A Global Game

When Scott Levy Realised He Wanted To Work Internationally, He Left His Office In New York And Travelled The World. Two Decades Later, He’s Managing Director Of NBA Asia, And Is Determined To Teach Others The Value Of A Local Approach In A Global Landscape.

- Jordan Murray

More than 20 years ago, Scott Levy took a risk. He was working as a media supervisor for a New York-based advertising agency when he realised that something was missing. He paused to consider the scope of his role and the scale of his duties, when suddenly, it hit him. “While my title and responsibilities were international, I wasn’t travelling anywhere,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “I was sitting in meetings and discussing strategies for countries, and I hadn’t been to any of them.” This didn’t stack up for Scott. How could he advise businesses on international strategies if he never left the office? The solution was easy.

“I quit. I bought a one-way ticket to Beijing with my wife, who also quit her job, and spent the next six months travelling around Asia. I met all the colleagues and industry contacts I had been having conversations with on the phone. I learned as much as I possibly could from them, while experiencing unfamiliar cultures and countries for the first time,” he recalls. The experience was a revelation to Scott. “The opportunity to totally immerse myself in an experience rather than just being on the phone was enlightening. I found I was learning so much more.”

When Scott returned to New York, he knew that this was how he wanted to conduct business from now on. He actively sought roles where he could learn on the job and be directly involved with partners globally, engrossing himself in many different cultures. He got exactly that when he began working with the NBA, progressing through a series of media and sponsorship positions before taking the role of Managing Director for the Asian region in 2009.

“The NBA was my dream job,” he says. “I work for the best global sports property and get to travel the world. I’m rarely in the office for more than three weeks in a row without going to another country. It’s invigorating.”