CSO Summit & Symposium Focuses on Sports Business and Social Impact

By Joshua Baer, Sustainability Analyst – G&A Institute

With college athletes now able to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), the business of sports is growing at a rapid pace and is now valued at over a US$40 billion industry. With this growth comes a responsibility and incredible opportunity to drive sustainable impact throughout the communities and environments the industry serves.

This year’s Chief Sustainability Officer Summit & Symposium (CSOSS), the 8th annual summit hosted by Miami Herbert Business School in partnership with the Miami Hurricanes Department of Athletics, focused on the theme of Sports Business and Social Impact.

Taking place on April 25, 2025, at LEED Gold certified Lakeside Village at the University of Miami, CSOSS8 hosted a diverse audience of students, alumni, academic faculty and staff, and sustainable business professionals covering a wide range of industry and expertise, including sports, brand marketing, and financial sectors. The Presenting Sponsor was Calamos Investments and other sponsors and partners include Universal Insurance Holdings, Green Sports Alliance, and Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A Institute).

CSOSS8 offered valuable insights into the key role that the sports industry plays in driving lasting social impact. Key takeaways from the sessions include:

Opening Remarks

Paul A. Pavlou, Dean of the Miami Herbert Business School, opened the summit by discussing the importance of sustainability in the business environment. Daniel Hicks, Lecturer in Economics from Miami Herbert Business School, welcomed attendees and introduced John Koudounis, CEO of Calamos Investments. Koudounis offered his outlook on the importance of sustainability and its role in the global investment and sports business landscape. He discussed the Calamos Sustainable Equities team’s unique approach to sustainable research and investing and its partnership with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, to launch its Calamos Antetokounmpo Global Sustainable Equities funds (ETF: SROI) in 2022.

Talent and Media – Social Networks, NIL, and Philanthropy

Led by Daniel Hicks, the first session included expert panelists from the sports industry including college and professional athletics, athlete representation, sports marketing, and non-profit sectors. This session offered deeper discussion on the state of NIL and the role that the business of sports plays, and its expansive future, in partnering with athletes and brands to drive impactful social changes while simultaneously increasing brand longevity.

Panelists include Arlesha Amazan, Veteran Sports Marketing Executive & Strategic Advisor, Founder, Champion Strategies; Tina Brown, CEO, The Overtown Youth Center OYC Miami; Emmanuel Ellerbee, Founder & CEO, Bee’s Believers and Former NFL Linebacker; Michael Raymond, CEO and Founder, Raymond Representation; Evan Roberts, Associate Athletic Director and Head of NIL & Digital, University of Miami Athletics; Tommy Thompson, San Jose Earthquakes, Major League Soccer; and Sylvester Williams, Former NFL Athlete and Super Bowl Champion, CEO, Champion Motivation.

Investing – Private Capital and the Future of the Sports Industry

The second session kicked off with a presentation by Tony Tursich, Senior Vice President and Co-Portfolio Manager, at Calamos Investments, on Calamos Sustainable Equities’ perspective on impact investing to drive positive change. The presentation highlighted Calamos’ partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo, which was driven by his goal to create a legacy beyond basketball through providing financial literacy and access to underserved communities.

This mutual goal for economic empowerment led to the partnership and the launch of three sustainable funds under the name Calamos Antetokounmpo Global Sustainable Equities. This discussion continued with dialogue around both public and private capital and its role within the future of the sports industry and driving sustainable impact. Other panelists include Salvatore Buscemi, CEO and Co-Founding Partner, Brahmin Partners, LLC; John Koudounis; James Madden, Senior Vice President, Co-Portfolio Manager, Calamos Investments; Charmel Maynard, Strategic Partnerships & Impact, General Catalyst; James Tree, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Off The Wall Capital; Sylvester Williams; and Beth Williamson, Vice President, Head of Sustainable Equity Research and Associate Portfolio Manager, Calamos Investments.

Citizenship – The Intersection of Athletics & Corporate Sustainability

This final session focused on the role and influence that athletes carry to authentically drive impact and build legacy beyond athletics through brand partnerships, community outreach, and engagement. This session, led by Daniel Hicks, returned panelists Tina Brown, James Madden, Tony Tursich, and Beth Williamson to the stage, as well as Dennis Grover, Manager of Partnerships, Norwegian Cruise Line; Nate Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer, Visa; Adam Malone, Chief Marketing Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line; and Roger McClendon, Executive Director, Green Sports Alliance.

The summit concluded with closing remarks by Daniel Hicks and Roger McClendon and featured lunch and other networking opportunities throughout. CSOSS8 offered an inclusive and empowering environment, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, students, and professionals from the sports world and beyond to discuss Sports Business and Social Impact. The dialogue will continue beyond the conference in efforts to drive lasting changes within the sports business and its impact on surrounding stakeholders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joshua Baer – Sustainability Analyst, G&A Institute

Joshua Baer is a Sustainability Analyst at G&A Institute. His role includes supporting clients across industries by conducting research, ESG data analysis, development of sustainability reports, responding to annual surveys, peer benchmarking, and providing general sustainability consultancy. Josh is passionate about the environment and enjoys helping clients drive positive impact through sustainable business practices.