OK this project is a bear…but it’s a loveable one, like Winnie The Pooh or Yogi…so I decided again to take it on. The response last January was so strong…here again is last’s years which has had over 2 million views…that I thought about doing it quarterly or biannually, but time never allowed.
Best to have fun and hope to keep the party going this year.
First thanks to the 43 people who responded. The list is eclectic and I think pretty deep. It has a total as of today (February 17th) of 168 on it, and here is the crazy part. Other than the “obvious” or repeat ones, no one was suggested more than once. I can’t recall that ever happening but it shows we all have our eyes on other people, and people out some thought into this.
While I asked for no repeats, there were a few people who were suggested because they are in a different place or career now, and they too are noted below. And while Sam Bankman-Fried was on the list last year, no he wasn’t mentioned this. Also the quotes are directly from those who nominated…
So here we go.
First, although we asked about ones we should know but don’t, some names came in that were obvious maybe or were suggested after being on last year, but since they were mentioned, let’s list them. They include: TJ Adeshola, Jessica Berman, Reagan Carey, Jim Cavale, Arielle Chambers, Mike Levine, John Kosner, Zach Leonsis, Rachel Jacobson, Jessica Gelman, Mark Tatum, Rob Shaw, Steve Phelps, Amy Howe, Neil Glat, Casey Schwab, Nicole Jeter West, Theo Epstein, Brian LaFemina, Chris and Angie Long, Josh Rawitch, Omar Raja, Michelle Kang, Ferran Sorriano, Anthony Noto, Jon Patricoff, Blake Stuchin, and Mat Ishbia.
Then there are ones from last year who have shifted places. They unclude:
John Brennan- John, former head of sports at Snap, is having great success with his new venture: Athletic Club Momento.
Caiti Donovan- head of growth strategy WNBA from SVP Insights, Sports Innovation Lab. Caiti is all about inclusion and growing awareness and brand value tied to woman’s sports in particular. She has an amazing head for analytics and is someone you want in the room when having big conversations.
Kara Nortman – Kara recently left Upfront Ventures where she was the only and first female partner and is channelling her passion for women’s sports (as a result of her experience co-foudning ACFC) to her new fund called Monarch Collective. Partner, Upfront Ventures. A basketball and mountain biking junkie, Kara gets the blend of sports and business. She leverages her own founder experience to help entrepreneurs build high-performing teams across software and consumer businesses. She is also a founding member of All Raise, dedicated to diversity in founders and funders, and co-founder of Angel City FC.
Cris Nyari– Cris left his development job at DAZN and is now helping lead Apple into their latest venture into sports, especially tied to MLS and who knows what else. Congrats Chris.
Ann Seeney – now Chief People and Diversity Officer for US Soccer after being VP of Human Resources at St. Louis Cardinals.
While I have met some of these people by chance or introduction in the past year, many of them I have not, so I’m hoping to, and follow them, just like you are.
So here goes.
Noor Abukuram– Founder “Let Noor Run” A high school athlete turned activist, Noor is a constant presence helping others as she raises awareness and access for young people who battle bias on every level. She was disqualified from a varsity cross-country race because she was wearing a hijab, and has proactively worked with officials and organizations to break down stereotypes and change rules of prohibition of expression. .helping others after she was
Jamiece Adams- The founder of “Swish” Jamiece Adams settled in Chicago in 2017 and was in search of community and a place to hoop. Adams was adjusting to life in a city where looking for a welcoming, safe place to hoop and be in community with other queer people of color was an exercise in futility. So she created a place that continues to grow, welcoming all through basketball in The Windy City.
Seun Adigun – Nigerian Bobsled Athlete – “The 1st African athlete to have competed in both and has helped establish several winter sport federations across Africa and has her sights on bringing awareness and expertise of the sports to African talent through her training camps.”
Shireen Ahmed – The Canadian voice of “Burn it All Down,” Shireen is a multi-platform sports journalist, a TEDx speaker, mentor, and an award-winning sports activist who focuses on the intersections of racism and misogyny in sports. She is an industry expert on Muslim women in sports, and her research and contributions to this topic are immeasurable. She is an Inclusion and Diversity consultant, an athlete, advocate, and community organizer, works with Youth of Colour on empowerment projects and is an avid sports coach and mentor. Shireen is a regular contributor to CBC Sports, Muslimah Media Watch and a former Global Sports Correspondent for Safe World For Women and Muslim Women in Sports website. She is also a Senior Contributor with CBC Sports.
Natalie Aliport– Natalie Allport is a former Canadian team & world tour snowboarder, competitive CrossFit athlete, and lifelong creator & entrepreneur. Natalie hosts the ‘ALL IN with Natalie Allport’ podcast, and is a passionate advocate for athlete mental health. Natalie believes in creating the content you want to see in the World, and creates / speaks on training, sports, mindset, mental health, fitness, gender equity, body image, wellness and more.
Alex Amsel– aka “Silly Tuna” “Has a great handle on the business of gaming and esports. He is funny and irreverent but rarely wrong on his thoughts.”
Jack Armstrong– “The voice of basketball in Canada” For decades Jack has been the smart, benevolent voice of basketball in Canada, especially in and around the Toronto Raptors. “He is the Bill Raftery of Canada, and he is from Brooklyn, no one is more liked or respected in the game.”
Erica Ayala– journalist, broadcaster, activist. “Erica has great platforms to do some expansive and honest storytelling for the large and the unique areas of women’s sports. Whether it’s the Olympics, the WNBA, the PHF or the college space she is a welcome voice and one of the best Latinas in a growing area of media.”
Bahruz Balayev– UNHCR – UN Refugee Agency “A newcomer to New ork after spending years working in Qatar, Bahruz is going to be a force in working with refugees and sport, and helping identifying athletes in North America who want to work closely with the UN on critical humanitarian issues.”
Dom Balsamo– MLB SVP Global Media and Business Development“We are going into a World Baseball Classic year, and no one helps put together the global pieces of baseball better than Dom. The guy is everywhere and knits together the biggest challenges facing global competition. We will all enjoy the WBC because of his behind the scenes work.”
Saurav Banerjee– Founder, MyySport “Want to reach millions of young sports fans, especially in cricket and soccer, in India, then check out MyySport. Saurav’s startup is in a niche for Indian sports fans few have realized, and if I’m working at a US team a league I would be asking him how we get US content to his startup audience.”
Tom Barbitta– President, Duke’s Mayo “People marvel at all the fun stuff Duke’s Mayo has done with their bowl game, but they don’t know Tom also helps run a not-for-profit that also helps kids in need in Cambodia.”
Kelvin Beachum– NFL player and entrepreneur. “Every place Kelvin has gone in his NFL career, from New York to Arizona, he has found a way to make a difference in the lives of young people, especially in areas like STEM. He is one of the most respected athletes in understanding the needs of media, and is a role model for all. His second act after he is done playing may be better than his first.”
Rick Beato – Content creator/musician “Rick does what music few others can. As a musician/producer/content creator he tells the stories of musical figures and analyzes their music from a historical and theoretic POV.”
Paul Beckles – Director, North America Athlete Marketing, Nike. “Paul’s brilliance is his creative mind. His ability to disrupt and elevate the creative space where culture and creation meet is impressive and his network in endless. This is why he has long been on my list of rising young talents in sports.”
Hector Bellerin– “The stylish footballer” “He may be known for his time on the pitch playing for FC Barcelona, but his sense of style is what really sets him apart. Having someone influence futbol and fashion world’s at once is pretty amazing, and I’m not sure which he does better.”
Ryan Berman– Inspirational marketing entrepreneur. “It’s all about the socks…and the stories. Ryan is a resilience expert who has worked with everyone from CEO’s to elite athletes on crafting a meaningful and powerful story. His agency life also begat Sock Problems a charitable sock company that supports causes around the world by “socking” problems and spreading awareness.”
Andy Beutel– President, Write On Sports. If we wonder where the next generation of creative storytellers will come from, check out Write On Sports. The not-for-profit that works with young people, especially in inner cities, to better understand the storytelling process around sports and open doors for them as journalists in high school, college and beyond.
Milan “Mimi” Bolden-Morris– Graduate Assistant, Michigan Football. Mimi is a trailblazer. A confident, capable, powerful trailblazer who’s going after what she wants. Just like anyone else. Except she’s a woman on the Michigan football coaching staff. Bolden-Morris is in her first year as an offensive graduate assistant with Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, the first female GA at a Power Five school.
Omri Bouton– Crypto entrepreneur. Omri is one of the, if not the top Cryptoasset lawyers in the UK. While many people have speculated on the Crypto field, Omri has led people to make smart decisions and will continue to do so as the business evolves.
Sahil Bloom– Managing Partner SRB Ventures and Author. “One of the most prolific writers about technology, leadership and management. Total master of social media and soon to be author. He will break out even more in 2023.”
Antony Bonvita– CVE, Cleveland Cavaliers “Antony is a born leader and as SVP at Cleveland Cavs he is making a difference not just in their bottom line, but in his expansive work brining best practices to life in the city
Brittanie Boyd– SVP, Philadelphia 76ers “Like Antony, Brittanie’s work in Philly with the Sixers goes way beyond the team. She is a smart, humble consensus builder and will be a leader not just in the NBA but in all of our business, for a long time to come.”
Joe Branch– Investor and entrepreneur “No matter where Joe has worked, from agencies like WME to the Timberwolves to Nike, he has been a thought leader, a consensus builder and a teacher for those who are willing to learn. He does so without great fanfare and always finds a way to put people ahead of himself in a very tough business.”
Jasmine Brown- HighlightHER Bleacher Report “Jasmine Brown keeps expanding her reach and scope in the coverage of girls and women’s sports. It is so essential that she keeps banging the drum loudly.”
Matt Brown– Founder Extra Points “He likes to kid that he’s not even the most famous Matt Brown in sports journalism. But the founder of the Extra Points newsletter (and Going for Two podcast) is just hitting his stride as an independent voice in college sports, reporting on the many changes happening in NCAA land, from mega media rights packages to conference realignment to the redistribution of wealth to players.”
Adriene Bueno– Athletes and Sports Creator Manager, LinkedIn; Founder, Baller Careers. A rising star helping others in the content community navigate and expand the opportunities presented by LinkedIn. And she also provides great counsel for your people looking to start their own careers in sports.
Kasey Byers– Head of Content, University of Washington Athletics “One of the smartest people on the content creation side in college sports. The work Kasey does at the University of Washington, with a limited team, can go against any agency in the country.”
James Cadogan – Executive Director, NBA Social Justice Coalition. “Maybe no more impactful organization tied to the NBA today. James’ group listens, acts and adjusts to the biggest hot button issues not just in sports but in society.”
Bernice Carnegie– Co-Founder The Carnegie Initiative. In just over a year The Carnegie Foundation, named after the late hockey pioneer Herb Carnegie, is positively impacting the lives of many through its work in D and I and the BiPOC Community. Bernice is at the helm along with longtime entrepreneur and pioneer Bryant McBride, making the hockey world more inclusive.
Dan Carlin– Hardcore History. Dan has mastered the art of great long-form history podcasts. You learn more than you ever could by a master storyteller.
Jonathan Carter-CEO Noah Basketball. “Jonathan has built a grassroots business that is really simple…helping hoops players improve their shot using technology, literally at hand. It’s no surprise why they have grown so quickly, their tech and experience is great.”
Ron Carucci– Co-founder and managing partner, Navalent “Ron’s working with CEOs and executives pursuing transformational change for their organizations, leaders, and industries.
Devin Carvajal– Content manager, Jacksonville Jaguars. “He is the manager of social media for the Jaguars and he is absolutely KILLING it. He’s the main graphic designer and some of his work has caught the attention of the league office, he’s most recently famous for his “broken charger” graphic after we beat the chargers.”
Travis Charles– VP Basketball Ops, Dallas Wings. “Travis is a big thinker well beyond just the game of the WNBA. He is able to see, engage and implement ideas that have impacted those around him really well. The guy is on a fast track to success.”
Chris Chavez– Founder Citius magazine “Trying to rescue Track and Field, one tweet/video at a time! Young, very focused, smart.”
Lily Checketts Shimbashi– Founder The Sportsish. You may know her maiden name buy Lily is making a name for herself covering the unique area of sports, fashion and pop culture on Instagram with her site.
Sunny Choi– Olympic Breakdancer. So break dancing is going to be in the Paris Olympics…and Sunny, a Queens, NY native and fashion consultant and marketer herself, is shooting to be the face of the movement.
Travis Cloyd – Content creator “A very talented VR/AR person who is a huge sports fan. Talking to him makes my mind go to amazing places.”
The Coffey Family– So what do you get when you take a bestselling author, combine it with an NWSL champion athlete, a rising broadcast star and another scribe who gets to document the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies for the Philadelphia Inquirer (and a mom who is a master marketer in the consumer space?). You get the Coffey family…Wayne, Samantha, Sean, Alex and Denise. What a year they have had.
Aaron Cohen- Emmy award winning writer. Ever wonder how all those words come together in some of the greatest sports anthologies we see on HBP or Showtime or ESPN? A lot of times Aaron is the lyricist for those amazing soundtracks. One of the best writers in sports not actually covering games, but creating drama.
Jesse Cole – Founder, Savannah Bananas. Another two pronged acknowledgement, because Jesse is the creator of Savannah Bananas, who are expanding the interests of fun and baseball together, along with Jared Orton who runs the business side, making for a heck of a fun duo.
Khalia Collier – Chief of Staff Dallas Mavericks, “She’s a young team owner and a rising star.”
Gabe Cooper and Sean Starner– co-founders, Noggin Boss. These two guys have created a great niche and found ways to get their fun product into locker rooms and on the heads of some of the biggest stars in sports in the past few years. Noggin Boss
Alexandra Criscuolo– New York Road Runners- “Alexandra became the first full-time sustainability professional at a North American marathon. Since then, she has helped make the world’s largest marathon, the New York City Marathon, more sustainable and a model for other large-scale events.”
Donovan Danhausen– AEW. “Wrestling is always about personalities, and none are quirkier, with a bigger upside, than AEW’s rising star.”
Donn Davis – President PFL “I listened to him at two separate conferences (Sportico and SBJ) and was very impressed with his business behind the PFL. They also just signed Jake Paul which I believe will change the dynamic of their league.”
Franchon Crews-Dezurn – Pro boxer, influencer and content creator. Speaking of boxing, this Baltimore native makes her own outfits, sings The National Anthem and is one of the first women’s boxers to hold multiple belts. A shining personality on the rise.
Wade Davis– Head of Diversity, Netflix Former NFL player is leading the diversity mix for Netflix. An inspiring speaker making sure many voices are heard.
Keith Dawkins– CEO Harlem Globetrotters– The Globies are back, embracing their history, and the former Nickelodeon exec is shaping the organizations future.
Shea Dawson – Head of Athlete Relations at Overtime – “Shea has led recruitment for the Overtime sports business and has helped it grow from the ground up. She is the reason why such high-profile young athletes have signed with Overtime and has a huge focus on ensuring that the program is about creating incredible human beings that are well-rounded in addition to exceptional basketball talents.”
Bob Delaney– author “The longtime, now retired, NBA referee has lived many lives…undercover law enforcement officer, public speaker, author now advocate for the healthcare industry. He is an inspiration to thousands.”
Patricia Deldin– Founder, Mood Lifters “Dr. Deldin has been a lifesaver at the University of Michigan, literally as the founder of Mood Lifters, a peer to peer platform where students, especially athletes, get to stress, depression, anxiety and difficult life situations.”
Eric Dimecili- Senior Director, NBA Cares. “Eric drives the events in this key area, and is a great communicator so that the best opportunities around the league have their voice.”
Kenny Dillingham – Arizona State Football Coach. “He’s very young, has crazy passion and energy and I’m really curious to see how he does in this role. He’s trying to galvanize a fan base in a major market and he’s either going to fail (like most of those who came before him) or completely change ASU’s football program.”
Andrew Donovan– EVP, collegiate partnerships, Altius Sports Partners. “if anyone is driving awareness and trying to make sense for all in NIL it’s Andrew. Wherever this shakes out, he will be part of the solution.”
Anna Dua – NHL “Hired by the NHL to serve as fantasy editor for the mothership, Anna has immediately pumped youth and fantasy expertise into the NHL sphere. The NHL is also including her in the brand’s social media videos, clearly realizing her talent as a young, energetic Canadian-American voice around the sport.”
Mark Epps – Director Comms and Web3, ATP “Mark led the ATP’s Web3 strategy and was a massive part of their successful digital art collection.”
Chas Edwards– The founder of the now-defunct California Sunday Magazine and Pop-Up Magazine, “Two of the best and most innovative media products in a generation, has made a career of second acts. With his creative output and contacts, I can’t wait to see what he does next.”
Brad Feinstein– leading Web3 for Amazon Web Services. “Brad is at the forefront of where AWS is going with engagement. No one smarter in the space.”
Reid Fowler- Amazon: “After a long stint with DraftKings, Fowler made the move to Amazon Prime Video in 2022. A jack of all trades, Fowler is being asked to cycle through Amazon Prime’s new sports programming. The PGA TOUR, NFL and NBA are where perhaps his best expertise lies.”
Sherryta Freeman– Director of Athletics; Lafayette College. “Overseeing one of the leading college broadcast and media networks, The Lafayette Sports Network, has had to replace an iconic coach, Fran O’Hanlon and manage media with regards to a conference the Patriot League in the midst of some media transition.”
Andrew Fried- Boardwalk Pictures. “Has built one of the most important production companies in sports storytelling. From Cheer to Welcome to Wrexham, Last Chance U. This is a company that in some respects may be the biggest company in sports and original storytelling. Andrew has built it entirely from ground up and has best insight on where industry is heading.”
Ami Galani – Venture Partner at Elysian Park Ventures. “Lawyer, former DSG executive, acutely focused on the economic empowerment of women in sports. Sits in a very important place for ow things can get funded.”
Sylvia Gathoni – “Queen Arrow.” Athlete at Red Bull “She is one of the African continent’s greatest esports athletes and just got signed by Red Bull but also has a keen eye on how to develop the sport in a way that allows for talent to develop efficiently while protecting girls and women athletes. Even as a 23 year old full time law student and athlete, she has created a nonprofit initiative to increase participation in esports for Kenyan girls. She will be one of the key voices in the development of esports in Africa.”
Kahil Greene– The Gen Z Historian An online educator, Yale grad and influencer, he has mastered storytelling for TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn “
Chase Griffin – Student-Athlete at UCLA, “National NIL Athlete of the Year (2X), Brand Ambassador, Entrepreneur, and Investor. Beyond his on-the-field responsibilities as a quarterback for UCLA, he’s been a breakout star since NIL likeness legislation passed. He has leading the charge on what it mean to be a student-athlete in the new NIL-era – earning Male Athlete of the Year at Opendorse’s first NIL Awards and has signed with brands including Degree, Shell, Boost Mobile, and Discord.”
Julie Haddon– NWSL CMO. A longtime executive at places like Twitter, SoFi and the NFL, Julie is leading the long term and day to day of the NWSL’s growth, while Jessica Berman shapes the strategy.
Sarah Harden – CEO of Hello Sunshine and investor, Angel City FC. “Sarah founded the company with Reece Witherspoon and recently sold it for $900 million last year. Hello Sunshine focuses on highlighting the stories of women and minority groups that have largely been ignored by the male-dominated entertainment sector, with the aim of changing the narrative for women. She has lead the production of Morning Wars and Big Little Lies in addition to a ton of other incredible projects. Sarah is a no-holds-barred Aussie and alongside Reece, really changing the game. Cant wait to see what she’s got up her sleeve next!”
Iszac Henig – Yale swimmer. One of the more compelling people in college and Olympic athletics, Iszac is a senior at Yale who was an elite women’s swimmer now transitioned to being a swimmer on the men’s team, and is loving competing for the sake of swimming,
Annie Wu Henry– Dubbed “The Tik Tok Whisper” in the political world, Annie shaped many of the strategies for the platform that swung the midterm elections, and is now doing so for other rising stars in many fields.
R. Renee Hess– Black Girl Hockey Club Founder and Executive Director. “The Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC) was founded to create a community space for Black women in hockey. Renee acts as the Executive Director and works with various BGHC committees, hosts webinar and panel events while networking with various hockey entities on anti-racism initiatives. Renee proudly advocates for Black women in hockey through education, representation, and community building.”
Hrishikesh Hirway – “Hrishikesh is a multi-hyphenate talent (musician, producer, podcaster, TV host) whose star continues to rise. He has made four albums under the name The One AM Radio and has a side project with Lakeith Stanfield called Moors. He hosts four podcasts including Song Exploder and West Wing Weekly. As a composer, he scored several Netflix show themes and also hosts and executive produces adaptations of his podcast. And, it seems like he’s only getting started.”
Natara Holloway– “Another of those who just get stuff done. She went into the Ms. SPAC world with Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp, where she was chair of the Audit Committee for the Board of Directors after spending almost two decades at the NFL where she oversaw football strategy and administration, football innovation, and football pipeline development at the group’s most crusical stage of development. Amazing how she is not higher up on people’s lists.”
Christina Hovestadt – Senior Manager, Community Relations at National Football League (NFL) and Founder of A Seat At The Table for Women in Sports + Entertainment. “In an effort to build a diverse community of current women in sports + entertainment to give back to the next generation of women in the industry, she founded A Seat At The Table, a Table where every woman has a seat AND a voice.”
Brenna Huckaby, Paralympian– “Brenna is a two time Paralympic snowboarder. After winning medals four years ago, the International Paralympic Committee eliminated her “classification” in her disciplines. They told her at the time that she could “compete up”, i.e. compete against women less impaired, but then as the Beijing Games approached, they told her they wouldn’t let her. She had to sue to compete. She did – she’s missing one leg due to childhood cancer – and she competed against women who were below the knee amputees, and one at least one woman who was not an amputee at all, and she won two medals (one of them gold); this is not just a story of competitive excellence, but of perseverance in the face of obstinate and illogical bureaucracy.”
Amina Hussein- Head of Talent, Prime Video Sports. “Amina assembled talent for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football pregame, halftime and postgame show to include respected and longtime host in Charissa Thompson and four former NFL players in Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, who have over 60 years of playing experience combined. The chemistry of the group was praised by press and industry insiders as a show that has allowed the talent to be authentically themselves while providing a fresh-off-the-field perspective that has disrupted sports media.”
Marc Hustvedt– President, Mr. Beast. One of the biggest brands in the social space continues to rise because of the man pulling the social and influencer levers.
Chris Iles– Senior Director Brand Experience and Innovation, Minnesota Twins. “The Twins have become a must follow across sports and in their ballpark, and Chris has his hands on the plan to keep expanding fandom in a fun way in the Twin Cities.”
Carling Jackson– There is one female artist who has devoted her career to using her brushes to tell the story of athletes around the world. The Vancouver resident is leading the way in expression for some of the greatest athletes in the world and some just coming into focus.
Sophie Jamison– Chief TikTok Officer, NERF. “How to take a fun, timeless kids product and make it sure it is well embedded in, well, a fun experience once again? That’s Sophies mantra.”
Will Jawando “Will is an attorney, an activist, a community leader, and a councilmember in Montgomery County, Maryland, a diverse community of more than one million residents. Called “the progressive leader we need” by the late congressman John Lewis, Jawando has worked with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Sherrod Brown, and President Barack Obama. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post and The Root and on BET.com, and his work has been featured in The New York Times and New York magazine and on NPR, NBC News, and MTV. He regularly appears on CNN, MSNBC and other media outlets.”
Claude Johnson– The Founder of “Black Fives” has built an amazing business telling the story of the original clubs who predated the NBA and the athletes involved.
Kate Johnson- Google Google wants to use its vast reach and resources to advance gender equality in sport and provide extra exposure for women’s competitions. Kate Johnson, the technology giant’s director of global sports, media and entertainment marketing, explains how the company plans to do it.
Jeremy Jones– Pro Snowboarder. “After a legendary career in Snowboarding – pushing the boundaries of freeriding and accessing highly technical terrain – Jones’ “second act” has been leading his climate-change focused nonprofit Protect Our Winters https://protectourwinters.org/. The org has rallied the winter sports enthusiast community, professional athletes and affiliated businesses to push for legislative action that can help mitigate the impact of climate change, especially on mountain communities.”
Charlotte Knapp– co-founder “Coach Knapp Stair Climb. When Greg Knapp, known for over a quarter century as “The Quarterback Whisperer” to NFL teams from the San Francisco 49ers to the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets, was killed while riding his bike by a distracted driver, his wife Charlotte and his friend and agent Jeff Soerbeck wanted to do something to preserve his memory. The idea was to create The Coach Knapp Stair Climb, where NFL coaches challenged other s to raise funds for foundations dealing with distracted driving. This fall, 11 NFL teams participated to raise over $1000,000 in just three weeks. Next year, the Stair Climb will expand to other areas and sports, with “Ice Bucket Challenge” efficiency.
Markus Kuhn– The NFL is growing in Germany and leaps and bounds, and this former player is helping bring the game boldly to his native country with great storytelling and partnership idea.
Christine Lawrence – WWE, co-chair of their women’s ERG “Her super power is inclusion. she’s been transforming the online, broadcast, and in arena experience for WWE fans with disabilities.”
Sammy Levitt: In one of the more unlikely rise-to-fame stories, Sammy became a viral sensation as “TikTok’s Sportscaster” while calling games for the Amarillo Sodpoodles in 2021. By simply taking fans through his life as a professional sports broadcaster, Levitt gained a wide following among baseball diehards and aspiring broadcasters. He got the call-up to the Big Leagues in 2022, working as host for Padres pre and post-game shows on The Fan SD and continues to document his professional life on TikTok.
Melanie Lee- MLB Director of Ball Park Ops. “Helping teams and leagues across pro sports avoid the temptation to “rainbow wash” during LGBT+ activation and instead do work to support and engage fans/allies authentically.”
Carrie Lieberman– iHeartMedia: “In an era of more podcasting than pod listening, Carrie is showing that she knows what consumers want and most importantly how audio content can be a great business. She really gets it.”
Rex Lyons- The Haudenosaunee Confederacy “If Indigenous Nations are going to rightfully compete in lacrosse at the LA Games, Rex, along with vocal and deserving athletes like Lyle Thompson, will be at the center of the effort. His group made up of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations located across southern Ontario, Canada and upstate New York and they are getting opportunities done for Indigenous youth…this would be the biggest move in decades.”
Ali Mac – FanDuel: “At the forefront of FanDuel’s new FanDuelTV vertical, Ali is a versatile sports betting host with an expertise in MLB and PGA TOUR. She can be found giving picks on FanDuelTV channels on a near-daily basis.”
Prasad Malmandi– ESPN CricInfo– If cricket will grow in North America, one of the people leading it is the person who has had his hands at the helm of the world’s largest cricket site for years, and is also one of the sports smartest executives.
Kat Marquez– TikTok: “Kat manages and expands many of the most important and creative sports relationship that TikTok has. She understands the creator community and has built more winning partnerships than almost anyone.”
Chris Mattmann- “He is literally a rocket scientist at NASA while moonlighting co-launching The Sporting Tribune with Arash Markazi. The goal is to sit at the intersection of sports and entertainment, with a hand on each one. Let’s see if Chris rockets off this new venture.”
Zach Maurides– CEO at Teamworks. “The very best sports tech entrepreneur out there. What he is doing to deploy venture cap to roll up the sports tech industry is something to watch!”
Bear Mayers– Founder, Bruce Bolt. There are a growing number of rising stars in professional and amateur baseball who have new custom batting gloves with a cool lightning stripe on the hand.
Dozie Mbonu– Former manager of the Nigerian basketball team, overseas player agent, whisperer to some of the most influential leaders in sports in Asia, entrepreneur, former basketball player at Lehigh, Dozie now has his hands and his mind and business deeply tied to the commercial world of Cannabis and CBD. “He is an insiders guy, rarely outfront, but he has anyone who wants to make money in the CBD space has Dozie on speed dial,”
Dr. Charles McClelland– Commissioner SWAC: “An extremely underrated commissioner, a consummate old school gentleman whose approach to the commercial side of the business is anything but old school. Extremely innovative media deal with Byron Allen’s company driving both exposure through local over the air stations and collecting a meaningful rights fee. Confidential plans to overhaul licensing going against the typical strategy and partnerships.”
Jacques McClendon – LA Rams, Director of Football Affairs – “A strategic thinker who is focused on leveraging his role as a former NFL player, now executive to improve the systems.”
Fabian McNally-NBA Fabian has worked on some key deals at Roku and the NBA. Helped bring the WNBA to Buzzer (first women’s pro sports league on the platform)
Howard Megdal– Founder The IX: “Every day Howard and his team take fans behind the scenes of every aspect of womens sports…not just the WNBA or the NWSL..and his dogged work continues to pay off with partnerships like the one developed with Equalizer Soccer. If there is a story to tell, The IX finds it.”
Jackie Mikula– University of Oregon Football “Comes up with big, creative ideas and stories, and conveys them through drawing, photography and digital design, especially when working with people. A master designer and content creator all should follow.”
Alex Monaco – “The most entertaining sports betting analyst you probably haven’t heard of. Alex is currently hosting “The Bettor Half Hour,” his Jim Cramer-style sports betting show on MSG Networks in New York. He also hosts betting content for Colin Cowherd’s The Volume podcast network.”
Chris Moore– CEO FIRST Robotics: All things STEM tied to sports and data and analytics are continuing to grow, and the new CEO of FIRST will be at the helm of most of the rising tide.
Stacey Moore– Founder American Cornhole League. How has “Cornhole” become such a thing that Pickleball will envy? Their CEO has the vision and the execution for the American Cornhole League success.
Tyler Morin– Founder of The Water Coolest. “The master of the newsletter, he built The water Coolest into a must read for young people, and is now part of Barstool Sports and their infrastructure.” the preferred daily business and markets email newsletter of young professionals.
Molly Morrison– Bleacher Report “Molly’s career started in secret while was still in middle school. Operating under her anonymous “Made in Memphis” Grizzlies fan account, which she started at age 12. She has grown her own personal Twitter account to 90,000+ followers while a student at Indiana University, as her coverage has expanded to the full NBA.”
Brian Morrissey- “The longtime media exec who has spent the past two decades chronicling the ups and downs of the digital economy, has reinvented himself as a go-to pundit, strategist, and consultant helping media companies build durable brands. His Rebooting newsletter is on my must-read newsletter list, and his Rebooting podcast has introduced me to countless people in the media and tech space doing innovative things.”
Ashton Mullinix Detroit Lions: “An influential and long standing member of the Detroit Lions front office. Incredibly smart and helping make the Lions smarter with data driven business decision making.”
Albert Mundet– Director of Innovation, GM Barca Innovation Hub at FC Barcelona. “Barca keeps doing big things off the pitch, Albert is the leader of what they can do.”
Mark Neifeld– Commissioner and CEO of The Sport Fishing Championship. “Mark has smartly built a business. They understand the core audience and have grown their brand partnerships. While some niche sports struggle, sport fishing is flying.”
Jenny Nguyen Founder, The Sports Bra The co-founder of the first bar that shows women’s sports first…look out for franchising out side of Portland soon!”
Lyzz Ogunwo – VP of International Development and Global Impact – “After leading the NBPA Foundation for the past year as the Executive Director, she is now helping to build the international arm of the NBPA in a way that allows them to make not only meaningful impact for African players and their communities, but also propels the utility of the NBPA to being a tool for meaningful sports diplomacy and research.”
Tunde Oguntimein– Major League Soccer: “He has the ear of the MLS commissioner and is a very important person if you want to get anything done in American soccer.”
Amobi Okugo – Athlete Entrepreneur + Creator, Owner and Founder of A Frugal Athlete. Retired from professional soccer, Amobi is the creator and key stakeholder of A Frugal Athlete, an online media platform that educates professional and student athletes on financial literacy and prudent financial practices.
Simon Owens- journalist “He has turned his reporting lens on the changing media industry, writing case studies of what’s working and not working in the media in his must-read newsletter. And his YouTube channel, which features meet-ups with some of the biggest hitters in journalism, is also worth a follow.”
Brett Parker– President and CFO, Bowlero “There are a lot of platforms and sports that are claiming the buzz, but bowling has its place and Brett knows how to realistically roll up and grow the game.”
Beth Paretta– CEO Paretta Motorsports. “The only female leader of an IndyCar team, she gets racing like few others. Pay attention to her.”
Annette Parker– Eastside Golf. “Annette is a powerhouse in helping grow the game of golf beyond its core. She understands the digital space and how to engage with younger people without blowing up the sport.”
Fernando Perez– San Francisco Giants. “Author, artist, filmmaker, and oh year he played in MLB for Joe Maddon with the Rays after getting his degree from Columbia. A rare mix who relates to athletes and understands the big picture. A key member of the Giants inner circle.”
Pepper Persley– content creator. “Pepper is savvy beyond her years while staying very grounded. She knows how to tell stories and engage fans of all audiences. She will be a player in the social space for years to come.”
Vince Pierson– leading CDEI on many levels. “Vince is a doer, a consensus builder and a proactive and smart leader in the DEI space. he makes people think and gets them to act for positive change.”
Kirby Porter – Founder of New Game Labs. “In her journey from Harvard Women’s Basketball to working in the sports industry in venture capital and with brands, New Game Labs is her next step in leveraging content and storytelling to help athletes succeed beyond the game.”
Kyle Porter– CBS Sports “Kyle’s day job may be covering golf for CBS, which he does a phenomenal job with, but he has differentiated himself with his “Normal Sport” books, chronicling each year in golf. Volume II, covering 2022, recently launched, and as you can probably imagine, it features a chunk of LIV Golf coverage in real time. He’ll be at the forefront of golf’s battlefront again in 2023.”
Paul Price– Isles Labs “Paul came from Burberry to make the consumer experience very unique and less cookie cutter. He has done that with what the Islanders are doing, the shopping and content experience is second to none and is being looked at closely by teams and venues around the world.”
Aditya Ramesh– Creator of Dal-E at OpenAI “AI that can do all of the things a human can, and to deploy it in a way that’s safe and maximizes the positive benefits to society. That’s our goal, and yes it will apply to all forms of sports, media, what have you.”
Thai Randolph – CEO, Hartbeat Entertainment. “Hartbeat Entertainment has quietly found a dominant space at the intersection of comedy and culture. Thai Randolph is an impressive leader with great vision. Definitely one to keep an eye on as Hartbeat goes from strength to strength.”
Daniel Rapaport– Barstool Golf “Golf writer who has rapidly risen up the ranks from writer at Sports Illustrated to Tiger Woods czar at Golf Digest to now, a central voice at Barstool Sports. How will his traditional golf journalism mesh in the Barstool sphere? We’ll see it in 2023.”
Megan Reyes–content creator “Megan is athlete advocate in the sports industry after almost a decade of working for some of the biggest names in sports. She now has an on-camera host and social media specialist for professional athletes, teams, and sport governing bodies driving social justice, diversity and inclusion, and mental health in sports.”
Claire Rogers- “If you think golf is still a stuffy sport, you haven’t been following Claire. A great mix of comedy and knowledge, Claire made big strides at GOLF.com in 2022. She’s a must-follow when following the drama of the PGA TOUR on weekends.”
Reagan Rust– women’s hockey player and content creator- Mississippi native, BU hockey star and now playing in the PHF. She continues to grow her large audience on social platforms and is a huge advocate for athlete mental wellness and visually creative storytelling
Ameeth Sankaran- CEO of Religion of Sports “Ameeth has led a team that has not just made amazing films, they have a platform that has taken deep and intricate dives into stories not many know in our industry.”
Preeti Shetty- Director of Brentford Football Club and CEO of UpShot “One of the best operators in sports, in the UK – and one of the most influential people in Soccer. and is more and more involved in Web3 projects well beyond the pitch.”
Katie Smith – Head Coach, USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team. “An amazing leader, mentor, teacher, she goes well beyond just coaching a game, she inspires all around her.”
Stephie Smalls – “A former med student-turned fantasy football and betting analyst, Stephie has bounced around a few content homes. She can be edgy on social media, and she’s not for everyone, but when she finds a brand that believes in her talent, she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Steph Smith – “The 20-something entrepreneur and a 16z podcast host is as skilled as anyone I know at understanding trends and connecting dots in the fast-changing tech and business space. She’s also a skilled writer, having self-published a book about growing websites and podcasts that has made become a lifeline for her.”
Stephen Smith– CEO, Kitman Labs. “Former professional rugby player who is building the protoype for data collection, measurement and web 3.0 tool for teams and leagues for athlete performance metrics.
Victor Soloman– The creator of Literally Balling. “His artwork from basketballs and ORBS is breathtaking and inspiring. A new genre growing.”
Brandon Sosna– Detroit Lions. “Helped completely turn around USC Athletics by hiring Lincoln Riley and helping to orchestrate the move to the Big10. Now he’s the Senior Director of Football Administration for the Detroit Lions.”
Taruka Srivastav– Founder, The Playknox Program. “Taruka really has a firm grasp of the Indian sport market as a former world class athlete. She has all the best intentions and motivation as a peer to help life Indian sport, especially at the grassroots level and for women and girls, in a market we should be paying more attention to.”
Erin Storck– Elysian Park. “Erin has emerged as a center point in sports tech and in particular women’s sports ecosystem. Led partnership with BJKE and RG/A Ventura for the first women’s sports studio, Trailblazer Venture Studios. Elysian invested behind a number of startups in the space.”
Ethan Strauss– The host of House of Strauss. “He sometimes gets under people’s skin but has great and thoughtful content across sports, media and pop culture.”
William Strobeck– American filmmaker, director, videographer, and photographer. “His visual storytelling around urban skateboarding is beyond compare, as inner city athletes become more and more mainstreamed in sports like skateboarding, his work will champion them.”
Mel Strong – “She left Nike and joined Lance Armstrong’s VC, but it’s what she does in the industry beyond that, that’s so interesting, including making a play for the Portland NWSL team.”
Dave Stewart – “Leading the charge in Nashville for potentially the first majority Black-owned MLB franchise. He’s done everything in the game, from player, to World Series pitching coach to Asst. GM, GM, agent and potentially franchise control person if Nashville gets a team.”
Mark Sullivan– Co-CEO, SBRNet. Mark and his business partner Neil Schwartz run SBRNet, which, if you are a student with access to a library, is the default for all information on sports business.
Master Tesfatsion – Talkshow host. One of today’s great sports interviewers, Master went viral over the last few years for his “Untold Stories” series with Bleacher Report, revealing some of athletes’ most personal moments around a pool table. Moving to Amazon Prime Video in 2022, Tesfatsion now hosts “From the Desk,” giving him a more daily opportunity to host interviews and tell stories.
Babacar Thiaw– pro surfer. Has surfed Dakar’s beach for 20 years. To protect it for future generations, he realized he needed the help of a whole community. Within one year he had turned Copacabana Surf Village, which he founded with his father two decades ago, into a hub for young Senegalese eco-surfers, organizing beach cleans, environmental courses for children and Senegal’s first zero-waste restaurant.
Jaia Thomas – Sports + Entertainment + IP Attorney, Founder & CEO of Diverse Representation. “She founded, Diverse Representation, an initiative aimed at increasing the exposure and number of African-American agents, attorneys, managers and publicists working in the sports and entertainment industry. It also provides a comprehensive database of these professionals as well as networking and mentorship opportunities throughout the country.”
Ben Thompson– Stratechery – “Blending strategy and analysis of media and technology, Ben perfectly summarizes and frames complex themes and trends in our global tech-driven economy.”
Thorb– Rapper and Recording Artist – Ryan Thorbeson is building a career out of taking the mundane…the draw at the US Open, and literally making it sing through rap and spoken word. A unique talent many in sports are now just starting to embrace.
Saroya Tinker– Pro hockey player, activist. “Saroya is one of the rising stars on the ice, but her work in the community and in creating opportunities and a voice for diverse voices in the sport, especially in Canada. When she launches her show on TSN next year about the experience of people of color in and around the game, people will definitely notice.”
Mirna Valerio (aka “The Mirnavator) – Athlete, Author, Speaker Mirna is a former educator, cross-country coach, ultrarunner, obstacle course enthusiast, and author of the recently published memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress. Although she began running in high school, she recommitted to the sport after a health scare in 2008. It was then that her love for running and all its attendant benefits were reignited. She soon started her blog Fatgirlrunning, about her experiences as a larger woman in a world of thinner athletes.
Kendall Valenzuela : “Making the move to Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life in 2022, Kendall found a voice for herself as senior analyst and director of social media for the brand. She’s primed for a bigger step in 2023.”
Eli Velazquez– Telemundo Deportes. “Few platforms made a bigger mainstream jump than Telemundo Deportes did, and their next level of growth will be led by Eli…super smart and engaging, he can help continue to grow not just a rising Spanish tide but soccer lovers who are English-first as well.”
Khristina Williams- Girls Talk sports TV. “Another of those rising stars we will elarn more about in the coming year. A great social following on issue big and small, nothing is sugar coated and the conversations can engage anyone who loves the industry.”
Sola Winley– MLS Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Sola will lead the efforts to increase representation, advancement and retention of underrepresented groups in the front offices of the league and clubs, as well as the technical and coaching staffs with the teams. He will also oversee MLS’ initiatives to drive access, exposure, opportunity and participation in soccer in underserved communities, and will develop strategies to increase diversity among the league’s vendors and partners.
Gia Winters– Managing Director, Google Cloud. “Gia has a clear handle on where Google Cloud will fit and grow in all areas of sport. We sometimes take the brand for granted, but shouldn’t especially around this rising star.”
Henry Yeh– Graduate Assistant, Duke Women’s Basketball. Henry learned how to read English through Slam magazine, was once homeless living in his car but found his passion, a and job, by using data analytics programs and sending his detailed analysis of NBA players to every GM. Shane Battier loved his work and hired him for the Miami Heat, and he is now applying his skills in grad school at Duke. The American immigrant dream come true.
Leah Wilcox– VP, NBA “How Leah hasn’t gotten more recognition for what she has done for the league and its players over the years is a big miss. No one has the ear of the players more than she does…a lifer who gets stuff done at the highest level.
@ZhugeEX Daniel Ahmad- Director of Research & Insights at Niko Partners.“No one knows more about the the video game market in Asia & MENA. His insights are followed by every leader in the industry.”
So there you have it…what did you learn, who will you share with. Quite a mix. Enjoy.
