Why everyone should be rooting for our student-athlete brand ambassador Cameron Brink
By Esther Lem, Chief Marketing Officer at Chegg
On the eve of the NCAA tournament, I am in awe of Chegg’s brand ambassador Cameron Brink, not just for what she does on the court, but who she is off of it. On the court, she dominates at both ends, moving up and down the hardwood with intention, suddenly appearing to swat a shot or grab a board. She became the Stanford Women’s Basketball team’s all-time leader in blocks this season and had a triple-double with blocks. It is a joy to watch her and her teammates. While she hopefully leads Stanford to reclaim their NCAA title, I am reminded constantly why we chose to partner with her as Chegg’s second-ever Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) athlete ambassador — not just for her skill on the court, but also for how she wants to use her position off it.
After our successful partnership with Paige Bueckers, who is sadly out injured this season (we can’t wait to have you back, Paige!), we wanted to be very thoughtful about whom Chegg partnered with next. With 73.5% of all NIL dollars going to male athletes, our CEO Dan Rosensweig was very clear that he wanted to make sure Chegg supported female athletes. (In fact, we have had many Division 1 female athletes working at Chegg over the years). In addition, she had to be passionate about an issue that impacts students.
Even though most of the money goes to men, female NCAA stars are required to post on social media almost 20% more than men. What has sadly become clear is that women athletes are often being chosen for their image as much as their talent. (This is an issue Cam’s coach Tara VanDerveer has been vocal on). Chegg itself has funded research into the impact of social media on adolescents at the Youth Anxiety Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The impact of online imagery is just one of the many factors that are hugely impacting student mental health, which has reached almost crisis levels. When we met Cam, it was clear this was an issue very close to her heart.
Cam was clear from the outset that any partnership would have to elevate students in a way that was authentic to her own values. Just as we had partnered with Paige on the issue of student food insecurity, Cam zeroed in on what we were doing to support student mental health. As both a modern student, elite athlete, and an increasingly public figure, Cam is aware of the impact modern pressures have on the mental health of students.
“Students today are under a lot of pressure, whether they are juggling their degree with work, or, like me, sports,” Cam told us. She wanted to partner with Chegg to “highlight the importance of student wellness.”
Chegg’s recent research on U.S. college students shows that nearly three-quarters (74%) of students feel anxious about their classes and schoolwork, and 68% do not get enough sleep. Students also suffer from loneliness, with almost half (45%) struggling to meet new people or make friends. That is why at the end of last year, Chegg announced free access to Calm Premium to all our Chegg Study Pack subscribers[1], and at the beginning of February, launched the first-ever global Student Mental Health Week with some fantastic non-profit partners.
Throughout this, Cam has been a fantastic partner and spokesperson for this issue. She has been incredibly open about suffering bouts of anxiety and how she has come to live with it — whether speaking to the media or in her posts on social platforms. She is a big proponent of meditation but also knows that people must find a regimen that is right for them. Mental wellness comes in many forms, from a walk in the park to snuggling a pet. Her hope is that speaking openly about it, and actions such as our partnership promoting mindfulness and self-care, will encourage other students to also be intentional in looking after themselves.
At a time when students so desperately need our help, I am in awe of how Cam has decided to use her platform to be open about her own struggles and encourage others. As Cam goes into the pressure cooker of the NCAA tournament, she is already our champion and a champion for students. We cannot say enough how all of us at Chegg are proud to be associated with her. Go, Cam, go!
