During Women’s History Month, we spoke with some of the women across our staff about their experiences in the sports industry, how they got to where they are today, and what Women’s History Month means to them.
Here’s what they had to say:
Cristina Maillo Belda, VP of Communications
What is your role with Nashville SC?
I am the Vice President of Communications. As part of my role, I oversee the communications, broadcasting, fan engagement and entertainment, game presentation and community engagement departments.
Tell us about your career path. What led you to join Nashville SC?
I am a multilingual and multicultural communications, public relations, marketing and digital executive with experience leading communications for various sports organizations and teams, including adidas, Nike, Major League Baseball, MLS, NBC Universal and Fox Sports. My career started as a gameday volunteer at D.C. United back in 2007. That led to several internships and after that, to my first professional full-time job as a coordinator with the Philadelphia Union. From there, I’ve been very fortunate to work for a variety of organizations in a variety of roles and projects with both national and international impact.
Why is representation so important, particularly in the sports industry?
I believe representation is important in every area of our lives, in work and personal life. The more diverse representation that we are able to surround ourselves with, the more informed and better prepared we are to identify challenges and solutions.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in the sports industry?
It’s the growth that’s important to me. When I was in high school and college, I never in my life thought about working in sports. I was somebody who grew up playing soccer and other sports, but never thought that I could work in that industry. I wouldn’t have known where to begin or how to make that even possible. I am grateful for the person that first told me ‘Hey, you love soccer, why don’t you volunteer at the D.C. United games?’ It was then that I came to realize that there might be an opportunity here. The reason why I didn’t have that realization earlier was because there weren’t many females in the sport. So, I’m particularly ecstatic and filled with joy to see the amount of empowering female leaders who are in the space now.
Who were some of your role models in the industry? What did you learn from them?
I have been so very fortunate to have impactful role models, particularly since moving to the U.S. There’s a large number of names I could list. My American moms, Lisa and Chich, who opened their doors when we were international students in our year abroad program in college. They laid down the groundwork for how corporate America worked, and really taught me the importance of networking.
The folks at D.C. United: Pam Cain, the Volunteer Coordinator and Boris Flores, who gave me my first internship. People at MLS like Marisabel Munoz, a pioneer in the space who I’ve admired for decades, and Nelson Rodriguez, who in different capacities has continued to be a mentor.
JP Dellacamera and Shaw Brown who took me under their wings when I was at the Union and beyond, and taught me everything I know about broadcasting and how to collaborate with them to best inform and serve our audiences. Ernesto Bruce, who in my time at adidas, welcomed me and taught me the ins and outs of a global organization working in soccer.
The different coaching staffs along the way, and our current staff as well as CEO Ian Ayre. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by very talented female voices in our staff as well, women from all walks of lives who offer their experiences and knowledge to help me be the best I can possible be as a woman working in sports.
I’m unable to mention every single person who has impacted my journey, because the list goes on and on… They all share one common trait, however, generosity. Time is the most precious and valuable asset that we have, and these friends and mentors are often donating their time to share advice, check in and be there for me. And candidly, that’s the biggest gift anyone could ever give anyone, their time, and so I take that with lots of love, care and pride.
What does the club’s “Everyone N” motto mean to you?
From when I was first recruited by Ian, he truly spoke about his vision for what he was building in Nashville with Mr. Ingram, which was something in Nashville, for Nashville, with Nashville. It was about embracing community and embracing everyone in the community. Every single match at our stadium, I’m fascinated to see that vision come to life and see people from all walks of life come and enjoy our club and our players. It’s an honor to build those experiences for them and for all of us working here.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
It’s a reminder to pause and reflect on what women have been able to accomplish, and the hard work that many women and men have put in over centuries to give us the opportunity we have today, and the work that we are putting in to make it even easier for the next generation. It comes with a lot of responsibility, honor and pride… How we lay the ground and shape the narrative for women, and how we not only get more women working in sport, but having them stay! Retention is even more important if we want to see more females in leadership roles. Here at Nashville SC, we are beyond fortunate to have an ownership group and a leader in Ian Ayre who believe, sponsor and promote women in the workforce and lay a foundation for us all (female and male employees) that allows us to be the best we can possibly be both at work and in our personal lives.
Ariana Silva, Fan Engagement Coordinator
What is your role with Nashville SC?
I am a Fan Engagement Coordinator and Supporter Liaison.
Tell us about your career path. What led you to join Nashville SC?
My career started in 2019 when I got my first sports job working for the New York Jets. My role with them was selling raffles tickets for the 50/50 raffle on game days, which would have half the proceeds go to the winner and the other half to the charity/organization for that day. In 2020, I landed a new role with the New York Red Bulls being part of their event marketing staff which involved getting the ‘Bullevard’ ready for match days and working any off-site events. As we all know, 2020 was an interesting year as that is when the world shut down and we had to adapt to new ways of living and working. In 2022, I wanted to expand my experience in sports and began to look at teams all across the US. I came across the fan engagement opening at NSC and was intrigued by the fact that the team was new into the MLS world. I thought it would be amazing to be able to grow alongside the team/organization. So, I thought why not take a chance. Here I am now and loving it!
Why is representation so important, particularly in the sports industry?
Representation is extremely important for anybody, but especially the younger generations who will be looking up to us as inspiration in achieving goals or a career and motivation to keep pushing forward to make it happen. To me, it’s not only important as a woman but as a woman of color to be seen and heard. I take a lot of pride of being a first generation Latin American. Seeing people who look like you or come from the same background lets you know that any goals or dreams you have can be achieved. It’s especially important in sports, as it’s known to be very male-dominant and that can cause it to be very intimidating. Which is why women need to stick together and keep pushing forward.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in the sports industry?
To be a woman of color in sports means everything to me and gives such a feeling of empowerment. To know that with hard work and determination, I was able to overcome obstacles to make it where I am today. I have a love for all sports, but soccer has always been a passion of mine and I would always say that one day I would work for a soccer team. Growing up in a Latin home, soccer was implemented into my life at a very young age. Like many kids growing up, my parents signed me up for soccer at a young age. I was only 6, but I continued playing up until college where I knew I wanted to be involved in sports, but just not as an athlete. It’s such an incredible feeling that I was able to turn my passion for soccer into my career.
Who were some of your role models in the industry? What did you learn from them?
Growing up, there weren’t many women in sports like there is today. But, one name that has always stuck with me was Sarah Spain, who is a sports reporter and has podcasts with ESPN. When I first started venturing in my sports career, I wanted to be a sports journalist and I admired the work she did. Even though I didn’t stick in that direction, she remained a role model to me in the way she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and didn’t let herself get intimidated by her male counterparts. I learned that I should remain confident in myself, and I deserve my spot in the sports industry like everyone else.
What does the club’s “Everyone N” motto mean to you?
To me, it means that anyone is welcome to come to GEODIS Park and enjoy the beautiful game and cheer on the Boys in Gold. I was overwhelmed with how welcoming the organization was, but especially my team. We come from all different places and have our unique personalities that are different, but fit so well and work great together. It allows us to create a great matchday experience that all our fans can enjoy! Our supporters do a great job making fans, new or old, feel so welcomed, especially in the supporter section during games. The atmosphere they bring on match days is beyond words and something fans should get to experience at least once. Any NSC fans no matter age, new or old, where you come from, what your background is are encouraged to stay chanting and cheering the full 90 minutes in the rain or shine. They truly embody ‘Everyone N.’ Since Day 1, they welcomed me with open arms and have made it feel as if I’ve been cheering alongside them since the beginning!
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
It shows that women are strong, motivated, and determined to make change. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done, but we have come so far and should be very proud of it. There is strength in numbers and the more women that keep working hard and pushing the limit to continue to break the glass ceiling allows us to have more success in our future. It is important to acknowledge Women’s History Month and how far we have come, not just the women of the past but also the present and especially the future as they will continue to break barriers!
Makena Sneed, Corporate Partnerships Manager
What is your role with Nashville SC?
I am a Corporate Partnerships Manager at Nashville SC. As a Partnerships Manager, I get to work with some of our amazing sponsors to create marketing campaigns that meet goals for both their brand and Nashville SC, which I have found hugely rewarding. I love getting to work in a role that is so relationship-driven.
Tell us about your career path. What led you to join Nashville SC?
I had the opportunity to attend the MLS home opener and I was immediately impressed by how Nashville rallied around soccer and how representative the whole matchday experience was of the city’s culture. I applied for an internship shortly after and joined the team as a Digital Marketing intern. A year or so later, I came on full-time as a Corporate Partnerships Coordinator and have been with the club for a little under two years now.
Why is representation so important, particularly in the sports industry?
Diverse workplaces create room for diverse ideas, and it’s the representation of different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs that bring the best ideas to life. I love that the idea that inclusivity is woven into the Nashville Soccer Club identity and the motto of ‘Nashville being unified by the language of soccer’ resonates with me.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in the sports industry?
I have female teachers, mentors, and leaders to thank for being an example of how I wanted to someday show up in the world as a woman. I have been so lucky to have female mentors throughout my education and career – there have been so many women in my life who championed me and listened to me, making way for my voice to be heard. I hope that one day I can be that support for another young woman in the next generation, and that my position in this club and this industry can be an example for another young girl like me.
Who were some of your role models in the industry? What did you learn from them?
I’ve been lucky to watch several incredible women succeed in the sports industry – the key takeaway I’ve learned is the importance of showing up authentically every day. When I started my career, I felt a lot of pressure to appear a certain way as a “woman in the workforce”. I didn’t see sensitivity and emotion as a strength, but a weakness that shouldn’t be shown. What I’ve grown to learn from my role models and mentors in this industry is that being your honest and authentic self at work is not only okay but allows for greater creativity and connection with others.
What does the club’s “Everyone N” motto mean to you?
In a growing city like Nashville, I think it is important that Nashville Soccer Club has open doors to anyone who wants to enjoy soccer. I think ‘Everyone N’ represents just that – our commitment as a club to create space for everyone.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
I love that we take this month to admire the heroes and leaders who have come before us and created opportunities for women to have a voice in the world. To me, continuing to share the stories of women who have done incredible things is something we need to keep doing, not only for a day or a month but for the whole year, so that we can continue to empower others and make a way forward.
