ESPN’s Rising Star & Studio Host Julie Stewart-Binks Shares Her Inspiring Sports Story

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You were a roving reporter during FOX Sports’ presentation of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Covering the sport in your home country, you earned critical acclaim for your insightful reporting from 20 games in seven different Canadian cities during the tournament. Tell us more about this memorable experience.

Ms. Julie Stewart-Binks:

It was really one of those assignments where it was such a privilege to go to work every day – learning about so many fascinating people from around the world and their stories. I covered almost every team in the tournament besides the United States, and some of those countries didn’t speak English, so I very quickly had to be resourceful in finding out information – talking with local reporters and translating newspaper articles from their countries. I even picked words I would hear being yelled in a soccer game and got someone from Germany to help me figure out the German equivalent so I could understand what was going on. The women we covered were so inspiring, strong, and influential. They went out of their way to be respectful and helpful.

The whole tournament hit home for me even more because it was held in my home country, Canada. We traveled to 7 different cities (multiple times) and I got to showcase and re-explore a country that is so vast, unique and welcoming. It was fun to introduce my American co-workers to all things Canadian. On a journalistic front, it tested me in every single way. Sometimes I would fly into a city on a red-eye, go right to the stadium and report on back to back games, then fly to another city and do the same thing all over again. I had a wildly talented and equally ambitious producer, Jeff Heyman, who was the catalyst for us being able to create and tell so many stories.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Who has been your inspiration and motivation behind your success in this career?

Ms. Julie Stewart-Binks:

I can’t even begin to describe how much of a support my mom has been. She was a TV and radio news reporter (now a writer), and was the one who first introduced me to the idea of potentially trying TV. I knew from my first interview that this is what I wanted to do with my life. Whatever it is, my mom has been behind me every single step of the way. While I was volunteering, or doing my masters, she supported me financially while I chased my dreams. She encouraged me to dream big and to never let the closed doors get my down. She is 100% the reason I am at this point in my career.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What is your advice and motivational words for aspiring female sport anchors? How can they climb the ladder of success in sports journalism?

Ms. Julie Stewart-Binks:

Don’t give anyone an excuse not to hire you. As a woman, you walk into the room with some people immediately thinking you don’t know what you’re talking about. Prove them wrong. Work harder than them. Knowledge is power – study, learn what you don’t know. Over prepare. Take people for coffee, get on their radar, and never turn down an opportunity to network at the pub. Seek out people you admire, or executives you know and ask to bring them a coffee, or for 10 minutes of their time.

Have something to show them, an idea, a demo, a story or interview you’re proud of. Get experience anyway you can. Create on your own – social media is so great that you can have your own YouTube channel and you never know who can see it. There are hundreds of people doing exactly all these steps, so figure out what makes you unique. People will tell you “No” a hundred times. You can’t take it personally; you have to brush it off. No job is too small to start at. People can take away everything from you, but they can’t take away your experience.

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