I applied to business school to jump-start my passion for sports marketing amid what I would describe as a winding, dynamic professional journey. My undergraduate education and experience had equipped me for a career in environmental engineering and consulting, but a mix of influences moved me in another direction. For one, I learned early on the incredible power of sports to unite communities when I witnessed a packed soccer stadium in Greece — where I grew up — alight with what must have been thousands of flares after a game-changing goal sent Greece to the 1994 World Cup. Later, during the dot-com boom, I decided to take a chance as a business analyst at a startup that was moving government environmental processes online. That experience ultimately ignited my interest in digital marketing and sales and, in turn, led me to business school down the road, to meld those skills with my love for sports.
An array of marketing, operations, management, and strategy courses at Wharton helped me gain a deeper understanding of the marketing industry’s inner workings. My time as co-president of the Wharton Sports Business Club and co-captain of the soccer team was also formative. That’s not to mention the credit-bearing projects I fit into my coursework at organizations such as the Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union MLS clubs, the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets (before they left New Jersey), and CBS Sports.
From there, my move into sports business took off. My work with CBS led to a full-time position. Years later, roles at Manchester United and Fulham Football Club positioned me more squarely in business development and strategy, with projects focused on audience engagement, ticketing, commercial partnerships, and more.
Today, I lead business development and strategy in the U.S. for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, an organization I was introduced to by a Wharton connection. It’s an exciting time for the team and the burgeoning sport at large, as fans and sponsors discover F1 in ways we couldn’t have imagined even a few years ago. My work with Aston Martin F1 has led to partnerships with organizations that include Xerox, Atlas Air, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Our team-up with Regent, for example, has paved the way for a luxury cruise offering hosted by former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa that will set sail this summer.
Although I may have taken a winding road — and I wasn’t always certain where it was going — the decision to follow my passion of fostering deeper engagement between sports and the people they inspire is one I will always be proud of. To present and future alumni deciding whether to take the leap to follow their passions, I say: Don’t look back.
Published as “Shifting Gears” in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Wharton Magazine.
