The W Profile - Women of Influence in, and beyond, Sports |
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The Architect of the Modern Sportsbook
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Welcome to The W Profile, a study of the women leading at the intersection of sports, media, and global business. From the executive suites of the world’s largest companies to the command centers of iconic brands, we profile the visionaries driving the most significant deals and cultural shifts in the marketplace. Through these stories, we uncover the tactical playbooks and personal convictions of the female executives who are redefining the modern sports and entertainment landscape.
This series reflects our deep commitment to the women in college athletics. As our industry adopts professional structures and evolves into a mainstream corporate enterprise, the lines between the campus and the boardroom have blurred. To thrive in this new era, it is instructive to look to the visionaries who have already mastered the complexities of the corporate world. The W Profile exists to bridge that gap, bringing the lessons of global business to the athletics community and ensuring that as our industry expands, our leaders have the insights necessary to build a lasting legacy.
We are sharing this twice-weekly series with you as a leader in collegiate athletics. If you would prefer not to receive these profiles, you can manage your preferences at the link below or simply reply to this email with 'Unsubscribe' at any time. We hope you enjoy The W Profile! - Matt |
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Amy Howe stands atop one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world as the CEO of FanDuel. Under her leadership, the company has transformed from a daily fantasy sports provider into the undisputed market leader in American mobile sports betting, capturing nearly 50% market share and consistently outperforming rivals in both handle and profitability.
While the sports betting gold rush has been defined by loud marketing and reckless spending, Howe has charted a different course. Her tenure is characterized by disciplined capital allocation, superior product innovation, and a rigorous commitment to responsible gaming. |
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Operational Excellence as a Strategy |
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Howe’s playbook was written in the trenches of corporate transformation. A former Partner at McKinsey & Company, she spent years solving complex strategic problems for Fortune 500 clients. She later served as the President and COO of Ticketmaster, where she modernized a legacy ticketing giant, navigating the shift to digital entry and dynamic pricing.
This operational background gave her a distinct advantage when she joined FanDuel in 2021. While competitors focused solely on customer acquisition at any cost, Howe focused on unit economics, retention, and building a tech stack that could scale efficiently. |
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Howe creates value by treating sports betting as entertainment, not just a transaction. Her leadership focuses on three pillars:
➤ Product Superiority: She bet big on the "Same Game Parlay," a product innovation that drove higher margins and deeper fan engagement. Under her watch, FanDuel has consistently led the industry in app speed, ease of use, and innovative betting markets.
➤ Responsible Gaming as a Core Value: Unlike many peers who view regulation as a hurdle, Howe embraces it. She has positioned FanDuel as the leader in responsible gaming advocacy, arguing that a sustainable industry requires protecting its most vulnerable customers.
➤ The Female Consumer: Recognizing an untapped market, Howe has actively courted female sports fans, integrating betting into broader lifestyle and entertainment contexts. She understands that the future of growth lies in expanding the demographic tent. |
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Lessons on Discipline and Vision |
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Amy Howe leads with a data-first mindset. She refuses to react to the "noise" of competitors or short-term stock fluctuations. Instead, she relies on long-term value metrics. “Sports create rich data flows, and it's vital we extract the accompanying insights on teams and players every day. FanDuel simulates thousands of outcomes in nearly real-time, and our teams leverage that data to offer the best and most engaging sports betting product in the market.”
Her calm demeanor in a chaotic industry serves as a stabilizing force, allowing FanDuel to pivot quickly when regulations change while maintaining a clear, unwavering strategic vision. |
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➤ Unit Economics Matter: While rivals burned cash, Howe prioritized a path to profitability. Leaders must have the discipline to say "no" to growth that doesn't make financial sense.
➤ Innovate or Die: The "Same Game Parlay" changed the industry. Howe proves that market leadership isn't maintained by doing the same thing better; it's maintained by inventing the next thing.
➤ Culture is Scalable: As FanDuel exploded in size, Howe focused on maintaining a nimble, startup-like culture within a massive corporation. She emphasizes "empowerment through accountability."
➤ Regulatory Intelligence: In a highly regulated industry, Howe treats compliance as a competitive advantage. By proactively engaging with regulators, she shapes the rules rather than just reacting to them.
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READ: Fortune profiles Howe’s ambition to increase sports betting among women. (link) READ: Howe Q&As about industry trends, the compatibility of analytics with sports betting, FanDuel’s value prop of increasing fan engagement, legal challenges and more. (link)
WATCH: Howe joins CNBC’s Power Lunch to talk about the changing media landscape, FanDuel’s continued expansion, maintaining market share and more. (link)
LISTEN: On the Corporate Competitor podcast, Howe discusses her career path, leadership philosophy and scheduling time to think. (link) |
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"I’m not one of those people that spend a lot of time thinking about having regrets. We’re in such a dynamic and competitive world right now, you always have a bit of impatience. You want to be able to move faster and quicker; the minute you spot a priority, you want to be able to get to market as quickly as possible. So, to the extent that you have regrets, it’s probably always around, ‘Could I move quicker and faster in certain cases?’" (link)
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UP NEXT
Michele Kang: The Visionary Rewriting the Rules of Women's Sports Ownership Publication Date: Sunday, February 8 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Rosalyn Durant: Executive VP of Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN Publication Date: Sunday, February 1
Renie Anderson: Executive VP / Chief Revenue Officer, NFL
Publication Date: Wednesday, January 28
Dana Walden: Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment
Publication Date: Sunday, January 25 |
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(Posted from most recent over the last 15 days)
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Athletic Communications Intern (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Interns in Communications will gain experience in athletic communications, media relations, and statistical analysis under direct supervision. More details HERE.
Creative Video Intern (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Interns in Creative Services will learn about video production, content creation, and media operations within a Division I athletic department. More details HERE.
Live Events Intern (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Interns in the Live Events focus area will gain hands-on experience supporting live events and digital streaming operations, learning from experienced directors and production staff. More details HERE.
Business Development Intern (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Interns in Business Development will gain exposure to research, planning, and operational aspects of a Division I athletics department while working closely with senior staff. More details HERE |
Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach (St. Mary's College of Maryland / 20686, MD): Assist the head coach in the day to day operations overseeing men's and women's cross country and track & field teams. This is a 10-month full-time position with benefits. More details HERE. |
The D1.dossier for this position is available HERE. |
Head Men’s Soccer Coach/Physical Education & Wellness Instructor (Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT / Cambridge, MA): This is a full-time, 10-month appointment that will include the management and oversight of the men's soccer program. More details HERE. Accounting Clerk (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Supports Army West Point Athletic Association by managing accounts payable, purchase orders, reimbursements, and transactions. Requires GAAP knowledge, attention to detail, and deadline focus. More details HERE.
Director, Sports Medicine (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Provide care, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries and related problems in cadet-athletes. Responsible for an assigned athletic team(s) and oversight of junior staff. More details HERE. Director, Football Creative Video Content (Army West Point / West Point, NY): The Director, Creative Video Content assists in the recruiting, retention and motivation efforts of the Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. More details HERE.
Director, Football Creative Graphic Content (Army West Point / West Point, NY): The Director, Creative Graphic Content supports and advances the recruiting, retention and motivation efforts of the Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. More details HERE. Staff Accountant - Accounts Payable (Army West Point / West Point, NY): The Staff Accountant will be critical in recording accounting transactions for the Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA”) Business Office. More details HERE. |
Assistant Coach Indoor Volleyball (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Provides assistance to the Head Coach with activities associated with the Volleyball program and student athletes, including recruitment, monitoring academic performance and social development, etc. More details HERE.
Executive Director, Collegiate Women Sports Awards (Collegiate Women Sports Awards / Remote, US): Seeking a highly qualified leader to serve in the capacity as Executive Director. The CWSA is the most prestigious national award program for collegiate women’s athletics. More details HERE.
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Executive Director of Development, Athletics (California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo / San Luis Obispo, CA): The Executive Director of Development will serve as the lead in the athletics program to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward alumni, parents, friends, foundations and corporations. More details HERE.
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Head Coach, Women's Soccer (California State University – Stanislaus / Turlock, CA): The Head Women’s Soccer Coach oversees all aspects of the program, supervises assistant coaches, leads recruiting, manages scheduling, budget, and supports fundraising efforts with the AD. More details HERE.
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Head Coach, Women's Field Hockey (University of New Hampshire / Durham, NH): Responsible for leading & managing all aspects of the program, including fostering a culture of integrity, inclusivity, & excellence, prioritizing student-athlete development both on & off the field. More details HERE. |
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