2 GILLIAN ZUCKER
Age 49 Hometown Englewood, NJ Residence Los Angeles Family Husband, Lance; children, Rebecca, Sky, and Bogie; dog, Raisin
VISIONARY LOS ANGELES GILLIAN ZUCKER PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
On My Wrist Made With Love Bracelets from Africa In My Garage A ping pong table where my car used to be before I ditched it for rideshare Education Hamilton College First Job Feeder /
bedmaker at a nursing home Business Over a Drink Bar Toscana Philanthropies Supported L.A. Clippers Foundation, Foster Care Counts, American Red Cross Blood Services,
Gillian Zucker: LA Clippers’ Slam Dunk The Los Clippers’ president of business operations soars to new heights with a female-driven brand partnership, artificial intelligence technology to enhance the fan experience, and a new, muchawaited stadium in Inglewood By Christina Simon Salvation Army Business Networks & Associations Young Presidents Organization, LA Sports and Entertainment Commission Can’t Miss Events, Conferences, Summits NBA Tech
Summit, Global Leadership Conference Mentors Lesa France Kennedy, Peter Anlyan, and my parents
LA CLIPPERS Founded 1970 Arena STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA Practice Facility LA Clippers Training Center, Playa Vista, CA Full-Time Employees 150
Gillian Zucker’s fascination with sports was ignited by a visit to Yankee Stadium with her father, a physician, when she was 7 years old. “It was a gray morning,” says Zucker, a native of northern New Jersey. “We came through the tunnel and Yankee Stadium was the most immaculate green field [that it] took my breath away.” At Hamilton College in New York, she majored in creative writing, perhaps an unexpected field of study for one of the most powerful women in sports. But Zucker, a huge advocate for liberal arts education, says hers taught her how to write well and to craft a convincing argument—something she used to land her job at the Clippers.
S&E - Zucker
Steve Ballmer purchased the Clippers in August 2014. Zucker heard the announcement while she was listening to the radio and went into overdrive. She’d been president of the Auto Club Speedway (the largest racetrack on the West Coast) for nine years and few alternatives would have tempted her to leave. But this opportunity was too good for her to pass up. Getting hired wasn’t easy. Ballmer was looking for a candidate with NBA experience, something Zucker lacked, despite her decades in the sports industry. Also, Zucker didn’t know Ballmer, so she relied on her extensive network to suggest he meet with her. “I stalked him!” she says with a laugh. “I was absolutely convinced that this was the most exciting opportunity for somebody in the sports business. I thought if he would just meet me, I was certain he’d hire me.” That was four years ago. When hiring her own people, Zucker’s motto is: “Hire for attitude.” Breaking the Glass Ceiling
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SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Photo Credit: LA Clippers / Getty Images
Driven to Succeed
