For Fifth Year In a Row, Isenberg Alumna named SBJ Game Changer

In a special ceremony in New York City this September, Karina Herold ’08 MS/MBA will be officially honored as one of Sports Business Journal’s 2025 class of Game Changers. Celebrating its 15th year, the Game Changers program recognizes and elevates impactful women in the sports industry.

Herold currently serves as the COO of the Bay Area Host Committee, managing a group bringing top tier sporting events to the Bay Area. Having hosted the National Basketball Association All-Star Game this year, the Bay Area Host Committee will host the National Football League’s Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup at Levi's Stadium in 2026.

Earlier in her career, Herold held roles as the vice president of major events for the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC) and as the deputy director of athletics for Pepperdine University. She has received several other honors, including being named 2016’s Division I Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports and receiving a McCormack Alumni-on-the-Rise award in 2017.

Karina joins the ranks of the many fellow McCormack alumnae who SBJ has previously named Game Changers: Pam Batalis '92 MS, Tiffany Daniels '98 MS, Christine Franklin '00, Gloria Nevarez '93, Heidi Pellerano '98 MS, Ana Shapiro Queenan '00 MS, Cindy Stutman '98, Trish Tulloch '97 MS, and most recently, Li Li Leung ’03 MS and Amy Scheer ’86. Congratulations, Karina!