SMBA ’26 Visits New Upper Deck Headquarters

The Sports MBA Class of 2026 recently visited Upper Deck Headquarters in Carlsbad, a global sports and entertainment company that creates trading cards, collectibles, and digital products. The day began with a tour of Upper Deck’s newly opened office, providing students a sense of the company’s culture and operations.

Alumni Paul Zickler (SMBA ’12), Melissa Borello (SMBA ’22), and Connor Whelan (SMBA ’24) shared their journeys and experiences working at Upper Deck, offering perspective on their roles across the company.

Upper Deck President Jason Masherah joined the visit to answer students’ questions and share his personal journey, providing insight into the leadership mindset and the company’s approach to growth and innovation.

The class also received an overview on the company’s core values and differentiators: innovation, quality, authenticity, and global distribution. Students learned how Upper Deck approaches each of these areas, from creating new types of collectibles to maintaining rigorous standards for authenticity and navigating complex legal and rights considerations. The presentation included a look at Upper Deck’s extensive portfolio and how the company balances stakeholder needs across products, partners, and markets.

A huge thank you to Jason, Paul, Melissa, Connor, and the entire Upper Deck team for their time and insight. The visit gave the SMBA ’26 class a firsthand look at how Upper Deck’s values shape its products, processes, and business strategy.