We had the good fortune of connecting with Dedan Brozino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dedan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
We all learned a lot from the C-19 pandemic; virtual work, figuring out self-motivation, and obviously had much more time to reflect than normal. With that said, I believe we are busier now than we were in pre-Covid times…. more productive, too. I bring this up because I feel like that period of time taught us all how to be more intentional with our decision-making regarding work life balance.

I firmly believe intentionality is critically important to balance. And while the perfect balance doesn’t exist (if it does, let me know!), if you can be deliberate about your personal / professional timing, meetings, and planning, it can be a positive benefit to your stress level and the way you attack your goals, as well.

Intentionality!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The team that I lead at the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation is an incredibly unique one in the fact that it’s a 501c3 nonprofit organization that preserves, protects and enhances the future of the Stadium as a National Historic Landmark. The Rose Bowl is known throughout the world as the host of two Olympic Games (a third coming in 2028), two FIFA World Cups, five Super Bowls, UCLA Football since 1982, countless mega concerts and international soccer matches, and of course the beloved New Year’s Day Rose Bowl Game. With that said, the current generation understands and appreciates America’s Stadium for much different reasons than the past generation (which is largely centered around our football history). The modern generation knows us for music, one of the longest-running flea markets in America, etc.

I’m most proud that we have embraced the multi-generational impact of the Rose Bowl Stadium and have engaged supporters around the nation. Our team at the Legacy Foundation has taken a very entrepreneurial / grassroots approach as a growth strategy…. that relationship-minded teamwork has resulted in the growth of a donor base that’s almost 5,000 nationally and has yielded almost $47 million in philanthropic funds generated since 2015. It has been quite fulfilling given the unique nature and type of supporter that the Stadium speaks to. The Rose Bowl, ultimately, is the universal language and is understood and appreciated by so many around the nation (and the world).

It is never easy to get to where you’re at, or where you’re going in life. It is a pinch me moment, everyday, to know that I have a key to America’s Stadium, but that’s what drives me — the Rose Bowl is so much bigger than me, my role, our team, etc. To be a part of an organization that is constantly pulling in the same direction to protect such a richly-appreciated brand is so humbling. The brand will always be bigger than us.

In terms of how I got here… that’s a complicated question. A lot of hard work, a lot of luck, a lot of patience and trusting the process. It’s a bit like a turtle on a fencepost… nobody is quite sure how the turtle got there, but it’s clear that it had a lot of help to get to that spot. My wife and kids (family), mentors, close friends, and so much more have prepared me for this, and for what’s to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being a sports lover, that’s an easy one. Los Angeles is one of the most attractive sports-entertainment marketplaces in the world. Pairing a live sporting event with some good food will always be a win…. couple that with the cultural influence of the Los Angeles area and it’s hard not to be entertained.

The visit would start with the Rose Bowl Stadium, of course, and whatever event it is having at that moment — we don’t always do big football games, concerts and soccer. We have one of the longest-running flea markets in the USA every month, an annual Craftoberfest, music festivals, golf and so much more.

The Pasadena area has some of the best food in the Southland and it’s really hard to go wrong — a nice steak at the Arroyo Chophouse or an Italian meal at Gale’s on Fair Oaks is a no-brainer; or perhaps some breakfast at Marston’s on Walnut Ave.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We all benefit from so many people in our lives but the one that keeps me most grounded and balances is undoubtedly my family — My wife Danielle and two kiddos.

Above that, I owe a ton to the private mentorships that have benefitted my growth over the years to get to this point.
Success is an inconvenience — it certainly doesn’t care about your process, but it cares about your habits. Make a habit to continue networking, learning, listening and being curious. The mentors that you surround yourself with can help so much for that, and it’s totally okay to have your mentors evolve over time. Life changes happen, the way you manage and aspire to succeed changes, etc. These mentors have helped me be a player in my own game, not a pawn in someone else’s. Their advice alone has allowed me to contribute as much as I possibly can to the organization and brand that I’m so lucky to serve – the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Website: www.RoseBowlLegacy.org

Instagram: @dedanbrozino

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedanbrozino/

Twitter: @dedanbrozino

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Rose Bowl Stadium, Sierra Kemp

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