Sport Business Roundtable: Recent Episodes
LeBow College of Business
Tune in to Sport Business Roundtable to stay in the know about the LeBow College of Business’ Sport Business program and the industry as a whole. This podcast — for students, faculty and sports lovers alike — features industry experts and covers everything from happenings within the Drexel LeBow program to news in the exciting world of sports.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Jonas Ziga, BSBA ’28, is joined by Tiffany Kimicata, head of marketing at MOD, who has spent her career at the intersection of advertising and sports, with prior stops at Saatchi & Saatchi and 360i. Tune in to explore her creative process, the projects that have shaped her career, and her approach to leadership and team culture at MOD. Kimicata also previews MOD’s upcoming event at Drexel this October and shares advice for students looking to break into sport-marketing–adjacent industries.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Jonas Ziga, BSBA ’28, is joined by Stephen Pina, JD, partner at Archer & Greiner P.C., where he focuses on sports and entertainment law, NIL (Name, Image and Likeness), music, and film and TV. A former Division 1 track and field standout at Penn State University and the University of Florida, Pina brings a rare blend of athlete, academic and attorney experience to his practice. Tune in to explore his journey, his approach to negotiation and client protection in a rapidly changing media landscape. Pina also lends his insight on what it takes to succeed across sports, music and entertainment law.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Jonas Ziga, BSBA ’28, is joined by Brendan Armstrong, head equipment manager for athletics at Drexel University. From working with the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XXXIX to managing equipment operations across college programs at La Salle, Temple and Drexel, Armstrong shares his experience from a career spanning professional and collegiate sports. Tune in to explore his journey through some of Philadelphia’s most iconic sports moments; his approach to athlete safety, gear management and program culture; and his insights on leadership, technology and operational excellence. Armstrong also offers valuable advice for students looking to break into and stand out in the competitive world of sport business.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Lex Cabaero, BSBA ’29, is joined by Barry Davis, PhD. From building championship baseball programs to leading with purpose, Davis shares his experience from over 35 years as a head coach and leader in the sports industry. Tune in to explore his record-setting career with 1,000+ wins; his approach to developing student-athletes on and off the field; and his insights on leadership, culture and success. Davis also offers valuable advice for students looking to stand out and exceed expectations in the competitive world of sport business.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Lex Cabaero, BSBA ’29, is joined by Kate Sherlock, BS ’06, JD ’12. From co-op experiences to real-world legal practice, Sherlock breaks down her journey from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law to Archer & Greiner law firm. Tune in to explore Sherlock’s role as partner, the intersection of law and sports, and key advice for students looking to build a career in a fast-changing industry.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Lex Cabaero ’29 is joined by fellow LeBow student Josh Smiler ’29 and Chris Finnin, EdD, clinical professor of general business at LeBow. Together, they dive into “Fast Five,” the weekly Instagram series Josh and Professor Finnin created to keep Drexel students in the loop on campus events. From there, the conversation pivots to the basketball court and Drexel’s shift to semesters in fall 2027.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host Chris Senf ’26 sits down with Stephen Starks ’01, a former Division I basketball player at Drexel and now a sports law professional with about two decades of experience. They discuss Starks’ experience working for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Indycar, Live Nation and Dude Perfect, as well as his time as a Drexel student-athlete. Starks also lends his insight on the ever-evolving world of NIL (name, image and likeness), an extremely relevant topic to student-athletes today.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host James Biernat ’28 sits down with Thomas Murphy ’86, an international business development and finance professional with over three decades of experience. They discuss Murphy’s background working at the Walt Disney Co. and ESPN, the importance of gaining diverse professional experience and how Murphy saw the media landscape change during his time at ESPN. Additionally, they explore topics such as Murphy’s successful sale of SwingU and the development of direct-to-consumer media.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, host James Biernat ’28 meets with Rashad Campbell, partner and COO at Advance NIL. They discuss Campbell’s experience playing football at Cornell, breaking into the sport business field and leveling the playing field for college athletes. Additionally, they explore the current NIL landscape along with Campbell’s journey in further financially educating his brother Ibraheim, who is a seven-year NFL veteran.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, cohosts Vasan Ilango ‘25 and James Biernat ’28 sit down with Brian Monihan, a seasoned Sports Media specialist and former General Manager of NBC Sports Philadelphia. They discuss Brian's career journey, the challenges he faced leading in the Sports Media industry, and how digital media has transformed content strategies. Brian shares his insights on the importance of local sports coverage, the role of streaming services, and what it takes for media companies to stay competitive in today’s landscape.
In this episode of “Sport Business Roundtable,” cohosts Ron Qavolli ’24 and Ben Bruce ’26 sit down with Maisha Kelly, the director of athletics at Drexel University. Together, they discuss Kelly’s career journey, the challenges and opportunities in college athletics, and her vision for the future of Drexel’s athletic programs. Kelly shares insights on leadership, the importance of diversity and inclusion in sports, and her experiences navigating the evolving landscape of college sports administration.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, cohosts Ron Qavolli ’24 and Ben Bruce ’26 sit down with Mike Mazzeo ’10, a national writer for Legal Sports Report who covers the legal U.S. sports-betting and fantasy-sports industry. Together, Qavolli, Bruce and Mazzeo discuss current events in the sports-betting industry, along with what the future holds for sports betting and companies that rule the market.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, Joel Maxcy, PhD, department head and professor of sport business at Drexel LeBow, joins host Ron Qavolli ’24 to discuss the economic impact stadiums and arenas have on their local communities.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, cohosts Ron Qavolli ’24 and Gauruv Arora ’23 speak with Dylan Campbell ’20, a client operations representative at Tickets.com, to discuss his transition from the Drexel classroom to the workforce. Campbell also provides advice for students who are preparing for this same transition.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, cohosts Ron Qavolli ’24 and Gauruv Arora ’23 sit down with Matthew Kessler, director of premium sales and services for the Philadelphia Phillies. Together, they discuss different strategies and approaches when selling premium seats while also addressing how premium seating has evolved since Kessler’s start with the Phillies in 2003.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, new cohost Ron Qavolli ’24 joins cohost Gauruv Arora ’23 to speak with Cindy Griffin, head coach for the women’s basketball team at Saint Joseph’s University. Griffin sheds light on her playing career and what led her to coaching, while also diving into Title IX and how she sees the future of name, image and likeness (NIL) for her fellow women athletes.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, cohosts Gauruv Arora ’23 and Eli Baylin ’24 chat with Jeffrey Levine, JD, PhD, assistant clinical professor of sport business and leader of Drexel LeBow’s undergraduate esport business program. Together, they discuss the past, present and future of the rapidly growing esports industry.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, Matt Gionta, vice president for professional sports at ESF Camps & Experiences, joins cohosts Gauruv Arora ’23 and Eli Baylin ’24 to discuss the role of youth sports camps in the sport industry.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, cohosts Gauruv Arora ’23 and Eli Baylin ’24 sit down with Sarah Napoli, assistant clinical professor of sport business at Drexel LeBow, to discuss her career path and advice for college students looking to start their careers in the field.
In the fourth episode of Sport Business Roundtable, new cohost Gauruv Arora ’23 joins cohost Jack Halley ’23 to talk with Scott Carmichael, the CEO and founder of Prodigy Search. Carmichael sheds light on his career path and how college students in the sport industry can separate themselves from their peers.
In this episode of Sport Business Roundtable, hosts Sam Banks ’22 and Jack Halley ’23 talk to Chris Markowitz ’19 about how he has navigated his career in sport broadcasting and what he sees as the future of sport media.
In the second episode of Sport Business Roundtable, hosts Sam Banks ’22 and Jack Halley ’23 chat with Madeline Barlow, PhD, mental performance coach with Drexel Athletics, about her career in sport psychology and the significance of mental health in athletes.
In the inaugural episode of Sport Business Roundtable, hosts Sam Banks ’22 and Jack Halley ’23 sit down with Larry Cohen, associate clinical professor of sport business at Drexel LeBow, to discuss sports gambling and its impact on ticket sales, sponsorships and the fan experience.