AWAKENING STRENGTH w/Sonja Montiel

Walter Boggan's story is one of resilience and determination. His father from Alabama and mother who immigrated from Mexico, Walter's upbringing was deeply influenced by his parents' strength and hard work. They were nothing short of being trailblazers. Walter was also influenced by his great aunt, Virginia Moreland, who lived with his family. She played a crucial role in raising him and supporting his parents, creating a solid foundation for Walter throughout his childhood.​

Growing up, Walter witnessed his father worked tirelessly, while his mother, initially a stay-at-home mom, pursued her high school diploma and later became an educator. He said, “Watching my mother's determination to learn English and advance academically, and my father's commitment to his job taught me that hard work, perseverance, and belief are required to build your dreams.”

Walter’s educational journey was transformative. His passion for baseball and academics drove him to excel in both areas. He pushed himself to achieve excellence, and through those experiences he developed a strong sense of purpose. As the first in his family to earn a college degree and a master's degree without a blueprint to follow, he learned that “success was not just about personal achievements but about lifting others and helping them reach their full potential.” 

When Walter started his college experience at UC Santa Barbara, he met two key individuals that would help shape his future. The first was another freshman student, Elroy Pinks who would eventually be known as a visionary executive director of the Office of Black Student Development. When they were students, Walter recalls a pivotal moment in a calculus class where he felt overwhelmed and out of place. Elroy, a stranger at the time, put his arm around Walter and offered words of encouragement. “He unarmed me with his smile,” Walter remembers, “and helped me realized that I belonged and could succeed.” This act of kindness and empathy at the age of 18 left a lasting impact on Walter where they became close friends for decades. Elroy’s passing in July 2024 sealed Walter’s commitment in a philosophy they shared – access to education for everyone.

The second influential figure was Dr. Harry Edwards, a renowned sociologist who focuses on the sociology of sports. Walter was inspired by Dr. Edwards' work on the dangers of a single-minded pursuit of becoming a professional athlete, particularly in the black community. This insight resonated with Walter and became a foundational element of the Sports Industry Academy's mission to provide broader opportunities and counter the narrow focus on professional sports careers.

Why Sports?
Baseball has been a central part of Walter's life from a young age. Growing up in a family with a deep love for the sport, Walter played baseball from the age of eight. He played Little League, Babe Ruth League, and four years of varsity baseball. His family's passion for the game, particularly their support for the LA Dodgers, influenced his own love for baseball. “Our entire black community in Vallejo, CA was passionate about baseball. On weekends, everyone knew they would see each other at the local games – players, coaches, families, neighbors – everyone.” 

Walter's talent and dedication earned him a place at UC Santa Barbara, where he walked on to the baseball team. However, the demands of college academics and athletics proved challenging. Faced with the decision to continue playing baseball or focus on his studies, Walter chose to prioritize his education. As he took on internships and jobs representing professional athletes, he was also noticing the sport landscape change within underrepresented communities, including his own.

Over the years, baseball became an expensive sport. Players who want to pursue college and professional levels felt that they had to join travel teams. There was a loss of community when recreational little leagues decreased. Walter recalls, “that it’s very expensive to play on competitive travel teams. Families are paying  for premium registration fees, travel, multiple uniforms, expensive bats that run between $300-$500 and gloves that averaged $400.” The decline of baseball's popularity in what he saw in brown and black communities wasn’t due to interest, but instead access and exposure. 

Walter's passion for the business of sports led him to pursue a career in sports marketing. Realizing the need to expand his opportunities, he moved to Los Angeles, where he secured a position with UCLA Athletics. This role allowed him to work on marketing and sponsorships for the baseball team and advise student-athletes academically. Quickly, his career progressed as he worked with Fox Sports, LA Laker Hall of Famer James Worthy, and eventually consulted for the family of New York Yankee CC Sabathia. His big break came when he joined Reich Katz & Landis Baseball Group, now part of Wasserman Media, where he represented high-level baseball players like Sammy Sosa and Mo Vaughn. Walter also created educational programs for players to complete their degrees, combining his passions for baseball, sports business, and education.

In 2015, Walter founded 5th and Lemon, an educational consulting firm that produces programs and events, including the Sports Industry Academy. This one-week summer program unlocks the academic, professional, and life skills of scholars and scholar-athletes from diverse backgrounds, preparing them for college and careers in the sports industry. The program focuses on countering the single-minded pursuit of becoming professional athletes and promoting diversity and inclusion in sports management and executive roles.

The Sports Industry Academy partners with educational institutions, community based organizations and top sports corporations and executives, providing participants with one-on-one mentoring and exposure to the business of sports. The program also emphasizes the college admissions process, helping high school and community college students gain valuable experience and prepare for successful careers.

Walter's vision for the future is to ensure that every scholar in the program has equal access to transformative opportunities. By promoting diversity, inclusion, and community, Walter continues to break down barriers and cultivate young individuals with the knowledge, passion, and ethical values to succeed in life. ∎

To learn more about Walter Boggan on LinkedIn: 
www.linkedin.com/in/walter-boggan-58a2457

Find & follow on Instagram:
@walterbogganjr
@5th_and_lemon
@sportsindustryacademy