Join Us for the Second Annual

UCLA Anderson Global Sports Business Forum

October 6, 2023

8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PDT

UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion

A Sports Conference in the Heart of the Sports Business Capital

 

Please join us at UCLA’s historic Pauley Pavilion for the second annual Global Sports Business Forum, hosted by the UCLA Anderson School of Management. The event will bring together an international cohort of decision makers and business professionals representing teams, leagues, media, talent agencies, brand partners and technology innovators, while showcasing the power of the sports community in Los Angeles — home to Super Bowl LVI, the 2022 MLB All-Star Game and the 2028 Summer Olympics. 

Top Industries Executives Will Explore
 
  • Innovation: Wired arenas, emerging technologies and new fan experiences
  • Monetizing fan engagement: Analytics and audience measurement, sports betting, blockchain and NFTs, and TikTok
  • Brand partnerships: Creating compelling experiences for fans to drive growth in the industry
  • Entertainment: Leveraging film, TV, streaming, music and gaming to promote sports, raise awareness and passion, and tell great stories 
  • NIL (name, image and likeness): The transformation of amateur athletics and the influencer economy 
Brand partners and VIP attendees will have access to private sessions and additional experiences throughout the event, and students and athletes will learn from industry experts how to build and grow businesses in sport.

2023 Agenda

 
(Subject to Change)
Time Agenda

8:00 a.m.

Check-in 

8:45 a.m 

Welcome

Jay Tucker ('09), Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

Eric Johnson (B.A.'91), Founder & CEO, WON WORLDWIDE; Board Member, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

9:00 a.m.

Limitless: Harnessing Opportunity in the Business of Sports

Host: Jay Tucker ('09), Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

  • Christine Simmons (B.S. '98), Founder and CEO, Alis Volat Propriis
  • Hal Biagas, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Seven1 Sports & Entertainment Group
  • Mike Fonseca, President, The Fonseca Group

9:30 a.m.

Up Next: Growing the Next Generation of Pro Sports 

Host: Eric Johnson, (B.A. ’91), Founder & CEO, WONWORLDWIDE

  • Cherie Cohen, Global Chief Revenue Officer, World Surf League
  • Lisa Franklin, Chief Marketing Officer, D.C. United
  • Ajay Nwosu, Chief Executive Officer, Teqball

10:05 a.m

Sports Media: The Future Is Here!           

Host: Debbie Spander (J.D. '95), Founder, Insight Sports Advisors

  • Lindsay Amstutuz, President of Media and Partnerships, Playfly
  • Dave Morgan, Former Vice President, Bally Sports
  • Jeffrey Kaiser, Head of US Sports Programming, Amazon Prime Video

10:40 a.m.

Bruin Talk: Leadership

Host: Tony Bernardo, Dean, UCLA Anderson

  • Andy Campion(B.A. ’93, ’03), Managing Director, Nike
  • Martin Jarmond, Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics, UCLA

11:15 a.m.

Making Plays: Women Reshaping Sports Brands, Teams and Narratives 

Host: Keisha Wright, Senior VP, Partnerships and Purpose, THINK450, NBPA

  • Asani Swann, Co-Founder/Producer, Creative 7 Productions

  • Ashley Combs,Senior Director, Basketball Marketing, Excel Sports Management
  • Brittinee Royes, Senior Director, Entertainment Unscripted Content, NBCUniversal
  • Katrina Palanca, Vice President of Global Partnerships, Spurs Sports & Entertainment

11:50 a.m.

Beyond the Court: Culture, Community and Commerce 

Host: Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer, 72 and Sunny

  • Matt Barnes (B.A. '02), NBA Champion, Co-Founder, Hue for Every Man

12:30 p.m.

Lunch + Sports Case Competition (Final Round)

1:30 p.m.

Sports and Social Impact: L.A. Rams and "Kingfish"       

  • Host: Heather Anderson (J.D. '97), Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN
  • Johnathan Franklin (B.A. '12), Director of Social Justice and Football Development, L.A. Rams
  • Lexi VonderLieth, Vice President, Brand Strategy, L.A. Rams
  • Yusuf Rowser, Video Producer, L.A. Rams  
  • Sam Lack, Senior Producer, L.A. Rams 

2:10 p.m.

Empowering Women Who Lead in Sports (Presented by the Rose Bowl Institute)    

Host: Dr. Betty Uribe,  Managing Director, Board Director, Entrepreneur, Investor, JPMorgan Chase

  • Julie Uhrman ('04), Founder and President, Angel City FC 
  • Valorie Kondos Field, Former Gymnastics Coach, UCLA Athletics
  • Ann Meyers Drysdale (UCLA '79), Vice President, Phoenix Suns & Phoenix Mercury

2:45 p.m.

Case Competition Winners Announced

2:50 p.m.

Empowering Communities: Sports, Tech, Fandom and Impact

  • Sheri Barros, Global Influencer, Award-Winning Business Transformation Expert, American Cancer Society
  • Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer, L.A. Dodgers Foundation 
  • Christian Rodarte (B.A. ’05), Founder & Managing Director, Commonwell LLC 
  • Nathan Schlatter, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships, LAFC

3:30 p.m.

Moving the Needle: A Conversation with Anquan Boldin

Host: Mark Francis, Senior Sports Business Instructor, Lundquist College of Business and Warsaw Sports Business Center, University of Oregon 

  • Anquan Boldin, Co-Founder, Players Coalition, Super Bowl XLVII Champion 

4:00 p.m.

Empowerment Spotlight: A Featured Conversation with Leigh Steinberg 

Host: Mark Francis, Senior Sports Business Instructor, Lundquist College of Business and Warsaw Sports Business Center, University of Oregon 

  • Leigh Steinberg, Chairman, Steinberg Sports and Entertainment

4:20 p.m.

Games People Play: The Future of Interactive Entertainment

Host: Adam Mendler ('10), CEO, Veloz Group

  • Rickey Pinckney (aka Ardo), CEO, Final Frontier
  • Justin Custardo (aka JChains), Podcaster, Founder, Meta Money
  • Shea Newkirk (aka ’Stache), Founder, CryptoStache

4:55 p.m.

Closing Remarks 

Time Agenda

8:00 – 8:40 a.m.

Pre-Conference Seminar: Understanding Latin American Sports Fandom

Host: Christian Rodarte (B.A. ’05), Founder and Managing Director, Commonwell LLC

  • Jesus Chavez (’05), Co-Founder and CEO, CABRA Sports
  • Karina Martinez, Co-Founder, Drafted
  • Liliana Perez, Director of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Erika Ruiz, Agent, Klutch Sports

10:15 – 11:05 a.m.

Game Changers: Navigating the Intersection of Sports and Entertainment

Host: Tiffany Everett, Global Social Media Lead, EA Sports, Electronic Arts

  • Jessi Shelley, Producer, Uninterrupted
  • Aisha Chaney, Coordinating Producer II, SportsCenter LA
  • Jordan Dolbin, Head of Social and Influencer Marketing, National Women’s Soccer League

11:05 – 11:40 a.m.

The Media Measurement Paradox

Host: Andrew Brandt, Executive Director, Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law, Villanova Law School

  • Geoff Ferguson, Vice President, Business Development and Entertainment Lead, iSpot.TV
  • Megan Julian, Director, Social Media and Content Performance, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Scott Ehrlich, Chief Innovation Officer & Head of Corporate Strategy, Sinclair Broadcast Group

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m

Analytics and Fan Engagement

Host: Paul Brandano (’06), Executive Director, Master of Science in Business Analytics Program (MSBA), UCLA Anderson School of Management

  • Jaime Kelm, Director, Insights and Analytics, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)
  • Mike Bernstein Vice President, Insights and Analytics, LA28
  • Megan Bell, Vice President, Ticketing and Business Intelligence, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Jay Hiremath, Global Director, Google Cloud Consulting Account Leader, Google

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 – 2:05 p.m.

The Play’s the Thing: Fan-Friendly Innovation in Sports Venues

Host: Bill Sanders, Chief Executive Officer, Cadence158

  • Matt Lawler, Senior Director of Digital Media, Global Partnerships, AEG
  • Luke Wang, General Manager, Los Angeles 5G Lab, Verizon
  • Edward Andrews, Director, Premium Sales, Intuit Dome, LA Clippers

2:10 – 2:45 p.m.

Fireside Chat-For the Players: Safety & Wellness

Host:Mark Francis, Senior Sports Business Instructor, Lundquist College of Business and Warsaw Sports Business Center, University of Oregon 

  • Leigh Steinberg, Chairman, Steinberg Sports and Entertainment

2:50 – 3:30 p.m.

For the Athlete: What to Know About NIL

Host: Cindy Lin, Executive Director, Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology & Sports Law, UCLA

  • Ted Yeschin, Senior Vice President, Talent Marketing and Sales, Wasserman
  • Chase Griffin, Quarterback, UCLA
Time Agenda

10:30 – 11:10 a.m.

Panel: Securing the Metaverse: Protecting Gamers' Digital Assets 

  • TBD, Wallet Guard
  • Tony Bravado, Co-Founder, NFTCLT and Y3K Innovation Summit

11:10 – 11:50 a.m.

Panel: How to Get, Spend and Keep the NIL Bag

Host: Johnny Cruz, Director of Athlete Management, NIL, The Network Advisory

  • Dr. Norris Dorsey, Founder, Dorsey Academy of Entrepreneurs
  • Justin J. Giangrande, Founder and CEO, The Network Advisory
  • Eric Nelson, Father of Quarterback Malachi Nelson
  • Stafon Johnson, Head Football Coach, Dorsey High

11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m

Panel: How Betting Will Supercharge the Sports and Gaming Ecosystem  

Host: Jim Guthrie (B.A. ’03, ’08), Associate Vice President, Brands and Properties, Wasserman

  • Glen Harold, Vice President, Product/Media & Fan Engagement, Genius Sports
  • Zach Doctor (B.A. '13), Co-Founder & CEO, Wager Wire 
  • Marc Isenberg, Senior Wealth Strategist, UBS

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 – 2:05 p.m.

Fireside Chat with Brooke Singer

Host: Arielle Moyal, Founder, Moyal Enterprises LLC

  • Brooke Singer, Athlete (FIT/New York Wolves), Fashion Designer and Activist 

2:10 – 2:45 p.m.

Innovation in Sports and Gaming

Time Agenda

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Winning in Esports 

Host: Hal Biagas , COO and General Counsel, Seven1 Sports & Entertainment Group

  • Daniel Kennedy, Director, Marketing, 100 Thieves
  • Tonia Carson, Legal Counsel, EA Sports

10:30 – 11:05 a.m.

AI and Gaming: Winning in Esports

  • Xiaoyang Yang, VP of AI, Data, Security & IT, Second Dinner Studios

11:10 a.m. – 11:45 a.m

Metaverse Environments and Their Impacts on Future Gaming and Business

Host: Shana Douglass, aka Diamond Doll, Co-Founder NFT CLT and Y3K Innovation Summit

  • Joe Way, Executive Director, UCLA ITS Digital Spaces, Collaborating Partner, Y3K Innovation Summit 

  • Fernanda Fell, Content and Social Media Manager, Flickplay 

  • Chris Shadley, CEO, IGL City

  • Eli Alegria, Head of Business Development & CMO, Raijin Corp + Yaku Corp + Kuro Brand

11:45 – 12:30 p.m.

On the Cover: Sports and Entertainment Partnerships in Gaming

Host: Shana Douglass, aka Diamond Doll, Co-Founder NFT CLT and Y3K Innovation Summit

  • Arielle Moyal (B.A.'05), Founder and CEO, Moyal Enterprises LLC

  • Christopher Erb, Founder, Tripleclix 

  • Sarah McLaughlin (’13), Brand Director, Madden, EA Sports

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch and Exhibits  

1:30 – 2:05 p.m.

Gamer-Centered Economics: The Future of Digital Ownership 

Host: Rachel Brissenden,Coalition Success Steward, Business Development & Web3 Partnrships, Opolis

  • Rhiannon Price, Head of Performance Creative, The Sandbox
  • Honest, Co-creator, Krypto Pioneers
  • Six, Co-creator, Krypto Pioneers
  • Claudio Roman, aka Chico, Chief Executive Officer, Citywide Community Counseling Services Inc. 

2:05 – 2:45 p.m.

Diversity in Gaming

Host: Kevin Winston, Founder, Digital LA

  • Shana Douglass, aka Diamond Doll, Co-Founder, NFTCLT and Y3K Innovation Summit 
  • Anne Toole, WGA Award-Winning Writer on Horizon Zero Dawn Game, Comic and The Witcher Game 
  • Darion Lowenstein, Secret Code, Game Consultant, Former Game Producer at Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard and Rockstar
  • NathanLIVE, Minecraft Game Streamer on TikTok with 555,000 followers, Twitch Partner and YouTube Influencer 
  • Torian Bracket, Game Voice Actor; Credits Include World of Warcraft, Warframe and Fallout 76

2:45 – 3:20 p.m.  

Influencers in Gaming 

Host: Tony Bravado, Co-Founder, NFTCLT

  • Drake ("Exalt") Branly, Pro Gamer/Streamer, Valorant, Twitch

  • Andrej ("babybay") Francisty, Pro Gamer, Valorant    
  • Rasul Elder, aka Knowhear, Recording Artist, Sandbox Game Creator, & Y3K Innovation Summit Collaborating Partner
2022 Highlights
 

8:00 a.m.

Check-in 

8:30 a.m.

Morning Breakout Session

Understanding Fandom

A conversation with Ben Valenta, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Analytics, Fox Sports

9:00 a.m 

Welcome

Jay Tucker, Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

Eric Johnson (B.A.'91), Faculty Director & Board Member, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson; Founder & CEO, WON WORLDWIDE

9:15 a.m.

Kickoff Session:

Innovation, Purpose, and Scale: The Future of Sports in Los Angeles

A conversation with John Harper, Chief Operating Officer, LA28  

Moderator: Tony Bernardo, Dean, UCLA Anderson 

9:55 a.m.

Panel Discussion:

Beyond the Court: Creating Positive Influence Through Sport

9:55 a.m

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club A)

Innovator Spotlight: Emerging Digital Experiences in Sports

  • Romero Ramsay, Pro Jockey & Co-founder, The Jockey Experience

  • Al Augustine, Co-founder, The Jockey Experience

  • Moderator: Kevin Winston, Founder, Digital LA

9:55 a.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club B)

Innovator Spotlight: Body Innovation-Emerging Performance Technologies

  • Leigh Steinberg, Premier Sports Agent, Author, & Chairman, Steinberg Sports Holdings
  • Moderator: Mark Francis, Director, Sports Business Programs, Assistant Professor, Concordia University; Lecturer, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

10:35 a.m.

NETWORKING BREAK

10:55 a.m.

Panel Discussion:

The Power of Analytics in Sports

Moderator: Ryan Bishara (B.A. '11), Executive Vice President, Revenue and Data Strategy, LAFC 

10:55 a.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club A)

Innovator Spotlight: Social Media, Sports Titles, & Fandom

  • Tiffany Everett, Global Social Media Lead, North American Football, EA Sports

  • Moderator: Jay Tucker, Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson 

10:55 a.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club B)

Beyond the Court: Capturing Economic Opportunities in Sports

  • Mitch Richmond, Member, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

  • La Mer Walker, Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer, Valence Community 

  • Moderator: Sherí Barros, Vice President of Global Sports Brand Alliances, American Cancer Society 

11: 30 a.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club A)

We Got Next! Scaling Fandom in Women's Basketball

11:35 a.m.

For the League: Fan Experiences & Engagement in Gaming

12:00 p.m.

LUNCH

1:00 p.m.

Afternoon Kickoff:

Sports Partnerships & Social Impact

  • Sherí Barros, Vice President, Global Sports Brand Alliances, American Cancer Society 

  • Jesús Román, Vice President of Government Affairs, Chief Regulatory and Legislative Council, Verizon 

  • Heather Birdsall, Vice President, Community Relations, Los Angeles Chargers

1:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Hosted by IMPACT Learning Institute

Connecting Brands to Fandom: The Power of Partnerships

  • Felisa Israel, Founder, Executive Director & Lead Instructor, IMPACT Learning Institute; Founder & CEO, 10 Fold Entertainment

  • Jennifer van Dijk, Senior Vice President, Dapper Labs

  • Jennifer Lau, Vice President, IMG 

  • Fabiola Torres, Senior Vice President, GM and CMO, Energy Portfolio, PepsiCo  

1:30 p.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club A)

Tokenomics! Monetizing Esports Fandom via Analytics and Blockchain

1:30 p.m.

Breakout Seminar (Pavilion Club B)

Using the Blockchain: Accreditation, Recognition, Awards, and Shared Ownership Between Athletes and Fans

  • Marc Rowley, Founder, OwnYourStream.com; Inventor, Pylon Cam

2:05 p.m.

Breakout Panel Session (Pavilion Club A)

Sports, Art, & Tech: Emerging Ventures 

2:05 p.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club B)

Innovator Spotlight: Peak Performance

Emerging Platforms for Improving Athlete Outcomes

  • Rocky Collis, Co-founder & CEO, Mustard

2:10 p.m.

Panel Discussion:

The Art of the Deal

Moderator: Kay Madati, Former Chief Commercial Officer, FIFA

  • Jennifer Keene, VP, Athlete and Property Marketing, Octagon
  • Sanja Komljenovic, Founder & CEO, ONA-Boutique Brand + Creative Agency
  • Danny Koblin, Chief Operating Officer, United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties  

2:40 p.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club B)

Changing the Game-Understanding NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) 

  • Arielle Moyal (B.A.'09), Founder & CEO, Moyal Enterprises 
  • Debbie Spander (J.D. '95), Founder & CEO, Insight Sports Advisors
  • Moderator: Mark Francis, Director, Sports Business Programs, Assistant Professor, Concordia University; Lecturer, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

2:45 p.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club A)

New Frontiers: Tech Innovations Disrupting the Sports Industry

  • Sandeep Hingorani, EVP, Founding Team, BallerTV

  • Christian Hanish, Lead Product Designer & Manager, Boost

  • Flex Chapman (Web3 pseudonym), CEO, Krause House

  • Moderator: Austin Swift, Google for Education, GoogleUCLA Anderson 

2:50 p.m. 

Athlete Powered Brands

A conversation with Matt Barnes, NBA Champion & Co-founder, Hue for Every Man

  • Jessica Estrada, CEO & Co-founder, Hue for Every Man
  • Moderator: Lena Wasikowski, Founder & CEO, Explore Dream Discover Productions

3:15 p.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club A)

Expanding the Pie: Alternative Revenue Streams in Gaming

  • Cay Young, Director of Global Partnerships, Evil Geniuses
  • Matt Pierce, CEO, Versus Systems
  • Hector Rosario, Founder, Pythos

3:15 p.m.

Breakout Session (Pavilion Club B)

INNOVATOR SPOTLIGHT

The Other Half: Supporting Women’s Health Through Femtech Apparel

3:20 p.m.

Football Everywhere

A conversation with Nana-Yaw Asamoah, Senior Vice President, Partnership Strategy and New Business, NFL  

  • Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music, NFL
  • Moderator: Jay Tucker, Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

3:55 p.m.

Bringing Athlete’s to the World Stage

A conversation with Nez Balelo, Partner, Baseball Division, CAA Sports  

  • ModeratorAdam Mendler, Founder, Thirty Minute Mentors, CEO, The Veloz Group

4:20 p.m.

Closing Session:

Innovating the Fan Experience

5:10 p.m.

EVENT CLOSE

Questions?

CONTACT US: 310.825.7211 | entertainment.center@anderson.ucla.edu