By David Dasilva | March 21, 2025
For the second edition of our Alumni Spotlight series, we had the pleasure of catching up with Bryan McGahey, a former Cosmos Sports & Entertainment team member who has since built a successful career in corporate partnerships in the not for profit sector. From starting as an intern to taking on key roles in ticket sales and sponsorships, Bryan reflects on his time at Cosmos, the lessons he learned, and how those experiences shaped his career path.
When Bryan McGahey first interviewed for an internship at Cosmos Sports & Entertainment back in 2008, he made it clear—he wanted to work in sports, but he wanted nothing to do with sales. Looking back, he laughs at the irony of that statement.
“If you know Cary, that’s probably the worst thing you could say to him if you’re trying to get a job at Cosmos”
Despite his initial hesitation, he landed the internship and quickly found himself immersed in a variety of roles. He started in athlete management, helping athletes build their portfolios and gain recognition, before shifting to executive recruitment, where he helped sports teams and organizations find new talent. Eventually, he transitioned into ticket sales and sponsorships, and that’s when everything changed.
His first major sales project was working on the Buffalo Bills Toronto Series, a groundbreaking initiative to bring NFL games to Canada.
“At the time, it was electric. People were so excited about NFL football in Toronto, and I got to be right in the middle of it, selling tickets and talking to fans. That’s when I realized—I actually love this.”
Cosmos provided Bryan with a crash course in sports business, but what really shaped his career was learning how to sell in challenging situations.
“People don’t come to an agency like Cosmos because things are going well—they come because they need help. Whether it’s ticket sales, sponsorship, or marketing, we were helping our partners through challenging situations and trying to help them turn things around.”
One of his biggest learning experiences came while selling sponsorships for a harness racing event in Windsor. The projected attendance numbers he had been given turned out to be completely off, leaving sponsors frustrated when they showed up to much smaller crowds than expected.
“I had to deal with some disappointed sponsors who wanted to express their frustrations.. It was a tough situation, but it taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my career—be honest and transparent, and when you’re wrong, be accountable! Listen to their frustrations and find solutions!”
That experience, along with countless others at Cosmos, helped him develop persistence, adaptability, and the ability to handle rejection—skills that have served him well throughout his career.
Beyond the business side, Bryan credits Cosmos with fostering a unique team culture that made his experience unforgettable.
“The best part of Cosmos was the people. I made lifelong friends—Mike, Abhi, Ken, Justin—people I’m still close with today. We weren’t just co-workers; we actually spent time together outside of work. That’s something I don’t see as much anymore.”
Working at a small but fast-paced company also meant direct access to leadership.
“At Cosmos, you’re not stuck behind layers of management. You work directly with Cary, and you’re given real responsibility right away. There’s no hand-holding, which forces you to grow fast.”
And, of course, there’s one more key takeaway from his time at Cosmos:
“Be nice to Abhi.”
“When I started, Abhi was the only guy handling IT, creative services, and everything in between. Everyone was constantly demanding things from him. I made a point to be nice to him, and suddenly, all my requests got done faster! He’s a great guy, and I love hearing that he’s still doing the same today.”
After spending years in sports, Bryan decided to make a career shift into the nonprofit sector. He first joined Earth Rangers, an organization focused on environmental education, before moving to SickKids Foundation, where he now helps develop corporate partnerships to support children’s healthcare.
The transition might seem like a big leap, but to Bryan, the skills carried over seamlessly.
“What I learned at Cosmos—how to sell, how to build relationships, how to structure partnerships based on a company’s goals—all of that translated perfectly to the nonprofit world. I realized I could take my experience and apply it to causes I really care about.”
Now, as he continues his work at SickKids Foundation, Bryan sees himself staying in children’s healthcare for the long haul.
“We have an exciting campaign ahead of us that I’m thrilled to be part of. I hope to be part of this incredible cause for a very long time!”
His advice for current Cosmos employees?
“Be open to everything. The best thing about Cosmos is the variety of experiences you get. You never know what project you’ll work on or what skills you’ll pick up. If I had stuck to my original mindset of avoiding sales, I never would have had the career I have today.”
From intern to executive, and now a leader in corporate partnerships, Bryan McGahey’s journey is proof that Cosmos Sports & Entertainment provides an incredible foundation for growth—both in and beyond the world of sports.
