kyle hess
Leading business operations for MLS expansion team Atlanta United FC, you might think Ann Rodriguez doesn’t get much use out of her undergraduate degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University.
But Rodriguez, who has also helped launch two other professional soccer teams and served in various roles at Under Armour, has found similarities between sports and her studies.
“It’s about evolution, and the reaction to environments and competitive pressure, and it’s about resource constraints and adaptation — all of those things have a role in business,” she said. “We live that every day here.”
Perhaps no MLS expansion team has adapted to the league as quickly as Atlanta has, something in which Rodriguez has played a key role. It has shattered the MLS expansion club record for season tickets sold with more than 30,000. Atlanta’s sponsorship deals are already some of the most lucrative across the league, and its jersey sponsor deal with American Family Insurance is ranked in the top three for revenue. The club is working on a $60 million training ground, and Rodriguez is contributing to the venue development and commercialization strategy at the 33-acre site. The club’s merchandise already ranks among the league’s best-selling items, with Rodriguez playing point on efforts in brand development and product and retail sales strategy.
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While Rodriguez credits the U.S.-hosted 1999 Women’s World Cup as the spark for her interest in soccer, what has kept her excited about the sport over her career thus far has been the global nature of the game.
“I think it’s really cool you can go anywhere in the world and have a conversation with someone about the sport, their favorite player or favorite team,” she said.
— Ian Thomas
ann rodriguez
atlanta united fc | vice president, business operations
Age: 39
Where born: Annapolis, Md.
Education: Princeton University (B.A., ecology and evolutionary biology); Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA, general management)
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at age 20? It’s OK not to have a five-year plan. If you work hard, be kind to others and constantly strive to grow your skill set, opportunities will present themselves.
Causes supported: Soccer in the Streets, Boys Hope Girls Hope International / Esperanza Juvenil (Guatemala), Friends of Princeton Lacrosse.
Guilty pleasure: Neapolitan pizza and red wine.
Person in the industry you’d most like to meet: Sarah Robb O’Hagan, CEO of Flywheel.
2017 will be a good year if … : We make the playoffs, have a great opening in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the Falcons make another run at the Super Bowl.
The sports industry needs to do a better job of … : Investing in talent and in supporting professional development.
You’d be surprised to know that I … : Work in soccer but have never played soccer! I actually played lacrosse.
