SMBA ’26 Partners with San Diego Mojo for Consulting Project

The Sports MBA Class of 2026 recently had the exciting opportunity to combine classroom knowledge with real-world experience through a consulting project with the San Diego Mojo. The project gave students a front-row seat to the growth of women’s volleyball and women’s sports, providing insights into why they are gaining momentum and how organizations can continue to expand their reach.

Prior to the project, students attended a thrilling home match where the Mojo defeated the 1st place Indy Ignite in four sets. Before the game, the cohort participated in an exclusive panel hosted by Aliyah Banks, featuring Julie Sipe (Sr. Director of Ticket Sales), Rachel Nieto (Director of Volleyball Operations), Jason Moore (Game Experience Manager), and Addie Peterson (Corporate Partnerships Executive). The discussion offered firsthand insights into ticket sales, fan engagement, corporate partnerships, and overall game-day experience.

Armed with these insights, SMBA ’26 students conducted a thorough company and game-day analysis, presenting their findings along with strategic recommendations on fan development, revenue generation, and partnership opportunities. The cohort also developed creative branding concepts, and marketing ideas, showcasing innovative approaches to maximizing fan engagement and organizational growth to President Billy Johnson, Julie Sipe, and Aliyah Banks.

"The Mojo project gave us the opportunity to really dive into the growth of women’s volleyball and women’s sports as a whole and understand why they’re gaining so much momentum right now. It pushed us to think creatively as we were able to develop our own fun mock up ideas, branding, and marketing strategies. Getting to present to President Billy Johnson made the experience even more meaningful, as we were able to share not just what we created, but the thought and purpose behind it." - Lily Barker

The collaboration with the Mojo exemplifies the SMBA program’s commitment to hands-on learning and meaningful industry partnerships, allowing students to translate theory into practical strategies while supporting the growth of women’s professional sports.