11 Mar Signal Boost: Carter Kennedy, Senior Account Executive, Slate
At Zoomph, we believe the most meaningful innovation is driven by people and their stories.
That’s why we’re excited to feature leaders and changemakers who are shaping the future of sports, technology, and culture. Our Signal Boost series highlights voices across the industry, offering thoughtful insights, personal experiences, and perspectives that inspire how we think about impact, creativity, and growth.
Get to know the leaders who are moving the industry forward—one conversation at a time.
Tell us a bit about your background leading up to the position at Slate:
I’m a Dallas native who shipped off to Asheville, NC for a volleyball scholarship. After interning with my athletic department and the San Diego Padres, I realized I wanted to work in sports full-time. So I relocated to Cincinnati, OH for my first big girl job with the Cincinnati Reds! In 3 years, I worked my way up to Senior Digital Designer and touched everything from social media to advertising to ballpark signage. Any graphic that @Reds posted between 2020 and 2022 came from me!
I decided I wanted a bit of a change going into 2023, so I accepted a fully remote offer from Slate that let me stay in the sports creative industry while better prioritizing my life outside of work.
Tell us about Slate and your role there:
I’m the Senior Account Executive at Slate! I work with social teams across the world’s top sports, media, and entertainment orgs to help them scale their branded content.
Because I used Slate at the Reds, I oversee our new sports & media partnerships! This means I’m meeting with content teams daily to understand their creative challenges and translate them into workflows that actually make their lives easier. My background in sports allows me to relate to the challenges these teams face daily and to focus on helping content creators stay on-brand even in high-pressure environments.
Can you share a professional accomplishment that you are extremely proud of?
With a design background, it still feels very strange to refer to numbers and statistics as a way to benchmark your success. The fact that I went from an entry-level design position to being the top-performing rep at Slate that’s closed over $2M in contracts with organizations like LaLiga, NASCAR, the NWSL, and The Athletic makes me want to wake up each morning and pinch myself to make sure I’m not still dreaming.
I’m extremely proud to have contributed so much to Slate’s success in 2025, and I’ll continue to celebrate even the smallest of wins – they’re all part of what allows us to support the hardest-working people in the business: the team behind the team.
What is your favorite part about working in your industry?
Working in the sports tech industry is genuinely so fulfilling. I get to spend my days with the people in the trenches — the ones creating, editing, posting, and reacting in real time — and nothing fills my bucket more than seeing their eyes light up when I show them a faster, easier, or smarter way to do their jobs.
I’ve found that it’s rare to find a role where your enthusiasm for the product matches the impact it has on the people using it. I truly believe in what we’re building, and I get to share that passion every single day with teams who deserve tools that make their lives easier.
What is a trend you are keeping an eye on in your industry?
Burnout.
Social teams are being asked to create more content, in more formats, on more platforms, with higher expectations and tighter deadlines. All while being chronically underpaid and understaffed compared to other industries. Working in sports often feels like you’re replaceable – not by AI, but by someone younger and greener who’s willing to perform your job for less money. It’s not sustainable.
Everything is negotiable. Your starting salary, your title, your flexibility, all of it. And the negotiation process tells you a lot about the culture of a company, a department, and the person you’d be reporting to.
You always have the ability to advocate for yourself. Don’t settle for anything less than what you know you’re worth.
In 2022, while I was still at the Reds, I was given the privilege of illustrating a series of giveaway posters that were distributed to every single fan at three different games. Not only was it incredible seeing my digital work come to life, but 6 months after the giveaway, a young Reds fan specifically brought the Jonathan India poster I’d designed to a player meet-and-greet with India. Right in front of where I was standing while photographing the event, the little boy had India sign the poster he’d saved all that time for this very moment.
I also have framed copies of these posters in my apartment that were signed by the players. Really special career moment.
I’m a fan of orange teams that notoriously break your heart (aka the Bengals and the Tennessee Vols). Most of my family went to Tennessee and have been mourning the graduation of Peyton Manning for as long as I can remember.
I’ve been rooting for the Bengals because the stadium is right next to the ballpark, and our content teams would always cross-promote each other. It’s easy to root for a team when you know the people behind the scenes making the magic happen.
Do you have any hobbies that you’d like to share?
Per cult guidelines, I’m contractually obligated to mention that I’ve been doing CrossFit for 5 years. I also play both indoor and beach volleyball 2-3x a week, on top of regular yoga! Can you tell I’m into fitness?
Did you participate in any sports in high school or college?
I’ve played volleyball for as long as I can remember, and was fortunate enough to play at the Division I level in Asheville, NC. As the resident team GPA-booster, I was a 2x All-Conference Scholar Athlete and was the 12th setter in program history to eclipse 1,000 assists.
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
I can’t recommend Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin enough. Just read it.
Besides your own, what is one city you think everyone should visit at least once, and why?
Cape Town, South Africa. It might be my favorite city on this earth. Whether you prefer the mountains, beach, or city life – you’ve got it all in one place in Cape Town.
To learn more about Slate and how it helps sports teams quickly create, manage, and publish branded social media content, visit Slateteams.com.
