When Jaida Patrick decided to transfer from Duke to Columbia University in 2021, she didn’t know what lay ahead. While Columbia’s women’s basketball team had shown promise, their entire 2020–21 season had been cancelled due to the pandemic. She believed she could be an impact player, and that is exactly what she proved to be.
“It shaped me; there had to be a lot of drive and showing up even on tough days,” said Patrick, who was a vital part of Columbia achieving its best-ever record (22-6) at that time. Her senior year, the Lions achieved their first-ever Ivy League regular season title, going 23-5 and making it to the final of the post-season WNIT. She also learned the ins and outs of name, image, and likeness (NIL), which began in July 2021.
After graduating from Columbia in 2023, Patrick earned a master’s degree at the University of Miami, where she served as team captain. Since then, she has ventured into broadcasting, serving in various capacities — commentary, hosting, and sideline reporting — and she has started to make her mark on the world of cosmetics and fashion.
“I love creative roles; I realized that about myself,” said Patrick, who recently finished a public relations and influencer marketing internship with Tarte Cosmetics. “I was doing some broadcasting on-air, which was really cool. I loved doing in-game hosting. I also did media hosting for the Caribbean Music Awards.
“Now, I also want to focus on influencer marketing roles,” she added. “I was working with brands on the influencer side when I was playing basketball. [With Tarte], it was cool to see the other side of it and see what brands go through in order to launch campaigns.”
Patrick is working to translate her love of media, beauty, and style into a career, for which she also calls on the skills she developed as a Division I basketball player. “Sports helped me learn how to operate within a team and strive for that singular goal,” Patrick said. “Communication is super-important on and off the court. It prepared me very well for the workforce.”
She knows how to thrive under pressure and keep to a schedule. “Being a Division I athlete teaches you how to manage your time and priorities. Also, I’ve met people from all across the world and connected with them on a deep level to make the team successful,” said Patrick, who is pursuing a position in the beauty, fashion, sports, or media industries. “I’m also open to on-air work, bringing my knowledge of sports.”