Some paths in life are carefully mapped. Others—like Scott Erdman’s—are more like a series of fascinating turns that somehow lead exactly where you’re supposed to be. In a recent episode of Betting on Success, host Mark Morton sat down with Scott, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Las Vegas Raiders, to talk about career steps, setbacks, stadiums, and the power of staying relentlessly curious.
And the journey that unfolds? It’s one worth learning from.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights from their discussion on the Betting on Success podcast. View the complete podcast on PodBean, Apple Podcast or Spotify.
A Childhood of Change—and the Resilience That Followed
Scott’s story begins in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where life shifted dramatically at just 10 years old. After the passing of his mother, he moved across the country to Massachusetts to live with a father and extended family he had barely met. That “restart” became the early foundation of Scott’s resilience and adaptability— traits that would follow him throughout his life and career.
From Arizona to Massachusetts to sunny Boca Raton for college (which he jokingly admits was chosen mostly because it was “five minutes from the beach”), Scott learned early that change isn’t something to fear— it’s something you can build from.
Breaking Into Sports: $13,000, No Benefits, and Unlimited Drive
Like many of us, Scott graduated college having no idea what he wanted to do. That changed at a career fair where the Florida Panthers were recruiting. He called the team—a hundred times— until someone finally called back. The interview led to a job offer: $13,000 a year, no benefits, and an entry-level role in ticket sales. He took it on the spot.
That first job wasn’t glamorous. The Panthers were struggling. He was cold-calling hundreds of people a day. He learned rejection fast, and grit even faster.
But he also learned one of the most important lessons of his career— something the team’s CEO, Michael Yormark, drilled into his staff daily:
Control the controllables.
You can’t control the win-loss record.
You can’t control the ice.
You can control your effort.
You can control your attitude.
You can control your work ethic.
That message stuck with Scott for life.
Taking a Step Back to Leap Forward
After the Panthers and then Florida Atlantic University’s stadium project, Scott landed an opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys— one of the most powerful sports brands in the world. But here’s the twist:
He had to take a step back in title to join the organization.
It wasn’t an easy choice. Titles come with ego, and ego comes with fear of what others might think. But Scott dug deeper— peeling back the “why” behind his hesitation. In the end, he chose long-term growth over short-term optics.
That decision led him to a decade with the Cowboys, where he learned one of his biggest takeaways: relationships beat X’s and O’s. The Jones family invested deeply in partners— whether they spent $100,000 or $10 million— and that mindset transformed how Scott viewed partnership building.
Legends, Stadiums, and Thinking Differently
During his Cowboys tenure, Scott became connected with Legends, the joint venture formed by the Cowboys and Yankees. Their goal: elevate stadium experiences— food, events, premium hospitality, sponsorships, everything.
One insight Scott picked up:
When everyone else is looking left, look right.
Why let a stadium sit empty 355 days a year?
Why not monetize events, meetings, dinners—even locker room experiences?
Why not challenge “the way we’ve always done it”?
That curiosity-based thinking would soon become a major theme in Scott’s life.
Joining the Raiders… During a Global Shutdown
Scott accepted the Raiders role the very week COVID hit. After one week in the office, the team went remote for roughly a year. They were launching a new stadium with… zero fans.
Zero.
Instead of panicking, Scott and the partnership team went into problem-solving mode—renegotiating more than 50 sponsorship agreements, rethinking value, and helping partners find ROI even without crowds in seats.
Was it brutal? Yes.
Did it make the team smarter and stronger? Absolutely.
It forced Scott into the deepest crash course imaginable on the business of partnerships— and gave him a front row seat to the Raiders’ fan-first culture under owner Mark Davis.
Curiosity as a Superpower
If there’s one theme woven throughout Scott’s journey, it’s curiosity.
The kind that makes you ask questions.
The kind that makes you explore new paths.
The kind that makes you try new things—even weird things, like biohacking.
His curiosity even led him to ski one day with a mountain developer who casually asked if Scott wanted to invest in a ski resort. That “why not?” moment— powered purely by curiosity— led to Scott becoming part-owner of a mountain in Las Vegas and gaining exposure to an entirely new industry.
Curiosity builds doors.
Curiosity opens them.
Curiosity keeps you learning, evolving, and spotting opportunity others miss.
Leadership, Family, and What Really Matters
For Scott, success isn’t measured only in titles or revenue numbers (though his Raiders partnership team is ranked #2 in the NFL— no small feat). It’s measured in the human stuff:
Being a good partner.
Being curious.
Being someone people enjoy talking to.
Being someone who leaves others saying, “I like that guy.”
His “why” used to be about building a future family he didn’t yet have. Today, it’s about role-modeling work ethic, health, curiosity, and kindness for his daughters.
At the end of the day, he says, he just wants to be remembered as a good human.
And honestly? That’s a legacy worth striving for.
Takeaways You Can Steal for Your Own Career
1. Outwork people—but stay kind while doing it.
Competitive fire is valuable, but character lasts longer.
2. Don’t let your ego stop you from taking a step back.
Sometimes the backward step is actually the on-ramp.
3. Build relationships, not transactions.
People remember how you treat them, not how you pitch them.
4. Stay relentlessly curious.
Every new idea, industry, or person you explore is a door to something bigger.
5. Control the controllables.
When chaos hits, your reaction is your superpower.
If you're looking for a story that blends grit, leadership, curiosity, and a surprising amount of humility, Scott Erdman's journey is one to follow. And if you haven't watched the full Betting on Success episode yet, it’s absolutely worth your time. View the complete podcast on PodBean, Apple Podcast or Spotify.
