Christine Simmons
President & COO
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles, CA USA
“Just because you have ‘failed’ at something, doesn’t make you a failure. It’s just a learning moment. It’s about managing how you perceive failure.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationChristine Simmons
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Attended UCLA and received a degree in physiological sciences as a pre-med student with the goal of opening nonprofit health centers to help her community.
Advocacy and diversity have always been her passions—admits that she spent more time doing community service than studying, so her grades suffered.
Instead of pursuing a medical degree, she attended a post-baccalaureate program and discovered that she could pursue her passion for community service in a different industry.
For over a decade, she worked in various diversity and sustainability roles for United Technologies, The Walt Disney Company, and NBCUniversal, Inc.
Got the opportunity to work for Magic Johnson Enterprises—first, as the vice president of strategic alliances and, later, as the organization’s executive vice president.
Was mentored directly by Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.
Now serves as president & chief operations officer of the three-time WNBA championship team, the Los Angeles Sparks, and helped lead them to their 2016 championship.
Also serves on the Board of Directors for the UCLA Alumni Association and volunteers with Better Futures for Thomazeau, a nonprofit providing aid to Haiti.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
President & COO
I am the President & Chief Operations Officer of the three-time WNBA Champion Los Angeles Sparks.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Non-Profit Organizations
Helping People
Day to Day
My role covers basically everything on the business side of things. I deal with sponsorships, ticket sales, marketing, community relations, and more. I work with our general manager who scouts players and I make sure we have the money to pay them, etc.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Volunteer and intern for the part of the job that you think you would like the least. Getting experience in those areas will help you not only figure out what you really like, but will also allow you to tackle the areas you don't with a better perspective and appreciation.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I failed. I'm a failure."
Challenges I Overcame
Career Change
Single Parent
First-Generation College Student
Interviewed By
UCLA Roadtrip
University of California, Los Angeles students and alumni
