Hi everyone! After a few months of focusing on a few exciting projects, which we will be sharing more on shortly, we are back at it with another Athlete Spotlight. Today’s guest is a Competitive Jiu-Jitsu fighter, college professor, designer, and entrepreneur. Without any further ado, I’d like to welcome Jason Jay! Jason, your story is a little bit different in that you are still competing at a high level, while balancing multiple full-time jobs, as well as running two different media design companies. We’ll get into your journey, but let’s start off with your athletic background.
1. Can you tell me about your fighting background and when it started?
Sure, first off I'd like to thank you for the warm welcome, and yes my background is definitely a little bit different, but I think you’ll find that fighters have a lot in common with other athletes. I’ve been training in different martial arts since I was 13 years old. You name it, I’ve probably done it: Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Kali, wrestling, karate, boxing, and submission grappling to name a few. However, where I’ve excelled and the martial art that has allowed me to continue to pursue my passion inside and outside the gym is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (or BJJ for short). I continue to compete at Local, National, and International levels in International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) events. Overall, I have been training in BJJ for the past 8+ years and proud to say I have earned a brown belt (one level below black belt). Working my way towards my black belt someday.
2. Impressive! You are also a business owner and have multiple other jobs. Can you tell me about your roles?
Currently, I am a Sr. Product Designer at Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), the parent company that owns the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs. My role is focused on the sports performance lab, a data, and analytics driven group which produces products used by the coaching staff in real-time to evaluate players and game situations. I am also the Founder / Creative Director of JSNJAY DESIGN Inc., which has a broad range of clientele, and Contender Studio which is focused on athletic sports branding. In total, I’ve been working in the design industry for 10+ years in many sectors, such as Advertising, Broadcasting, Education, FinTech, and more recently Sports Product Design; and have worked with many top brands including McDonalds, Coca Cola, Royal Bank of Canada and Walmart. Lastly, I am also a part-time professor at my alma mater Sheridan College teaching in the Digital Product Design program.
3. You definitely have a full plate. Can you tell me how you balance all those jobs and continue to compete as a professional fighter and maybe why you specifically chose BJJ?
For me, the choice to compete in BJJ made sense. It allowed me to continue to go to school, work, and train all at the same time. I also noticed that mixed martial artists did not get paid all that well early on, and especially at the lower levels, which is where most fighters compete. There is also immense wear and tear on your body, where health and longevity became a real concern. This is why BJJ made more sense, and I've been able to move up the ranks without causing long-term damage to my body. BJJ has also grown in popularity and as a sport in general, where athletes can now make a living. BJJ is also lower impact and some athletes compete well into their 80’s. BJJ also allows me to prioritize things that are going on in my life. When work or school is busy, I can train less and ramp up as I approach a fight. I am continuously able to make calculated choices and prioritize accordingly.
4. What skills have you gained through your experiences that have helped make you successful?
Early on I really struggled to find employment. I was applying to places fresh out of school and the job market was really competitive. Design jobs weren’t as prevalent as they are today. It first and foremost taught me how to be resilient and persistent. Not taking no for the final answer. Once I was employed, my sports background definitely gave me the ability to handle the pressure of tight deadlines, multi-task, and handle tough clients. It also gave me perspective, where I continued to keep a positive attitude regardless of the present situation. BJJ itself is all about problem-solving, thinking creatively, and adaptation, and I was able to take that into my personal life which in turn gave me a certain level of confidence. Most importantly, all the values I have learned on the mat such as respect, discipline, self-confidence and never giving up, have translated well off the mat and that made me a better person.
5. Well said! Moving forward, you have amassed an extensive design resume in a wide range of industries over the past decade. Can you speak to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as the gains you have seen since you began?
When I entered the design field there were very few people with my ethnic background and I didn’t have diverse mentors to help me navigate the corporate world. Since then I’ve tried my best to be an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) everywhere I’ve worked, and it is one of the biggest factors that led me towards the desire to be a professor. I continue to pay it forward and I’m happy to see that there is a lot more DEI within the design field. There is also more awareness and progress to even be having the conversation.
6. You had to navigate your way through the corporate landscape alone. What advice do you have for others transitioning from athletics to another field?
Learn to walk through the doors that are opening for you. Early on I was applying to full-time positions solely based on a company's name. However, I learned quickly that the culture was often not a great fit. This led me down the road of being a contractor, and that decision ended up accelerating my career and giving me valuable experiences. You may be hearing “no” a lot, but it may be a chance to change your path or try an alternative avenue. It might not be your forever job but it will set you up well for your future endeavors. Just like sports, the more time you dedicate, the better off you’ll be. Don't concentrate on the negatives. Ultimately, success is about failing fast, learning, and growing from it. Also never giving up, I was applying to MLSE for many years before I got in with the right position, right time, and right people. Those past experiences paved the way for me to enter this organization as a leader.
7. Great advice. Lastly, what resources or do you wish you had available to you earlier on in your career?
I really wish I had more mentorship coming out of school, and a solid network of contacts within my field. I've had to navigate that on my own and had to build my network through work experience. However, having those connections earlier on would have made it easier to land a job during the early years of my career. I've had to work harder to understand what was required to get where I wanted to be in my professional career. I ended up reaching out and trying to align myself with people who were already where I wanted to be. I was often ignored, but I found a lot of great people by casting a wide net.
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