Based in New York City, Rolanda Gaines has spent 15+ years working for marquee brands within the sports industry, including media, professional leagues, and consumer products.
Gaines currently holds the position of senior director, business operations and development for ESPN Publishing. She is responsible for the development and management of international business for ESPN The Magazine, launching editions in Mexico in 2008 and Brazil in 2009. She also serves as the business lead for ESPN Insider, a premium paid content service on ESPN.com.
Prior to her current post, Gaines has held several positions within the company, many of which focused on the marketing development and brand management of a number of ESPN properties including ESPN Zones, X Games Skateparks, and ESPN Golf Schools.
Previously, Gaines served as advertising manager at Major League Baseball where she was responsible for campaign strategies for domestic and international consumer products, retail marketing, and special events, including All-Star Week, the MLB All-Century team, and MLB.com.
Prior to Major League Baseball, Gaines was based in Beaverton, Oregon, with NIKE, Incorporated. She served as marketing manager for Nike Sports Entertainment, where she focused marketing efforts for sport properties around the globe, including Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea, and South Africa. During her time there, Gaines also managed events and marketing for Nike Town, where she created consumer-driven marketing programs around Nike footwear, apparel, and athletes such as Olympians Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, and the US national soccer team.
Gaines received an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Stanford University and an MBA from Fordham University. She also completed studies at the Stanford Japan Center in Kyoto, the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, and the Stanford Professional Publishing Course.
Launched in 2005, Gaines is the founder of the SportsMixer, a monthly networking event in New York City for professionals within the sports industry. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and WICT, and serves as a career mentor to young professionals seeking opportunities in the sports industry.
