DiversifyHER
DiversifyHER is a Gen Z-led podcast where I, Raven Heyward, engage with leaders to discuss the importance of representation. My mission is to inspire young girls, create meaningful mentorship opportunities, and explore ways to empower and uplift individuals in various industries and leadership roles.
DiversifyHER
EP 44: Beyond the Field: Building a Personal Brand That Lasts with Brianna Pinto
Listen as Raven Heyward, founder and host of DiversifyHER, converses with Brianna Pinto. Growing up in a sports-focused family with both parents being UNC student-athletes, Brianna's path seemed destined for athletic success. Yet her story reveals the complex challenges of finding identity as a Black woman in spaces where representation remains limited. "You have to be comfortable in your own skin, knowing that there's a place for you in this sport, that you belong," she explains, detailing how this self-acceptance journey prepared her for success both on the field and in business settings.
Brianna doesn't just play soccer - she's reshaping the landscape through her Pinto Football Foundation, working to create opportunities for children from underserved communities. Her philosophy that "in order to believe you can become something, you have to see it" drives her commitment to mentorship and community building. As a two-time NWSL Challenge Cup champion and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School graduate, she brings unique perspectives on balancing athletic demands with personal growth.
Connect with Brianna :
LinkedIn : Brianna Pinto
Hello everyone and welcome to Diversify Her Podcast. I'm your host, raven Hayward, and today I'm honored to have Brianna Pinto. She began playing soccer at the age of three in hopes of fulfilling her lifelong dream to play for UNC women's soccer and the US women's national team. She grew up in Durham, north Carolina, and is a product of a sports family. She is also a graduate of UNC, majoring in business at UNC Keenan-Flagler. Today she currently represents the North Carolina Courage and is beginning her fifth professional season. In her first two seasons with NC Courage, she became back-to-back National Women's Soccer League Challenge Cup champion in 2022 and 2023. In her free time, she often participates as a color commentator for NCAA Division I men's and women's soccer programs at local universities. Thank you so much for joining me today. How are you doing?
Speaker 2:I'm good, Raven. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:It's an honor to be on your podcast. Thank you, I'm so excited to have you here today, so I'd love for you to first just start off by giving us a little bit more information about yourself and journey, as to how you got to where you are today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely so. I am Brianna Pinto and I was born in New Haven, connecticut, but I spent most of my childhood in Durham, north Carolina. Both my parents were student athletes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. I have two brothers, one older, one younger. So the older one is Hassan. He went to Elon undergrad, and my younger brother is Malik. He went to Princeton.
Speaker 2:And we really grew up in a sports family. My mom played softball, my dad played soccer and we wanted to use sports as a vehicle to open new doors of opportunity. So, thankfully to all the blessings and the care that our parents put into us, we were able to all become Division I collegiate athletes and also reach the professional ranks, which has been special. But one of the things my parents always emphasized was doing equally as well in the classroom. So we had big aspirations for our careers, like post-playing and attending the UNC. Attending UNC Chapel Hill gave me the best opportunity to live out the best of both dreams of, you know, conquering the business world while also pursuing my soccer dreams, and you know when I finally committed at the age of 15, it was super young.
Speaker 2:It was such a dream come true, because I had thought of playing for Antidorans in the UNC women's soccer program for my entire life, so to have that moment alongside my family and play there for three years was so special. I'm also so grateful to Kenan Flywood Business School for helping me achieve that degree at the University of North Carolina, because I met so many incredible people from all walks of life that have really influenced the way that I see the world today. But now I'm playing professionally with NC Courage. It's my fifth season, which is crazy to say. It seems like since 2021, when I left school and started my professional career. It seems like time has flown by, but I've been really enjoying it and I've been able to apply my business degree to some of the governance and advocacy work that I do on the side to advance soccer not only in underserved communities, but to advocate for greater player rights within our collective bargaining agreement for the NWSH.
Speaker 1:I think that's so amazing, especially you emphasizing how your parents wanted to instill in you the same values in sports as well as education and I know, unfortunately I wasn't able to attend school with you but me also being a product of Keenan Flagler I definitely can agree just with the multiple opportunities that they have at the business school and just UNC as a whole. It definitely is such a special community. You have the best of both worlds with sports. I know the women's soccer team here is known for being such an impressive program and with all the national championships that they've won, and even just coming from Kenan-Flagler, and with the amazing work that you're doing now, I know that your parents are definitely proud of you and I want to jump into with you being a Black woman in professional soccer. Did you have any challenges that you faced and how were you able to stay true to yourself with navigating them?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think identity is the first thing that comes to mind. When I was growing up, there weren't many other black girls that were playing the sport, to be quite honest, and there were only a handful of stars that we could look to to emulate, to aspire to be like. One of the examples is Crystal Dunn. She played for UNC, chapel Hill and then has represented the US Women's National Team in World Cups and Olympics, and she's someone I kind of look to because I was the ball girl for the team growing up and I got to see just the way she navigated all those spaces.
Speaker 2:But going back to identity, you have to be comfortable in your own skin, knowing that there's a place for you in this sport, that you belong, that you're loved and that you're divinely and uniquely made. And just really coming into that realization was a big step of growth and maturity for me personally, and I think having gone through that, learning how to love who I am and my background in a team full of people that didn't look like me it set me up for success in the business world, because as a minority in business, specifically as a Black woman, you have to be able to advocate for yourself, and I learned a lot of those applicable skills on the soccer field.
Speaker 2:I even played boys soccer at one point and not only was I the, only girl on the team, but I was also one of the only Black players, so really being comfortable being in environments where I didn't have people that look like me. But I will say it came with a whole host of challenges. I had to unlearn a lot of things that the world might tell you, like about how I styled my hair or the way that I spoke or the things that I was into, and I really needed to do a lot of work just to make sure that I was confident in who I am. And I feel like I saw that biggest change in college, where I got to be a part of all these different social groups. I joined a lot of clubs while I was at the University of North Carolina.
Speaker 2:I was part of the soccer team, I was part of the golden fleets and all of those different environments, um just gave me a foundation and like a reminder that we all end up where we're supposed to be because we have a unique set of gifts that we're here to bring to the world. And when you step into that authenticity of like who you are, the world's a better place because of it. So just to answer your question of like how that manifests in the professional soccer world, I want to use my platform for good and remind young black girls and boys that there's a place for them in this game.
Speaker 1:And that's actually why.
Speaker 2:I started Pinto Football Foundation because in a lot of underserved communities there's a lot of untapped potential and we want to get those kids into this sport and remind them that it can be a vehicle that can take you all over the world. And I'm really, really fortunate to have traveled with youth national teams for the last 10, 12 years and have seen countries all over the world, and it's given me a global perspective of how the game can unite people of different walks of life and unite people in a way that little else can.
Speaker 1:I think that's so important, especially the last thing that you touched on.
Speaker 1:I know that just through my classes and with my study abroad experiences, you know the things that truly unite people is entertainment, whether it's music or sports.
Speaker 1:Unite people is entertainment, whether it's music or sports, and it really does show you that you may all be different and come from different backgrounds but at the end of the day, like we all sort of share the same thing or ultimately like want to enjoy whatever we're there for which I think is really unique and special.
Speaker 1:And you mentioning the Order of the Golden Fleece I was a recent inductee of it, so, and you thank you and also just you mentioning the multiple communities that the University of North Carolina has to offer, I think just goes to show that you know, even in spaces where you may not think that there's a place for you, I really love the community that you're able to build and just the connections that you're able to foster when you're at those places so that you're not feeling as alone, and I know I've definitely taken advantage of them since being here. And you mentioned your mentorship and the foundation that you started. So, from your own perspective, what role has mentorship played in your journey and how are you hoping to pay it forward for the next generation? I know you touched on that a little bit, but I just want to go more into it to pay it forward for the next generation.
Speaker 2:I know you touched on that a little bit, but I just want to go more into it. No, I think that's such a wonderful question because I feel like I'm a product of my community. I grew up in John, north Carolina. I was surrounded by the university. At a young age, my parents put my brothers and I in the university and showed us this is a place you could be one day. So when we're going to college, sporting events and being around the business programs, both at UNC and Fuqua Business School, for example, with my mom and my brother attending, we came to realize that this was a possibility for us in the future.
Speaker 2:So, when it comes to mentorship, the reason that's so important for me is I believe you.
Speaker 2:In order to believe you can become something, you have to see it, and representation is the most important thing.
Speaker 2:So, having had like a wealth of experience in business world and my success with soccer, I want to pay it forward to the next generation of young girls and boys that are coming up and are navigating these processes, because I know I would have loved to have someone who could tell me what this journey would be like and all the challenges and the rewarding parts that will come with it.
Speaker 2:But I find it really enriching because I get to reflect on all of the lived experiences that I've had and I I think speaking to other people allows us to start a conversation about, like you know, we need to make these spaces more open for people of all walks of life, of all different nationalities, ethnic groups, religions, genders, things like that, so that the world can become a more welcoming place. So mentorship has meant the world to me, because sports are really, really challenging. It's obviously great when you get to lift a trophy and win a championship, but a lot of what sports entails is the grind like where you are setting a goal and working to achieve it every single day and trying to become 1% better. But when you have a lot of success or playing sports as an elite athlete, a lot of your self-worth can get caught up in how you're doing as an athlete, because it's such an important part of your identity for a lot of these people.
Speaker 2:So, getting to reflect on that experience and how I separated who I am as a student, who I am as a friend, who I am as a soccer player. Like who I am as a student, who I am as a friend, who I am as a soccer player, who I am as a mentor, I became much more fulfilled in various aspects of my life and I understood that in order to perform your best in the classroom, on the field, in your social life, you've got to water all of those environments and really instilling that belief in younger people reminds them that balanced lives are truly so important, especially coming out of COVID, A lot of people were isolated and we've lost that sense of community that really made sure that people were cared for.
Speaker 2:So again to your point about mentorship. I just want to be a resource for the people around them, and I get a lot out of it too. So I know that's a long-winded answer, but mentorship is really like a testament of all the people that have fed into me and me pouring it into the next generation.
Speaker 1:My thoughts yeah, no, I think you touched on some very important things, and you mentioning balance is something that I want to make sure that I come back to, but the same.
Speaker 1:I feel the same way about mentorship. You know, we have these doors opened for us and as we're continuing to kind of move up the ladder, we have to make sure that we're looking back and extending our handouts to make sure that other people can come up with us as well. So, definitely, it's such an important thing to me service leadership as well, and just making sure that you're leading by example and having those follow you in the path. And so now I want to go back to you mentioning finding that balance and having to water all of those aspects, whether it's socially, educationally, or to your sport as an athlete, especially you mentioning COVID and coming out of isolation. How were you able to find that balance? I know a lot of the time people are saying you kind of have to find your groove, you have to figure out your balance, you have to set boundaries, but how are you actually able to do that as a student athlete and now a professional athlete?
Speaker 2:That was honestly the biggest area of growth for me personally, because my last year at UNC, when I was a student athlete, was 2021.
Speaker 2:And my team had actually established a bubble where we could only see teammates and nobody else. And that was really challenging because, for example, I lived with three of my teammates who were also my roommates and you know, we would go from being in classes online in our rooms on the computer to then going to training together, to then going to lift and going to eat together, and it just became a little bit monotonous and you had to, like really figure out who you were and how you wanted to spend your time. So, when it became safer to engage in group activities again, like I really made it a priority to figure out who I was outside of, like soccer, outside of being a student, like what am I passionate about? Yes, mentorship has been one of them, but I realized that, like you have to do what makes you happy and then also you have to express gratitude along the way, and a big pillar of my identity and me coming into that realization was fostered through my spirituality, believing that we're put in situations to serve the world.
Speaker 2:Servant leadership is something that's important to me, so that's why I started the foundation. That's why I continuously give back to the MWSL. That's what gives me the fulfillment I need to be my best self and, by virtue of being involved in all these different organizations, I'm meeting incredible people and I really take time to like sow into them, because those relationships matter. You never know who's going to come into your life and who will have a material impact on your future. And if you really just show care, like taking the time to like understand who someone is and what their background is, how they view the world, it can really shape and influence your own views.
Speaker 2:And I'm someone who's always chasing constant growth. I want to be challenged in. You know my beliefs. I want to be pushed to be better. I want to be accountable, both in school, on the soccer field and as a friend. And you know if I can prioritize servant leadership, relationship building, like my social life so going to play pickleball with friends or going to get to fight to eat, but also my preparation for who I am as an athlete, so making sure I'm doing extra work, whether that's fitness wise or like weightlifting wise, or studying the game.
Speaker 2:all of those boxes have to be checked so that I can be whole, being that God designed me to be.
Speaker 1:I love that. And also you just mentioning spirituality, I think that's definitely something that I've become more intentional with, especially in this new chapter and just this new year in general. I felt like before I kind of just went through the motions and, you know, was like, okay, yes, I do this because I have to or because I should, but not necessarily for that fulfillment or for me actually being convicted by it. So I think that that's something that's very important and it really does just reflect in your character and the way that you treat certain situations or even just go about your daily life. So I really appreciate you for mentioning that. And, as you were talking about that, a question that sparked into my mind is just how did you go from shifting to be a college athlete to now a professional athlete and you taking those college courses, shifting to now you running your foundation or doing whatever you were doing before your foundation, like how kind of does your day to day life change and how are you able to kind of get back into a routine?
Speaker 2:I think that's a fantastic question mainly because time management is everything, and I think that's what most people learn in college, like how to stay on top of their studies and allocate time to, you know, doing their homework or preparing for a project, or, you know, speaking to professors in office hours All of those things apply to the soccer field. So you know, with my professional sport it's my job now, so my relationship with it has inherently changed.
Speaker 2:When I was a student athlete, my studies was my job. So I had to take like all of those lessons and all those soft skills and hard skills too, like those time management skills, to prepare me to be my best. So I need to ensure that I get, you know, eight hours of sleep every night. I can't say that I was doing that consistently in college because I had assignments that were due and all kinds of stuff to worry about, but now that it's my job, first priority is making sure I'm getting enough sleep and I'm fueling my body properly and I'm doing stuff in the free time to recover.
Speaker 2:All of that stuff matters because in order to be a professional athlete, the best of the best sharpen one another and you are responsible for holding up your end of the stick as a teammate.
Speaker 2:Because in order for us to win championships, we need to make sure that we're crossing our t's and dotting our i's to ensure that, like we give ourselves the best chance to win um. So those skills that I learned as a student are really, really applicable as an athlete and then also um, in terms of fighting for playing time, for example. One of the ways you can do that is not only by performing well, but by having a good relationship with your coaching staff, like being able to effectively advocate, like what are the skills that you bring and I want to bring this up because it does apply to the business world and like I have dreams after I'm done playing um, but I find that within women, women, um, we don't advocate for ourselves as well as we could, and I was actually in a negotiations class in Chapel Hill and they find that men are just able to ask for what they believe they're worth and some.
Speaker 2:And really building that skillset while I was at Keenan Flagler was something that I realized is really important in other areas of life. So effectively being able to communicate what you bring to the table, I think, will really set you apart, not only in sports, but also in life. So, to answer your question, it's how I take care of my body, how I advocate for myself, how I perform in training and in games, and then also, you know, just making sure that I am doing all the things I need to do to be successful.
Speaker 1:I think those are very important. And you bringing up the negotiations class is funny. I actually registered to take the class this upcoming fall, so hopefully I get it, and if I don't, then I'm definitely going to try to take it in the spring so I can get that course before I graduate, since I'll be heading into my senior year. So I want to know, before we come to the last question, if you could go back and give your 18-year-old self advice, especially during those early years at UNC, whether this is soccer-wise or business student-wise, what would you say?
Speaker 2:I think, seeing how quickly time has gone by since I've left Carolina, it's really the piece of advice that I would give myself is to be in the moment, because time truly does fly by when you're having fun. Like you know, my youth national team days I was 16 years old, traveling the world Like I spent my 16th birthday in Lake Como, italy, with youth 17 national team. That was so special and those are always moments that I'll get to reflect on with fond memories. And, you know, being in the moment allows you to appreciate not only the people you're with, but the places that you are. What you're learning in the moment allows you to appreciate not only the people you're with, but the places that you are, what you're learning in the moment, the adversity that you face.
Speaker 2:I'd also say that I think journaling is really important because you get to reflect on all the lived experiences that you've had and then how you handled it at that moment in time, because as you mature, you see things in a different light. So, um, just getting to like look back on those inner thoughts of the kind of person you were, I think is really really good for just personal growth. Um, so just being in that moment, I think, is the best piece of advice, because you really get the most out of the environment you're in and you learn the most from the people that you're around.
Speaker 1:I hear that a lot, just reminding us to live in the moment and to just really take up these experiences, and even journaling. I think it's super important, but it's just hard. It's definitely easier said than done, especially because at least in the business world I can say at the business school you know people are always talking about their internship or you know what's coming up next, or this networking opportunity or ways that they can secure their job for next year. So it's just all these different moving parts and it's hard in the moment to say OK, let me take a breath, let me take a step back, let me enjoy this moment that I'm in, remember to be grateful, remember to you know, be thankful for this moment and then also have 30,000 things on your mind at the same time.
Speaker 2:I'm so glad you brought that up, because I remember being in in um college and I'm like, oh, like I need to think about internships, or I can't wait till I'm playing professional soccer, not knowing that like I was living some of the best days of my life, like I think there will be many more best days of my life in the future, but like I think society just pushes this idea that you need to plan five and ten years ahead. But like you really have to appreciate where you are when you're there, because, like you're never getting that time back.
Speaker 2:So, um, yeah, I just think like looking too far ahead can allow you to miss what's right in front of you exactly so.
Speaker 1:my last question, my signature question that I have on my podcast, is what is one piece of advice you would give Gen Z to go out and diversify themselves? I know throughout this episode you've definitely given a lot of golden nuggets, and so I'm excited to see what your answer is to this question.
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you. I think your questions have been fantastic, just like just reflecting on my life as a student and also as a professional athlete. But my piece of advice to diversify yourself as Gen Z is to treat yourself as a professional athlete, but my piece of advice to diversify yourself as Gen Z is to treat yourself as a personal brand. Everybody knows that we're in the age of social media, where we can post like all of our best moments or our worst moments, if you choose to, and it's kind of like a highlight reel. But the reason I'd say treat your life as a personal brand is because you're building a resume for the type of person that you are today and the type of person that you want to become. So if somebody is speaking about you, how do you want to be spoken about when you're not in?
Speaker 2:the room, and that's what your personal brand is also is really all about. Like you know, are you someone who's accountable? Are you someone who's kind? Are you someone who's thoughtful, who's hardworking, who's dedicated? Are you someone who is classy, who treats people well, even when those people can do nothing for them? Like? Those are all core values that have shaped, like how I want to live out my life, and if I can show that not only on social media but in my interactions with people I'm meeting for the first time, or my business community at Keenan Flagler, how I interact with my teammates on the soccer field, that all contributes to my personal brand.
Speaker 2:So to anyone listening, think about how you want to be remembered and take those steps to accomplish that every single day.
Speaker 1:That was really good. And even you saying think of it as like a highlight reel, I think that was really good. That's the part that stuck out to me. And even just you saying you know the way that people talk about you when you're not in the room, that really resonated with me as well, because even in some past episodes of just me networking, you know you always hear the difference between a mentor versus a sponsor. So I feel that your sponsor can really speak to your personal brand and advocating for you and recommending things for you when you're not in the room when you're trying to get to a certain place.
Speaker 1:So thank you so much. Did you have anything else that you wanted to add before we wrapped up the episode?
Speaker 2:Well, I think just relating it back to you know, like when you're not in the room. One of the things I've learned is what matters especially with networking is who you know and who knows you. Who's looking to make a recommendation on your behalf, and that really helps with opportunities for jobs in the future or for new experiences that you get with. You know certain elite groups, and I think we've seen that in our Golden Police community.
Speaker 1:Congratulations again for being invested.
Speaker 2:But you know those things matter, like because you've built a body of work that people respect at the university and you know I'm sure you're doing it at the Kenan. Flagler Business Program as well. So that's the other piece of advice to Gen Z Just remember who you know and who knows you, and then the people that will you know go to all ends to make recommendations on your behalf, because that does help with networking in the future.
Speaker 1:Yes, it really does. It truly does and I think, since being inducted into the fleece and just also hearing so many different stories, it is true, like everything that you've said, I have seen it in fruition and in real time. So thank you again so much for coming on. Thank you everyone for listening to this episode. I'll be sure to link Brianna's LinkedIn below if you'd like to connect with her or you have any follow-up questions that you'd like to ask her. Thank you all so much for listening to Diversify Her and I'll see you next time. Thank you.