Charles Altchek
Fortunate to work for aleadership team at MLSwho have dedicated their careers to building a globally respected league that has unlimited potential.
Chad Biagini
Nolan Partners founderPaul Nolan.
Ari Borod
Matt King.Christian Genetski. I was anxious to try to do something out of my comfort zone, partially because Christian was an incredible boss and partially because Matt is just an incredible operator. It’s kind of the two-headed monster mentor system.
Tom Braun
Chris Klein. His leadership and trust allowed for me to grow within a competitive industry.
Royce Cohen
Tucker Kainhired me to join the Dodgers, and we worked together closely for seven years.
Derek Crocker
Mike Mulvihill(executive vice president, Fox Sports) — smartest guy in the room, but can break down complex information or data to either a seasoned sports executive or my 3-year-old.
Keira Emerson
Chris Zimmerman(Blues president). My leadership skills have grown significantly since joining the Blues, and Chris leads with empathy while also challenging us to develop new ways to think about and grow the business.
Ken Gaber
Steven Gaber, senior vice president, Live Nation. Steve is my brother. We started in the sports entertainment business together … minor league baseball, the Meadows amphitheater, suite runners at the Hartford Civic Center. Throughout my career, Steve was always my sounding board, listened, helped me with the tough decisions, and always pushed me to achieve more.
Jack Groetzinger
Myboard members at SeatGeek.
Bo Han
Steve Pagliuca, co-owner of Boston Celtics and chairman of Bain Capital. Steve is a living testament that you can be loyal, kind, and compassionate, while being competitive and incredibly good at what you do. I’ve never really looked up to individuals based on what feats they’ve accomplished, but rather how they go about doing it, and who they empower and help along the way. I truly believe the “how” sets the tone and example for the next generation, and that’s both how I measure the impact of an individual, and the individual I strive to be.
David Highhill
I’m so thankful to the many leaders I’ve worked for and with. I’ve learned about how to give credit and take blame for your team, how to interrogate data and challenge your assumptions, to influence, persuade, and scenario plan ahead.
Danita Johnson
144 women of the WNBA. Spending my time around the women of the WNBA taught me to be fierce, strong, and authentic. Many people have guided me on how to be better in this business, but being up close and personal with women changing the sports landscape was the most impactful.
Ben Kennedy
Steve Phelps, the president of NASCAR. He’s someone who has been a great mentor of mine and an incredible leader in our sport.
Kerry Kenny
Jim Delany. First decade-plus of my career was spent observing and learning from Jim’s ability to see around the corner and build consensus on significant issues that changed the course of college sports.
Todd Knisley
Rex Hough(partner at Teall Capital and former ISP/IMG exec). He’s been my top flag carrier for over 13 years. Outside of being a fantastic sounding board, he has motivated, pushed and positioned me for success.
David Koonin
Jez Lubenetski
Bill Suttonconvinced me that I belonged in this business.
Anmol Malhotra
Steve Horowitz(Inner Circle Sports) andDan Cohen(Octagon). I had no experience in sports when I joined Snapchat and both Steve and Dan took me under their wing as I entered the industry. They guided me around what conferences to attend, publications to read and people to meet during a time when Snapchat was relatively unknown in the sports world. I reached out to them countless times when I had questions around sports business and creating new partnerships on Snapchat, and they were always willing to provide their advice anytime I needed it. Without them I would not be in the position I am today in the sports industry.
Samita Mannapperuma
Dave PietrychaandPete Bevacqua, both have been tremendous supporters of my career and have continuously provided me with exciting opportunities and challenges.
Michael Melnitzky
Steve GreenbergandTerry Morris. For close to 15 years, I’ve been able to watch two of the best in our field up close. They gave me that front-row seat in my early 20s when I definitely hadn’t earned it and it’s given me the perspective I use for virtually every decision I make now.
Darius Naficy
Dan Mannix. I spent the first 10 years of my career working for him. He allowed me to learn and grow, to take risks, at times to fail and his support of me never wavered. I never once heard “you’re too young for that.”
Joe Nasr
Doc O’Connor, one of the co-founders and managing partners here at Arctos, has made a tremendous impact on me. I have learned so much from him in short period of time, both professionally and personally. Working with him has been a privilege, and I feel very fortunate to have him as a colleague, friend, and mentor.
Ashley Navarra Marusak
I can’t pick just one! A few come to mind —Anita Lawhon, who took a chance on me and gave me my first sponsorship marketing job;Eliza Morrisat Octagon who always lends me her ear and her heart, and has been my sounding board and gut-checker;Kevin Dunbarwho pushed me to be bolder and own my seat at the table; andBrian Eaton, my boss at Cisco, who really saw my ability and gave me a ladder to help me grow.
Tanja Olano
Casey WassermanandKathy Carter. So thankful Casey took a chance on a (rival) Trojan eight years ago and that I’ve had a chance to learn from and work with a dynamic female CEO in Kathy!
Michael Rabil
Mike “Vino” LevineorDavid “Doc” O’Connor— both pioneers at CAA and CAA Sports. Supported us at an early stage and continue to do so as members of our board of directors.
Pamela Rappaport
Allyson Felix, because of her courage and leadership.
Daniel Render
Adam Klein, my mentor and partner at Katten. He’s the reason I’m a sports lawyer, from my interest in pursuing the job I have to my development into the attorney I am today.
Sandeep Satish
Andy Lansing,Jeff Wineman,Rob Ellis, andAlison Weber. They are the heart and soul of Levy and have built this company with passion and kindness. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Their loyalty, guidance, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit is what helped create E15 and DBK Studio. I would also addChris Marinak(first boss in sports) who paved the way for me to break into sports and continues to be a mentor today,Jaime Faulkner(my first boss at E15) who transformed the hospitality industry and has taken that innovative DNA to the Blackhawks, andBrett Yormark(my first partner at the Barclays Center), who is just the best of the best in the sports industry.
Andie Schwartz
I’ve had various mentors throughout my career, all of whom have influenced my professional development in various ways. At CBS Sports, specifically, I would saySean McManusandDavid Berson, both of whom have entrusted me to work on some of the biggest and most important deals for our division and who always make sure that my voice is heard; andMichael RonaandDavid Hillman, who teach me, advocate for me and support me in all that I do.
Zac Selmon
Have had a masterclass in leadership from the two athletic directors I have worked for,Joe Castiglione(Oklahoma) andBubba Cunningham(North Carolina). Joe showed me how to be a value-driven leader and think on a macro scale. Bubba taught me lead with heart, be solution oriented, and how to always be true to yourself.
Dev Sethi
Rich Antoniellotook me under his wing at Complex and showed me how important vision, conviction, and making bets are in a rapidly evolving media industry, and how much you can accomplish through sheer will.Julie Kiklaquite literally changed my life twice by convincing me to move from Google’s sales organization to YouTube Partnerships, and then again convinced me to leave the cozy confines of Google to join her at a sports media startup, which was an invaluable, intense, exciting, exhausting experience.
Jessica Smith
Julie Uhrman’s trust in me has been essential and changed my career trajectory.
Logan swaim
Jim Rometaught me the importance of repetition and persistence. For the first 60 days I worked for him, he wouldn’t use anything I wrote. Then on the 61st day … he did.
Cale Vennum
Colin Faulkner. Colin brought me to the Cubs initially in a ticket ops role, and allowed me to continue to grow from a role that sometimes has a ceiling to a much broader set of responsibilities.
Brian White
My father,Kevin White.
Matt Wolf
Amy Brooks.
Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame
Zach Leonsis
Ted Leonsisfor obvious reasons. He initially threw me into the deep end, which allowed me to grow. Now I’m able to push myself out of my own comfort zone.
Colin Neville
Thefounding partners at Rainewho encouraged me to make an impact early in my career.
Whalen Rozelle
Brandon Beck, co-founder of Riot Games. That’s who told me “Don’t play to lose.” Nobody has had a greater influence on my career.
Morgan Sword
Dan Halem. He’s the engine that runs Major League Baseball, but he does it with humor and empathy.
