Getting to Know…John Coppolino IV
This is the second installment of Getting to Know…a monthly series from The Eagle Edge highlighting Emory student-athlete leaders. This month, we are spotlighting John Coppolino IV, who is one of the founders of the Goizueta Book Club and serves as Co-President of the Atlanta Sports Business Symposium.
· Tell us a little bit about yourself…where are you from? What sport & position do you play?
I'm a senior guard on the basketball team from Tenafly, NJ.
· How do you balance your academic & athletic responsibilities? Any tips or suggestions for other student-athletes?
My biggest tip to balance academics and athletics as a student-athlete is to be organized. Since arriving at Emory, I've kept a detailed schedule of every hour of the day along with a to-do list that stays on the home screen of my computer. The more I write down in my schedule or lists, the less I need to spend time thinking about what I need to get done.
· Speaking of academics, you studied abroad in Italy during Summer 2024. As you're currently majoring in Finance and Italian studies, how was the coursework and experience studying abroad? How did you find out about this program?
The Italian Program was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences of my life. I spent six weeks in Bologna, Italy where I took language and culture classes Monday-Thursday. It was my first time in Europe and the first real opportunity I've had to put my seven years of Italian Studies to use. The coursework was very manageable, and the teachers stressed how important it was to experience the city and explore Italy on the weekends. I went with my teammate Jair Knight, who took entry level Italian classes, which made the trip even better. We ended up playing in a few streetball tournaments and getting involved in the local basketball scene. I highly recommend the program, especially for student-athletes who cannot study abroad for a full semester.
· Have you completed any internships while at Emory? If so, what roles did you hold?
Since arriving at Emory, I've completed a few internships. During my freshmen summer, I worked at a creator economy startup called Dime, where I was a Sales and Business Development Intern. In the summer after my sophomore year, I worked as an Analyst at Newlin Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Chicago. Most recently, I worked as a Summer Analyst at Blackstone in New York City. Currently, I work part time as a Private Capital Intern for Balentine, an RIA / Family office located in Atlanta.
· What, if any, resources did you use in your internship search?
The most helpful resource was the Emory network, specifically the basketball network. Finding an internship within finance can be overwhelming, but by building relationships with former Emory basketball players, I received great advice and succeeded in my search process. I also highly recommend the career center at Emory for interview preparation and resume review.
· Last semester, you helped launch the Goizueta Book Club. Tell us about this process and what made you want to do this.
I've always enjoyed reading but never talked about books with anyone. One day my roommate and fellow student athlete, Parker Shimp, mentioned the idea of starting a book club because he was a big reader himself. It started as a joke, but we realized that Goizueta didn't have a book club and that it would probably be fun. It is a nice way to connect with other students and hold each other accountable to continue reading, especially today when we spend so much time online.
· The ATL Sports Business Symposium is another project you helped plan. Can you tell us more about this project? What role do you have in it and what made you want to get involved?
The Atlanta Sports Business Symposium is probably the most exciting project I've been a part of since arriving at Emory. Ben Pearce, Tyson Thomas, and I are Co-Presidents of the board, and have been working hard to prepare for the event. The mission is to expose students and young professionals in Atlanta to the vast opportunity in sports by bringing in the top minds in the industry. We plan to have panels, networking, a fireside chat, and hopefully 250-300 attendees. Of course, sports are a huge part of my life, but so are business and finance. I wanted to plan this event to bring something interesting to the community but also learn from current professionals who've combined their passions of sports and business.
· How can student-athletes get more involved in the ATL Sports Symposium or other programs like this at Emory and throughout Atlanta?
To stay up to date with the Atlanta Sports Business Symposium, follow @atlantasbs on Instagram or find us on LinkedIn. If you'd like to get involved in planning the event, I'd be happy to talk as well. There are also great classes in the business school such as Sports Finance or Sports Marketing.
· Do you have any lessons learned or takeaways from your internship experiences and extracurricular involvement at Emory? Have you used any of those lessons learned from these experiences with your team?
I think the biggest thing I've learned is that remaining mentally balanced can help you excel in your sport. As a college athlete, sports will always be the largest time commitment, but that doesn't mean you can't do other things. I've found that by playing music, being involved in clubs, and perusing career goals, it has positively impacted my mindset on the court. It's important to find an occasional break from the grind of individual workouts, lifts, games, and practices. Remaining balanced has allowed me to stay grounded and eliminate the pressure that comes with basketball.
· Have you finalized your post-graduation plans yet?
Upon graduation, I'll be moving to New York City and returning to Blackstone to work as a full-time analyst.
· What's ONE piece of advice you have for first-year student-athletes at Emory?
Say yes to as much as you can. You never know how a random experience will shape you or lead to something that can greatly impact your life.
