Sophie Goldschmidt

Last updated

Sophie Goldschmidt is a British global business executive who is currently[ as of? ] the president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, [1] the national governing body for Olympic and Paralympic skiing and snowboarding in the United States. Prior to U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Goldschmidt was on the advisory board for the World Surf League (WSL), after stepping down from her position as chief executive officer in February 2020. [2] Goldschmidt was included on the 2018 Forbes list of the "Most Powerful Women In International Sport," [3] [4] after overseeing various groundbreaking partnerships, including an exclusive digital broadcasting rights deal for the WSL with Facebook worth over $30 million over two years. [5] Goldschmidt also currently[ as of? ] advises various companies in the sport, media, technology, health and fitness sectors.

Contents

Early life and education

Goldschmidt grew up in the UK and then received a tennis scholarship to attend Baylor University in Texas. After playing on their team for four years, she received a business degree at Baylor University. [6] She made her pro tennis debut in 1991, playing doubles at the ITF Frinton tournament, [7] however due to an injury she was forced to quit playing. [8]

Career

Adidas

While studying for her degree at Baylor University, Goldschmidt began an internship at Adidas, which quickly evolved into a full-time position in marketing tennis and soccer. [6]

Women's Tennis Association

Goldschmidt has worked as vice president of marketing and sponsorship at the Women’s Tennis Association. [8] [9]

NBA

In 2007, Goldschmidt joined the National Basketball Association. She was soon promoted to senior vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa. [10] During her tenure, Goldschmidt was the driving force behind the league’s growth across media distribution, sponsorship, licensing and events in addition to overseeing various regional offices. [11] While leading NBA’s international efforts, Goldschmidt helped bring the NBA's first-ever regular season games to Europe in 2011. [12] Goldschmidt also oversaw a multi-year agreement between NBA and ESPN which provided close to 100 NBA games, original programming and classic content to UK and Irish sports fans each season on ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN Classic, [13] in addition to several other new media deals.

Rugby Football Union

Goldschmidt was appointed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as its chief commercial and marketing officer in July 2011. She was also the board's first-ever female member, responsible for the union's key revenue areas, which achieved record levels under her leadership, as well as overseeing marketing, digital, CRM, resourcing, communications and project management. [11] During almost five years at the RFU, Goldschmidt brokered various ground-breaking deals such as an extended four-year sponsorship renewal with telecommunications services provider O2, [14] estimated to be worth £18 million to the governing body. [15] She also brokered a three-year deal with the National Football League to host matches at Twickenham Stadium. [16]

PGA

While at the RFU, Goldschmidt was appointed as non-executive director to board of the PGA European Tour, making history by becoming one of the first two women to sit on the board. The appointment highlighted the tour's aim to edge further towards a more commercial approach to business and strengthen policies of diversity and inclusion in the sport. [17] She was also a non-executive director on the Youth Sport Trust board. [18]

CSM

Following her tenure at the RFU, Goldschmidt joined UK-based global sports marketing agency CSM Sport & Entertainment in 2015, as group managing director. [19]

World Surf League

Goldschmidt was appointed as CEO of the World Surf League in July 2017. [20] At the time of her appointment, the WSL's lead investor, Dirk Ziff, described Goldschmidt as "exactly what the league needs," and that her "experience, strong leadership and winning and inclusive management style" would "further elevate the league and grow engagement among fans around the world." [21] Despite a lack of practical surfing experience, [22] Goldschmidt still succeeded in carving a new path for the sport. [23]

In addition to launching a new strategy and direction for pro surfing, Goldschmidt successfully implemented the first-ever professional surf events in 2018, featuring an artificial wave system. [24] The Founder's Cup was held at the WSL Surf Ranch and, for the first time in the sport's history, was aired live for four hours across the CBS broadcast network. In an interview with CBS Sport, Goldschmidt explained, "Our expanded national broadcast and live streaming platforms will help to showcase what our surf fans already know and love: surfing is an incredible sport that delivers excitement, athleticism, and engaging content." [25]

2019 saw Goldschmidt make the WSL the first U.S-based global sports league to enforce pay equality at its events. Speaking on the WSL Equal Prize money commitment, Goldschmidt said, '"This is a huge step forward in our long-planned strategy to elevate women's surfing and we are thrilled to make this commitment as we reveal our new 2019 schedule." [26] Goldschmidt continued to honour female surfers by launching a marketing campaign that highlighted the women's tour and focussed on increasing viewership and fan engagement. [26]

Goldschmidt continued to reshape the WSL when she relaunched their ocean conservation efforts. Such commitments were designed to inspire, educate and empower those associated with the ocean and to address critical environmental issues. [27]

In 2020, Goldschmidt led negotiations on the WSL's historic 10-year agreement with professional surfers' representative body, World Professional Surfers. Made ahead of the 2021 Olympic Games, it stands as the longest agreement ever made between the two groups. The agreement will come at a pivotal moment in the sport’s history, helping ensure stability and alignment in the years to come. [28]

U.S. Ski & Snowboard

Goldschmidt was appointed president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the Olympic and Paralympic national governing body for skiing and snowboarding in the United States, in October 2021. She took over the positions from previous president and CEO Tiger Shaw. [29] She is the organization's first female CEO.

Achievements

Goldschmidt was ranked number 15 on the 2018 Forbes list of the "Most Powerful Women In International Sport" [30] and included in Adweek’s “29 Marketing Innovators That Are Changing The Game For Fans and Brands”. [31] Goldschmidt was also in Sport 360’s "100 Most Influential Women In Sport," [32] and Marketing Week's Vision 100. [33]

Personal life

As of 2017, Goldschmidt lives in Santa Monica, California. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Slater</span> American surfer (born 1972)

Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship Tour victories. He won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year four-times. Slater is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League, winning his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title at age 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big wave surfing</span> Surfing waves at least 20 ft high

Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into, or are towed into, waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or towboards. Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as the technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a rider to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable, but it also limits maneuverability and surfing speed.

Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear and accompanying products, and a major athletic sponsor. Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia, Europe, South America, North America and South Africa. Globally, Rip Curl is considered a successful member of the "Big Three", of the surf industry alongside Quiksilver and Billabong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Surf League</span> Governing body for professional surfers

The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The World Surf League was originally known as the International Professional Surfing founded by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick in 1976. IPS created the first world circuit of pro surfing events. In 1983 the Association of Surfing Pros took over management of the world circuit. In 2013, the ASP was acquired by ZoSea, backed by Paul Speaker, Terry Hardy, and Dirk Ziff. At the start of the 2015 season, the ASP changed its name to the World Surf League. Sophie Goldschmidt was appointed as WSL CEO on 19 July 2017. Paul Speaker had stepped down as CEO on 11 January 2017, and Dirk Ziff acted as the interim WSL CEO until Goldschmidt's appointment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Ski & Snowboard</span>

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, formerly known as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, is the national governing body for Olympic and Paralympic skiing and snowboarding. Founded in 1905, the organization provides leadership and direction for skiers and snowboarders from over 400 member clubs. The association is headquartered in Park City, Utah.

The Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award is an annual award honoring the achievements of a female athlete from the world of action sports. It was first awarded as part of the ESPY Awards in 2004 after the non-gender-specific Best Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award was presented the previous two years. It is given to the female, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best action sports athlete in a given calendar year. Balloting for the award is undertaken by fans over the Internet from between three and five choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee, which is composed of a panel of experts. It is conferred in July to reflect performance and achievement over the preceding twelve months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Snowboarding</span>

U.S. Snowboarding, the snowboarding arm of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), is committed to the progression of snowboarding by providing athletic programs, services, and competitions for male and female athletes of all ages, coast-to-coast. Since the inclusion of snowboarding as a medal sport in 1998, U.S. Snowboarding has accounted for 14 Olympic medals, including the sweep of the podium in men’s halfpipe in 2002 and a best in the world performance of seven medals in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carissa Moore</span> American surfer (born 1992)

Carissa Kainani Moore is an American surfer. She was the first-ever winner of the Olympic gold medal in women's shortboard surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She is also a five-time world champion, winning in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021 on the World Surf League WSL Women's World Tour. Moore was the first surfer in history to win a WSL world title and the Olympic title in the same year.

Bev Sanders is a snowboarder, surfer, and founder of Manifesta Safaris, a women's travel and adventure company based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. The company's holdings includes Las Olas Surf Safaris, the first surf camp for women, and Jennifer's Journey, a women's travel website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakey Peterson</span> American surfer (born 1994)

Laura Louise "Lakey" Peterson is an American professional surfer. She has been ranked as high as No. 1 by the World Surf League, the highest professional level of women's surfing, and #6 on the ASP Women's World Ranking. In 2009, Peterson landed the first-ever aerial in NSSA women's competition history and won the title.

Tyler Wright is an Australian professional surfer on the WSL World Tour. She is a consecutive WSL Women's World Champion. She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malia Manuel</span> American surfer

Kelsey Malia Manuel is an American professional surfer. She won Rookie of the Year in 2012 and was ranked 5th on the 2014 ASP World Tour. In 2008, at the age of 14 she became the youngest surfer ever to win the U.S. Open of Surfing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bianca Buitendag</span> South African professional surfer

Bianca Buitendag is a South African professional surfer. She has represented South Africa at the 2020 Summer Olympics where she won silver in the women's shortboard competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's surfing</span>

Women's surfing is thought to date back to the 17th century. One of the earliest records of women surfing is of princess Keleanohoana’api’api, also known as Kalea or the Maui Surf Riding Princess. It is rumored that Kalea was the trailblazer of surfing and could surf better than both men and women. A few centuries later in the mid-late 1800s, Thrum’s Hawaiian Annual reported that women in ancient Hawaii surfed in equal numbers and frequently better than men. Over the last 50 years, women's surfing has grown in popularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tatiana Weston-Webb</span> Brazilian surfer

Tatiana Guimarães Weston-Webb is a Brazilian surfer based in Kauai, Hawaii. She is also both American and English. She was the only rookie on the WCT in 2015. Weston-Webb wears jersey number 9, and her 2016 'CT rank is number 4. She competed in both the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics for Brazil, winning silver in the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Marks</span> American professional surfer (born 2002)

Caroline Marks is an American professional surfer. She is the 2023 World Surf League Women's World Tour Champion and an Olympic gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She has won multiple national championships and is the youngest woman to compete in a World Surf League event. Marks is the youngest surfer to qualify for the women’s Championship Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 World Surf League</span> The 43rd season of the World Surf League

The 2019 World Surf League was the competition series hosted by the World Surf League, the global championship body for competitive surfing. The 2019 World Surf League consisted of the Championship Tour, the Qualifying Series, Big Wave Tour, Longboard Tour, Junior Tour, and other specialty tours and events such as the Vans Triple Crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender pay gap in sports</span>

Gender pay gap in sports is the persistence of unequal pay in sports, particularly for female athletes who do not receive equal revenue compared to their counterparts, which differs depending on the sport. According to the research conducted by BBC, "a total of 83% of sports now reward men and women equally". However, it does not mean that the wage gap in sports has narrowed or disappeared. In 2018, Forbes released the list of the top 100 highest-paid athletes, all of them being male athletes. A similar situation also occurred in 2017, where there was only one female athlete – tennis player Serena Williams — who joined the list and ranked No.56. Billie Jean King brought awareness to the issue of unequal pay in the early 1970s, when she was awarded $2,900 less than her male counterpart at the Italian Open. The timeline of the gender pay gap in sports displays the significant events that have occurred since the 1970s

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanoa Igarashi</span> Japanese American surfer (born 1997)

Kanoa Igarashi is a Japanese-American surfer who has competed professionally worldwide since 2012. In 2016, he was the youngest rookie on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), and had collected more Round One wins than any other surfer, finished 2nd place at the Pipeline event, and 20th place overall that year. His greatest career performance was in the 2022 WSL CT where he finished top 5 and got to compete on the final event of the year held in Trestles California. He qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Brisa Tomi Hennessy Kobara is a Costa Rican professional surfer who competes in the World Surf League (WSL). In 2019, Hennessy's standing in the WSL qualified her to represent Costa Rica for Surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Olympics marked the first instance for surfing to be recognised as an Olympic sport. She participated at the 2024 Olympic Games achieving the fourth place, one of the best performances for a Costa Rican athlete.

References

  1. ↑ "Sophie Goldschmidt Appointed as U.S. Ski & Snowboard President & CEO". U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  2. ↑ "Sophie Goldschmidt Steps Down as CEO of WSL". Surfer magazine. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  3. ↑ Hodgetts, Rob. "Meet the British woman taking surfing into the future". CNN. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  4. ↑ "No. 15: Sophie Goldschmidt". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  5. ↑ Badenhausen, Kurt. "Facebook And World Surf League Announce Exclusive Partnership". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  6. 1 2 "Sophie Goldschmidt's cool job: World Surf League CEO". ESPN . United States. March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Sophie Goldschmidt". WTA Tennis. 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  8. 1 2 "40 Under 40: Goldschmidt". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  9. ↑ Peel, Charlie (March 16, 2018). "Bad on boards but surf CEO Sophie Goldschmidt means business". The Australian . Australia. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  10. ↑ Haro, Alexander. "WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt Makes Forbes List of 'Most Powerful Women in Sports'". The Inertia. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  11. 1 2 "Sophie Goldschmidt". www.sportindustry.biz. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  12. ↑ "Selling a whole new ball game". Marketing Week. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  13. ↑ "NBA-ESPN Multi-year agreement provides close to 100 NBA games, original programming and classic content to UK and Irish sports fans". Sports Media News. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  14. ↑ "O2 signs four year sponsorship renewal with Rugby Football Union". The Drum. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  15. ↑ Mairs, Gavin (2012-02-06). "RFU's new landmark deal with O2 will make them £18m and help ease Twickenham losses". ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  16. ↑ Jones, Matt. "NFL Agrees 3-Year Deal with RFU to Stage Matches at Twickenham". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  17. ↑ "European Tour welcomes two women to its board". the Guardian. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  18. ↑ "Goldschmidt, af Rosenborg join Euro Tour board". Golfweek. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  19. ↑ "The Callum Murray Interview - Sophie Goldschmidt". www.sportcal.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  20. ↑ "Sophie Goldschmidt Appointed CEO of World Surf League". World Surf League. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  21. ↑ "Strong female lead: World Surf League CEO Sophie Goldschmidt is on the crest of a revolution". www.sportspromedia.com. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  22. ↑ Haro, Alexander. "WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt Makes Forbes List of 'Most Powerful Women in Sports'". The Inertia. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  23. ↑ Rob Hodgetts (17 September 2018). "Meet the British woman taking surfing into the future". CNN. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  24. ↑ Rob Hodgetts (17 May 2018). "Is Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch the future of surfing?". CNN. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  25. ↑ "How to watch World Surf League's Founders' Cup on CBS". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  26. 1 2 Lieu, Johnny (6 September 2018). "World Surf League announces equal prize money for men and women". Mashable. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  27. ↑ "World Surf League Announces Sustainability Efforts | SGB Media Online". sgbonline.com. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  28. ↑ "WSL Signs Historic 10-Year Agreement With Surfers' Representative Body". Ministry of Sport. 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  29. ↑ "U.S. Ski & Snowboard names Goldschmidt CEO". ESPN.com. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  30. ↑ "No. 15: Sophie Goldschmidt". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  31. ↑ "These 29 Marketing Innovators Are Changing the Game for Fans and Brands" . Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  32. ↑ McCague, Niall. "100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport: Sophie Goldschmidt - Sport360 News". sport360.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  33. ↑ "Marketing Week Vision 100". The Marketing Academy UK. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  34. ↑ "Sophie Goldschmidt's cool job: WSL CEO". ESPN.com. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.