Contributors

Leaders Who Shape the Sphere

Sphere of Sports brings together a global network of innovators, founders, athletes, executives, investors, and cultural leaders whose work expands the future of sport, business, and society.

Each gathering is built in collaboration with contributors who bring exceptional insight, lived experience, and vision.

Below is a selection of past speakers, moderators, and contributors whose expertise has helped shape our conversations and elevate our mission.

2025 Contributors & Featured Voices

Sports Leadership

Zaileen Janmohamed — President & CEO, Bay Area Host Committee

Chris Kelly — Co-Owner, Sacramento Kings; Former Chief Privacy Officer, Facebook
Baron Davis — NBA All-Star & Founder, Business Inside the Game
Jess Smith — President, Golden State Valkyries
Bill Duffy — Head of Basketball, WME Sports
Andre Ward — Olympic Gold Medalist & Hall of Fame Boxer
Vincent Taylor — Founder & Principal Agent, Elite Loyalty Sports
Leslie Maxie — Olympian & Former Junior World Record Holder
Jason Sacks — CEO, Positive Coaching Alliance
Lindsay Barenz — President, Oakland Roots & Oakland Soul SC

Technology, Data & Innovation

Julia Hartz — Co-Founder & CEO, Eventbrite
Sabeer Bhatia — Co-Founder, Hotmail
Prakash Janakiraman — Co-Founder, Nextdoor
Shannon Nash — Chief Financial Officer, Wing
Ashley Tarver — Data & AI Cloud Evangelist, Microsoft
Rachel Gillum — Vice President, Responsible AI, Salesforce
Daryl Butler — Vice President of Marketing, Google
Marc Reeves — Head of Strategic Partnerships, Fever
Delency Parham — Technologist & Creative Strategist; Co-Founder, Hella Creative
Rasheen Smith — Founder, VYZN; Brand & Innovation Strategist

Venture Capital, Business & Economic Impact

Vishal Verma — General Partner, Edgewood Ventures + Redwood Collective

Somesh Dash — General Partner, IVP

Megan Holston-Alexander — Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Genevieve Lemarchal — Managing Partner, Suncoast Ventures
Harold Graham — Head of Investor Relations, IgniteGTM
Taj Tashombe — Founder, Sphere of Sports & Canyon Oaks
Dr. Tammy Mahaney — Venture Partner, Suncoast Ventures

Entertainment, Media & Culture

Jeff Clanagan — President & Chief Distribution Officer, HARTBEAT
Alex Dixon — CEO, Resorts World Las Vegas

D’Lo Louis — Writer & Filmmaker; Executive, Proximity Media
Denzel Whitaker — Actor & Director
Lola Oladunjoye — Founder & Creative Director, Lola Fenhirst Jewelry
Diaunte Thompson — Co-Founder & Head of TV/Motion Picture, Beastmode Productions
Abbas Muntaqim — Educator, Culture Worker & Multimedia Creative
Sara Ahmadian — Founder, Anar Ventures
Alexandra Moore — Chief Business Officer, EMPIRE
Ronn Nicolli — Chief Marketing Officer, Resorts World Las Vegas
Marjorie Williams — SVP, Business & Legal Affairs, Skydance Sports

Civic Leadership, Policy & Global Affairs

Hannah Gordon — Former Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, San Francisco 49ers
Adam Shevell — Partner, Perkins Coie (Public Institutions & Public Affairs Practice)

Derick Brown — Director, Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service, University of San Francisco