant says. “I’ve been heavily involved in community outreach with students at the college and high school levels, she adds. “I’m noticing a lot more educational concentrations focused on live entertainment. The curriculum back when I was in school was very broad. It’s nice to see the awareness that the entertainment side is getting now and the interest that has been sparked in this new generation.”

Bryant notes that one important factor her generation values is maintaining “mental health and work/life balance which creates a healthy workplace,” she says. “Especially with mobile technology and the already fast-working environment, if you don’t set boundaries you’ll become completely engulfed in work and not even realize your mental and physical health need a break.”

She also values her mentors. “My very first mentor, Sam Abrams who worked for the Detroit Tigers, taught me everything I needed to know when it came to conducting myself in a professional manner,” Bryant says.

“He was the one that told me to treat everyone with respect. ‘You speak to the janitor just as you would speak to the CEO.’ Everyone’s role is just as important as the next person’s and we are all here for the same goal.”

Bryant also cites 313 Presents leadership that includes Elmer Straub, Kasey Guss and Erin McArthur, who she says all lead by example.

“They don’t just talk the talk, they show up and walk it! Their experience in the industry has not only guided me to be successful but allowed me to help pass along that knowledge to the next generation.”