In this episode of NIL Edge, we sit down with Lauren Cherry, Director of NIL Strategy & Revenue Share Operations at the University of North Texas, to discuss how athletic departments can help student-athletes build the skills needed to thrive in the modern college athletics landscape.

Lauren shares how North Texas developed its Influence Cohort, a program designed to educate athletes on personal branding, content creation, and professional development. She explains why NIL education matters more than ever, how schools can help athletes create value beyond the playing field, and what businesses should look for when evaluating potential athlete partnerships.

The conversation also explores the realities behind NIL deal values, common misconceptions about the industry, the challenges of managing roster turnover in the transfer portal era, and how athletic departments are adapting to a rapidly changing college sports environment.Topics covered:

• The University of North Texas Influence Cohort
• Why NIL education matters more than ever
• Preparing student-athletes for brand partnerships
• Common misconceptions about NIL compensation
• What businesses should look for in athlete partners
• Managing NIL in the transfer portal era
• Athlete development beyond endorsements
• The future of NIL and revenue sharing in college athletics

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‍Watch or listen to the full episode below. All episodes are available to watch on Youtube and listen on Spotify. NIL Edge is also available on Apple and NIL Newsstand.

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