Nabil Karim on his Struggles and Career as an ESPN Sports Anchor

EDITORS’ NOTE: Nabil Karim — an ESPN SportsCenter Anchor and previous reporter on Canada’s leading sports network (TSN) — discusses his Career Journey in Sports Broadcasting, his Struggles with Imposter Syndrome upon Joining ESPN, and the Challenges of Lack of Minority Representation in the Field. Karim reflects on his Passion for Sports Broadcasting, the Influence of Community and Family Support, and the Importance of Perseverance, Networking, and Staying True to One’s Passion in Achieving Success in the Competitive World of Sports Media.

About Nabil Karim

Interview Questions

Discovering a Passion for Sports Broadcasting — Time Index: 00:54 (Based on the Audio)

1. I want to start by talking about your story. When did you know sports broadcasting is what you wanted to pursue?

Shifting from Criminology to Broadcasting — Time Index: 03:42

2. And then when did you kind of shift completely away from criminology or law and then said: “this is what I wanted to do full time” because I know you’ve talked about when you give advice to students, you often tell them you have to go all in. And so when was that time for you?

Community Reaction and Motivation — Time Index: 12:03

3. What about the community at large? How was the reaction initially?

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Growing into Roles — Time Index: 16:22

4. Many people, especially those that are getting started in their careers, encounter something called the imposter syndrome. They might feel they’re not skilled enough or talented enough to do them. Did you feel that?

The Evolving Diversity in Sports Commentary — Time Index: 16:22

5. If I look at the diversity landscape, which is something you kind of struggled with, do you see sports commentary landscape changing to be more diverse? Do you see organizations taking action to expand the diversity of sport commentators? I’m kind of looking at the whole landscape of what are some of the challenges the industry in general is kind of facing?

The Impact of Social Media Expansion in Sports Media — Time Index: 28:12

6. How do you think the expansion of social media has played out, especially now, verses when you were getting started a decade ago?

The Crucial Role of Networking in Broadcasting Careers — Time Index: 30:45

7. Speaking of what you said about everybody wanting to kind of get the inside scoop, I want to talk about networking. How big do you think networking has played in your industry? And what advice would you give to those who are interested in pursuing broadcasting or sports commentary to get their foot in the door?

Goal Setting and Future Aspirations in Sports Broadcasting — Time Index: 42:33

8. What’s your next step? Are there other dreams or goals you’re kind of hoping to accomplish in the next five years?

About Nabil Karim

Nabil Karim joined TSN at the end of 2011, leaving CBC, where he had hosted Hockey Night in Canada Online and acted as sports anchor for CBC News. Since then, he has become a mainstay on TSN’s Sportscentre as both anchor and reporter. Karim is also a reporter for NHL on TSN and an occasional host for NBA on TSN.

He has covered a number of major sporting events including the 2013 World Juniors in Ufa, Russia, the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and the 2011 Rogers Cup Men’s Tennis Final. In addition to anchoring AHL coverage, the Vancouver-native has also hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Post-Game Show and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

A quick riser in the sports reporting industry, Karim enjoys connecting with youth and students, motivating and encouraging them to set goals (a regular life practice) and pursue their dreams.