Arin Segal
Grant Paranjape
Vice President of Esports Business, Washington Justice
Age: 27
Born: Birmingham, Mich.
Education: Tulane University, B.S., neuroscience, and MBA
Before joining Monumental Sports & Entertainment in 2016, Grant Paranjape was the youngest person to earn an MBA from Tulane. He also made history in February by leading the Overwatch League’s Washington Justice in hosting the area’s first professional esports event in front of a sold-out crowd.
more About you
Ways to network or stay connected with peers this year: Just because you can’t see someone face-to-face doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected. Whether it’s a Peloton ride with an old friend, an “Among Us” game night, or even the cliché virtual happy hours, I found the more open you were to new ideas, the easier it was to stay connected.
Go-to person when I need help: Sam Asfahani, CEO of OS Studios, is a dear friend and is consistently my first call whenever I need advice.
My inspiration: Chamath Palihapitiya. I’m particularly inspired by the extraordinary lengths that Chamath overcame throughout his childhood and adolescence in order to achieve his current level of success. His ability to transform venture capitalism into more than just a force for monetary gain, but instead into an instrument to tackle some of humanity’s toughest problems is something I deeply admire.
In the industry
Biggest surprise when I started my career: Just how much crossover currently exists between esports and traditional sports. Whether in areas of sponsorship, digital-first marketing, or event logistics, there were significantly more similarities than I initially expected coming from the endemic esports world.
Most exciting aspect of sports business: The best part of working in sports is knowing that your actions are contributing to the overall success of something bigger than just your individual job or role. Knowing that your work product can have a tangible impact on the performance of your franchise is an incredible feeling.
How my generation is changing sports: My generation is transforming the sports industry into an industry where individuals feel empowered to launch new initiatives and take new risks. One where small teams are capable of having big moments, both on and off the field.
