Matt Arden ’99 is taking his creativity to new heights after recently becoming executive producer at Fanatics Collectibles. 

Arden got his sports media career started as the first producer and reporter on the team that launched hokiesports.com. Now, after many years in the media production business, the New York City resident is helping Fanatics Collectibles set its creative content initiative into motion as its first executive producer. The company, which operates under the digital sports platform, Fanatics, designs, produces, and sells trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other products through exclusive partnerships with sports leagues and teams. 

“I was excited to get the offer because the new operation is sort of blue skies and green grass in front of us with a ton of creative possibilities,” said Arden, who earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on professional writing and American history. 

Arden previously was head of content and media for the NBA’s 2K League. His past career life includes launching Screenvision Media’s creative studio in New York City and winning three sports Emmy Awards.  

The Hokie alumnus said Virginia Tech’s motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) inspires his leadership approach and his ongoing engagement with the university. Arden discussed how Virginia Tech has influenced his successful career.

In your new role at Fanatics, what goals or outcomes are you hoping to accomplish?  

My internal goals are to develop a creative team that can write, produce, and direct its own content that tells our unique story. The external goals are to create exciting, new, and fun content that highlights the joy of collecting from all angles. There are a lot of innovations the company is focused on and I think great storytelling will help share those far and wide. 

What do you attribute to your success?  

During my formative years at Virginia Tech, I learned the importance of learning. When I got into the workforce, I realized that my education was going to continue. Media is changing rapidly. Everything we know about media today will be different tomorrow, so if you can’t evolve and learn, you will be left behind. I try to always have a 30,000-foot view of where I sit in the industry to pay attention to trends or interesting new possibilities. That has allowed me to be a student of the industry that I am participating in, enabling me to make informed decisions and be able to make pivots to accept unique job opportunities. 

What key advice would you offer students who may be interested in a career path similar to yours?  

I would tell students that it will be OK. The media industry is in an interesting state of change. Whatever we tell you today will be different tomorrow. Be passionate, smart, and curious because those traits will serve you as well as knowing everything. The truth is, you can know everything the day you graduate, and the next day it will be different. 

Specifically, this industry, you have to be willing to accept the fact that you will have an unconventional career, that will take you unconventional places, with unconventional hours. Telling stories is big, heavy, fun, and exciting, but it comes with responsibility. You have to tell stories the right way, and it is a hard job. You have to love it and be passionate about it. If you don’t love it, you won’t enjoy it. 

How has your education at Virginia Tech shaped your career?  

My major at Virginia Tech allowed me to focus on professional writing and American history. This was a strategic choice by me because I knew I was going to need those things if I was going to be a storyteller. I knew any ideas I came up with were going to have to be professionally written. Writing is the start of everything, and I was going to have to express my ideas in an artful way. American history is important to me because I think it is key to understand the history of sports, athletes, and American culture. These things dictate where we are in a particular time and place. No one just exists out of thin air, so if we are telling a story about an athlete’s journey, where they came from and how they got to where they are is important because history matters.  

Why does the Virginia Tech motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), hold personal significance for you?

I try to be mindful of our motto in everything I do. Ut Prosim is one of the reasons I chose to go to Virginia Tech. My interpretation of the motto was that I was supposed to use this education for something greater than myself. I am hopeful to use my education and work experience to help whoever I can. I have been very fortunate to do well in this industry with a few Emmys, accolades, and great roles, but none of that means anything if I can’t develop talent around me. I want my team to get better, more creative, and passionate about what they do, but I also want them to care for their families and friends. That to me is in service of your fellow human. It’s why I have the motto tattooed on my arm. I see it and think about it every day. 

Written by Brooke Van Beuren, communications intern with the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

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