When Alisha Pope was playing AAU basketball, her teammates would often share dreams about playing in the NBA and WNBA. But not Alisha. She dreamed about being commissioner. And let me tell you, after my conversation with her, I’m thinking NBA Commissioner Adam Silver better watch himself.

Alisha kind of represents a perfect storm of how to succeed in sports business. She combined her innate competitiveness, familial support, and insatiable curiosity to examine every nuance and corner of the industry. And after stops at NASCAR, the NBA, WBNA and NCAA, Alisha is now Head of Sports & Sponsorship Strategy at MGM Resorts.

In our conversation, we talk about her rise through the sports business ranks and the skills she believes that have been instrumental to her. We also go into her role at MGM, how changes in sports marketing have impacted her priorities, and what she’s most looking forward to when it comes to the future of her industry.

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