Courtesy of Leslie Evans
Leslie Evans
Director, Partnership Strategy, World Surf League
Age: 29
Born: Newport Beach, Calif.
Education: Boston College, B.A., psychology, communication; Columbia University, M.S., sports management
About you
Could not go a day without: An early morning workout class to jump-start my brain.
Most common misperception of your generation: That we expect to move up in the workplace before proving that we deserve to.
Go-to person when you need help: My husband, Budd. He’s exceptionally observant and reminds me to remember the bigger picture when I have difficult decisions to make.
In 10 years I hope to be … : Healthy, thriving in my career and living a full life with my family.
[The sports business industry needs to do a better job of] prioritizing equal pay, coverage and opportunity for female athletes and employees. I’m proud to work for a league that’s leading the charge in this space.
In the Industry
Biggest surprise at career’s start: How genuinely motivated many leaders in the sports industry are to help newcomers connect the dots.
Most exciting aspect of sports business: The ever-evolving nature of sports consumption by fans and our increasingly sophisticated ability to understand and learn from it.
Questions for networking: I often ask questions about what has motivated people in their career decision-making and how they see their organizations continuing to evolve. I also love learning about what people enjoy doing outside of the office.
How should sports address social issues? By supporting star athletes who use their elevated platforms to drive awareness and affect change.
