2025 Wharton Sports Business Summit Agenda
Subject to change.
Check-in and Breakfast
Location: Lobby / Forum Level
Welcome and Opening Speaker: Investing Across the Global Sports Ecosystem
Location: G06
- Dave Dase, Co-head of the Sports Franchise in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs
- Josh Empson, Partner and Co-Head of Sports, Media and Entertainment, Sixth Street
This discussion will provide an inside look at how major sports deals are structured and executed, with perspectives from both the buy side and sell side, and a discussion of recent landmark transactions
Analytics Spotlight with Jessica Gelman
Location: G06
- Jessica Gelman, CEO, Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR)
- with Cade Massey, Practice Professor, The Wharton School, Faculty Co-Director, Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative
Data and analytics are reshaping every corner of the sports industry, from how teams build rosters to how organizations engage fans. Jessica Gelman, a pioneer in sports analytics and CEO of the Kraft Analytics Group, will share how she’s leading the charge in using data to drive strategy, foster innovation, and build analytics-driven cultures that unlock growth and competitive advantage.
Coffee Break & Coffee Chats
Location: Forum
Changing World of College Athletics
Location: F85
- Jill Bodensteiner, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Saint Joseph’s University
- Eric Roedl, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Villanova University
- Alanna Wren, T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation, University of Pennsylvania
- with Karen Weaver, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Academic Director, Collegiate Athletics Certificate Program, Penn Graduate School of Education
This panel will examine the shifting landscape of college athletics, from NIL and revenue sharing to transfer activity and the future of Division I, while also highlighting the enduring strengths of the model and the opportunities it provides student-athletes.
From Wharton to West Coast – Business & Tech
Location: F95
- Royce Cohen, SVP Business Strategy, LA Dodgers
- Bill Schlough, Chief Information Officer, San Francisco Giants
Lunch & Networking
Location: Forum
Sports Analytics Research Presentations by Penn students
Location: F55
- A Paradox of Blown Leads: Rethinking Win Probability in Sports – Jonathan Pipping
- Life in the Trenches: a Dynamic Model of Pass Rusher Ability – Victoria Lee, Maximilian Gebauer, Kenny Watts
- Beyond Expected Goals: A Probabilistic Framework for Shot Occurrences in Soccer – Jonathan Pipping, Tianshu Feng
- Under Pressure: Quantifying The Value of High Pressing in Soccer – Matthew Spivey, Christopher Bugliosi, Adam Kuechler
Investment
Location: F85
- Aaron Miller, Principal, Will Ventures
- Jeff Roth, Partner, Bruin Capital
- Bobby Sharma, Founder & Managing Partner, Bluestone Equity
- Henry Shepherd, Chief Strategy Officer, Diamond Baseball Holdings
- with Robert DiGisi, Lecturer, Sports Management, The Wharton School
This panel will focus on the rise of institutional investment in both sports franchises and sports-adjacent businesses.
The discussion will span the full spectrum of sports investing, from early-stage venture capital to buyouts, with perspectives from our esteemed panelists.
Get in the Game: Team-Side Analytics
Location: F95
- Ian Anderson, Director Hockey Strategy and Analytics, Philadelphia Flyers
- Corinne Landrey, Director Baseball Operations, Philadelphia Phillies
- Matt MacDonald, General Manager, Long Island Nets
- with Ivana Seric, Sr. Product Scientist, Teamworks
From roster construction to in-game decision-making, analytics are transforming how teams compete and win.
Leaders in analytics will share how data is driving strategy on the ice and the field, offering an inside look at how analytics is reshaping player evaluation, game strategy, and organizational success.
Fireside Chat: Leadership and Growth in Women’s Sports
Location: G06
- Pauline Philippi, CFO, National Women’s Soccer League
- With Hig Roberts, Consultant, Former Wasserman Agent, and US Olympic Athlete
Keynote Speaker: Leadership at the Heart of Soccer’s Growth
Location: G06
- Tim McDermott, President of the Philadelphia Union and Union Sports & Entertainment
- Moderator: Jeff Klein, Executive Director of the Wharton Leadership Program
Join Tim McDermott as he explores how the club has built a powerful brand, driven growth through infrastructure, and helped shape the business of soccer.