2021 Connect Sports Game Changers: Jennifer Todd

Jennifer Todd is the co-founder and executive vice president of partnerships for The Basketball Tournament.

2021 Connect Sports Game Changers: Jennifer Todd

Jennifer Todd
Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, Partnerships, The Basketball Tournament
Boston

Thoughtful
Strategic
Determined

Instagram: @jenhsutodd

Main Event: TBT

What I do: I manage our national sponsorship activation and our regional host selection, which includes on-the-ground partnerships and regional marketing. Given we are a small team, I also pitch in on operations, administration, team development and hiring; and during COVID, I managed our health and safety plan development and implementation.

What I did to assist the sports tourism recovery during COVID: We built the first indoor bubble in the United States last year, alongside the city of Columbus, Columbus Department of Public Health, the state of Ohio and Nationwide Arena. We could have easily canceled the event, given how little we (as a country) knew about COVID at the time, and with relatively limited resources. But smart planning and perseverance can get you a long way, and our plan worked. I am infinitely proud of our team for our part in bringing sports back, crowning a champion in the middle of it all.

Greatest career accomplishments: TBT has gone from a wild idea to not only a reality, but something our fans and we look forward to every year. I’m also proud to have sustained a career in sports and represent a population that isn’t well represented in this industry, as a woman and a minority. My greatest accomplishment will be to pay that forward. There is more to achieve on that front!

Impressive stats: TBT started with about 17 people in a gym, including staff and players (I’m exaggerating, but not by much). In 2019, we had single-game crowds upward of 7,000 people.

Favorite athlete of all-time: Sabrina Mar