Sports fanatic
A sports management and business administration major and former Red Raider tight end, Josh Hornstra looked forward to a career in the sports industry following graduation. His time at Northwestern included opportunities to work at Super Bowl LII and intern with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. After college, Josh landed jobs with a Major League Soccer team and the University of Denver athletic department. He now works for the NBA's Denver Nuggets.
Tell us about your role with the Denver Nuggets.
I work directly with season ticket holders, ensuring that their ticketing needs are taken care of. Much of my job is based on building relationships with season ticket holders so they choose to keep coming back each year.
How well did Northwestern prepare you for your current job?
Northwestern prepared me for this role in a multitude of ways. Leadership, hard work and continued learning are a few key attributes I developed at Northwestern through both football and academics. I think the most important thing I learned at Northwestern is how to create relationships with people. Hailing from Washington, I arrived at college not knowing anyone and I thought I’d struggle in building relationships. But because of Northwestern’s tight-knit community, I was able to develop meaningful relationships with faculty, teammates and fellow students. Through developing my ability to build relationships in college, I’m confident I’ll find success in my job.
What do you appreciate the most about your Northwestern experience?
The relationships I formed there. I loved being able to walk across campus and always see a familiar face. That is certainly something I miss now that I live in Denver.
Where do you hope your career goes in the next 5-10 years?
Ideally, I would love to still be working in sports during the next 5-10 years. A role that I have set my sights on is to become a manager of a sales department. I’ve already had the privilege of having high-quality managers help me grow and develop as a young professional, and I would love to be in a leadership position where I can help others develop their careers.
At Northwestern, we want to help students start to figure out who they want to be, not just what they want to do. Who do you want to be?
First and foremost, I want to be a light for Christ; I want others to see Christ through my words and actions. I also want to be a leader and continue to grow in the skills necessary to lead in the workplace. Lastly, I want to be known as someone who gives his all and sets the standard for others.
