By Amadou Kane
As a multimedia journalism major and lifelong soccer fan, hosting a panel with two founders of 5ASIDE Media felt like a full-circle moment for me. Soccer has always been more than just a sport in my life. It is something that connects culture, storytelling, identity, and community. Seeing two young creators successfully combine all of those elements into a growing media company made the conversation feel personal and inspiring.
At the Lehman Multimedia Center, I had the opportunity to host Khendrick Beausoleil and Gabriel Guisado, two co-founders of 5ASIDE Media, a soccer media platform known for its podcasts, interviews, short-form content, and coverage of the global game.
What impressed me most was not just their success, but how authentic and honest they were about the journey it took to get there.
Khendrick Beausoleil, a co-founder of 5ASIDE Media, gives Amadou Kane, a Journalism & Media Studies student at Lehman College, a Senegal jersey worn at the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament.
The conversation started with something simple: passion for soccer. Khendrick talked about growing up as a Chelsea supporter because of Didier Drogba, while Gabe explained how his connection to Real Madrid started through his family from Spain. As someone who grew up watching Barcelona and falling in love with the sport through players like Lionel Messi, I immediately related to their stories. It reminded me how soccer creates connections between people from completely different backgrounds.
What stood out most to me, though, was hearing how 5ASIDE Media started from just an idea among friends. They explained how they saw a lack of diverse soccer media voices in America and decided to create content themselves instead of waiting for opportunities to appear.
“We kind of just put ourselves out there,” Khendrick said. “What’s the worst that can happen? Let’s just try it.”
That quote stayed with me after the panel because, as a journalism student, it is easy to overthink ideas or doubt whether your work is good enough before even starting. Hearing them explain that their platform began simply by taking a chance made me realize how important it is to stop waiting for perfect timing and just create.
Their advice about consistency also hit me personally. Gabe explained that success did not happen overnight and that building a platform required years of work, patience, and sacrifice.
“You really have to believe in a much longer term vision,” Gabe said.
As someone pursuing multimedia journalism, that advice felt important because journalism today is heavily connected to digital media and content creation. Whether it is producing videos, writing stories, editing interviews, or building a portfolio, success comes from consistently improving your craft over time. Listening to them speak made me think about how important it is to stay patient even when growth feels slow.
One of the most impactful parts of the discussion for me was when they talked about visibility and self doubt. Gabe admitted that being online constantly and putting his personality on camera was uncomfortable at first.
“I had to learn to be comfortable being hyper-visible,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to just be visible because you literally never know who’s watching.”
That advice connected with me because journalism can also feel intimidating. Putting your work out publicly means opening yourself to criticism and judgment. As someone interested in sports media and storytelling, hearing them speak honestly about overcoming that fear gave me confidence to continue putting my own work out there.
Another moment that really stayed with me was when Khendrick discussed reaching out to opportunities even when rejection feels likely.
“Don’t be afraid to shoot your shot,” he said. “Some of the biggest deals we got came from one email out of a hundred.”
As a student trying to grow professionally, that advice felt extremely real. Whether it is applying for internships, networking, pitching stories, or contacting professionals in the media, fear of rejection can stop people before they even try. Hearing how one message or one opportunity changed their careers reminded me that persistence matters just as much as talent.
The panel also gave me a deeper appreciation for the amount of work happening behind the scenes in sports media. Before hearing their experiences, it was easy to focus only on the exciting parts like traveling internationally or covering major tournaments. But when they described their experience covering the African Cup of Nations in Morocco through their partnership with beIN SPORTS, I realized how demanding the job really is.
They talked about sleepless nights, long drives between cities, nonstop editing, and balancing content production while covering games. Gabe explained that many people assumed the trip was simply a vacation, but in reality they were working almost every hour of the day.
That honesty made me respect their work even more because it showed the level of dedication required to succeed in the media. As someone hoping to work in sports journalism one day, hearing those stories helped me better understand both the sacrifices and rewards that come with the profession.
What I appreciated most throughout the panel was how genuine Khendrick and Gabe were. They never tried to present success as easy or glamorous. Instead, they focused on the importance of friendship, consistency, professionalism, and gratitude.
“If we were overly obsessed with some final destination, we’d never enjoy the ride,” Gabe said.
Amadou Kane flashes a big smile as he shows a signed Senegal national team warm-up jersey from Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
That quote probably impacted me more than anything else they shared because it applies not only to careers but also to life as a student. It reminded me to appreciate the process of learning, growing, and building experience rather than constantly stressing about the future.
The most memorable moment of the day came near the end of the panel when Khendrick and Gabe surprised me with a signed Senegal national team warm up jersey from Kalidou Koulibaly, one of Senegal’s captains and one of my favorite defenders in world soccer.
As a huge soccer fan, that moment genuinely meant a lot to me. It completely caught me off guard and honestly put a huge smile on my face. Beyond the jersey itself, the gesture showed the kind of people they are, humble, thoughtful, and appreciative of the opportunity to connect with students.
By the end of the discussion, I walked away feeling motivated not just as a soccer fan, but as a multimedia journalism student trying to find my own path in media. Khendrick and Gabe showed me that success starts with believing in your ideas, staying consistent, and being willing to take risks even when the outcome is uncertain.
Hosting this panel reminded me why I chose journalism in the first place: to tell stories, connect with people, and create work that others can relate to.
Two founders of 5ASIDE Media pose with students from Lehman College’s The Bronx Journal.