IBJ Podcast: Fever emcee’s story of getting the gig is the ultimate in moxie, initiative

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You easily could argue that the biggest business newsmaker of the year so far in Indianapolis is the Indiana Fever. It started with drafting Caitlin Clark in April, leading to an explosion of interest in women’s professional basketball with sold-out stadiums and best-ever TV ratings for the spor—and now the news that the Fever will host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. Olivia West has had a front row seat for the Fever phenomenon (not that she ever sits down) as one of the in-arena emcees for Fever games—one of the folks who hype up the crowd, host games for fans during breaks in play and feature Fever sponsors. This is her second season in the role after essentially talking the Fever into giving her the job. Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever, then was quick to give her the same role for Indiana Pacers games last season. What’s even more impressive is that her work for the Pacers and Fever is a side gig. Her full-time day job is with Eli Lilly and Co. as a DEI program consultant.

Olivia West is a classic up-and-comer, having cut her teeth as an entrepreneur as a 4-H member in La Porte before attending Purdue University for agricultural economics and then branching into marketing. She’s a big proponent of finding and leveraging your particular gifts, which for her means excelling in personal communication, networking and refusing to accept “no” as an answer. She is among the young leaders IBJ chose for its “20 In Their Twenties” Class of 2024 last week, and she’s our guest this week on the IBJ Podcast in a happy coincidence, given the news about the WNBA All-Star Game. Her mindset of opportunity meeting persistence is perhaps best captured in her story of how she became an emcee for the Fever. She also shares the many practical lessons she learned showing and selling pigs in La Porte, as well as playing basketball. And she discuss the evolution of the Fever this season and the importance of believing in your own greatness.

Click here to find the IBJ Podcast each Monday. You can also subscribe at iTunesGoogle PlayTune In, Spotify and anyplace you find podcasts.

You can also listen to these recent episodes:

IBJ Podcast: JW Marriott’s manager on surviving pandemic, saving March Madness and facing new competition

IBJ Podcast: Simons building hospitality ecosystem by fieldhouse with plans to add luxury hotel, concert venue

IBJ Podcast: Hotly anticipated eatery Borage debuted in June. So how’s it going?

IBJ Podcast: Pete the Planner on the impact of interest rate cuts

IBJ Podcast: Indy to host rare Catholic gathering bringing tens of thousands of visitors

IBJ Podcast: Artistic director banks on broad vision for fledgling Black theater company

IBJ Podcast: Why does the hospital count in Hamilton County keep growing while other counties lose care?

IBJ Podcast: Sushi eatery owner expanding in Mass Ave area with new restaurant, refreshed Metro

IBJ Podcast: Pete the Planner on the best and worst ways to handle a big inheritance

Looking for another podcast to try? Check out IBJ’s The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman, a monthly discussion about diversity and inclusion in central Indiana’s business community.

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