What does it take to manage the finances of the world’s most powerful sports league? In this episode, Maria sits down with Christine Dorfler, the CFO of the NFL, for an unfiltered look at the business behind the game.
From her journey as an Army Captain to navigating the complex financial landscape of the NFL, Christine shares the leadership lessons and high-stakes decision-making that keep the league growing. We dive into the "Billion-Dollar" choices that impact everything from international expansion to the game-day experience. And of course ‘The Taylor Swift Effect.’
All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough.
Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA.
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00:00:00 – The Power of Confidence and Humility
00:02:00 – Learning to Lose: Lessons from Sports
00:03:45 – Leadership Lessons from the Army
00:06:00 – Taking a Big Promotion During Maternity Leave
00:09:40 – The Art of Saying "No" in Finance
00:10:45 – Moving into the Sports Industry
00:12:30 – Advice for Young, Ambitious Professionals
00:14:30 – Transitioning to the NFL
00:15:30 – Roger Goodell’s Leadership Style
00:18:00 – The "Taylor Swift Effect" on NFL Viewership
00:20:45 – Growing Girls’ Flag Football
00:22:45 – Mastering the Art of Negotiation
00:24:45 – Reflecting on the NFL-ESPN Media Deal
00:29:45 – Sports Betting and Protecting Game Integrity
00:33:45 – Global Expansion and New International Markets
00:38:15 – Evolving Fan Consumption Habits
00:41:00 – Lightning Round: Routine, Perfection, and Resilience
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