Caroline O’Connor is Paving the Way for Women in the Business of Sports

The Marlins president of business operations hopes to inspire more women to pursue careers in the industry.

Caroline O’Connor.Miami Marlins

Caroline O’Connor is a trailblazer in the sports industry, becoming the second current woman in Major League Baseball to reach the position of president of business operations.

Born and raised in Freehold Township, New Jersey, O’Connor never expected to work for the Marlins, let alone in the sports industry at all.

“I don’t know why,” she says. “I don’t think I knew about the business of sports and what happened behind the scenes.” However, as an athlete herself growing up, playing basketball, tennis, soccer, and softball, O’Connor undoubtedly experienced the thrill of competition firsthand. Remarkably, research has shown that 94% of female executives are former athletes.

O’Connor believes that seeing more women like herself in executive sports management roles will inspire young women to pursue careers in the industry. The Marlins made history when they hired Kim Ng as their general manager in 2020.

“Diversity of all kinds is important, and we take that to heart at the Marlins. We are the only sports franchise to have women leading our day-to-day operations on both the business and baseball side,” O’Connor says. “Once you see yourself sitting in a certain seat, it becomes more of a realistic possibility. I hope young women see that and say, ‘I fit there too.’”

After graduating from Rutgers with a degree in Computer Information Systems and obtaining an MBA from NYU Stern, O’Connor began her career in technology and investment banking at companies such as IBM, UBS and Morgan Stanley. But her path took a sharp turn when she began working with Bruce Sherman, who purchased the Marlins in 2017. O’Connor worked diligently and displayed exceptional leadership, ultimately leading to her appointment as president of business operations in November 2022.

Caroline O’Connor.

Miami Marlins

In her current role, O’Connor oversees all of the Marlins’ business operations, including sales, partnerships, marketing, analytics and strategy, human resources and diversity, finance, legal, communications, community outreach, technology, security, ballpark facilities and special projects. She has worked tirelessly to foster a sense of community within the Miami organization and find innovative ways to grow the business and build community.

She worked to establish a tee-ball program in which the Marlins provide shirts, hats, and balls to kids throughout South Florida. The initiative has grown to include over 250 participating teams, instilling a sense of fandom and pride for the Marlins among young baseball players in the region.

“We feel like we’re building momentum,” she says. “I can’t tell you how rewarding it is when you walk on the streets and see kids wearing Marlins jerseys or Marlins hats.”

The team’s foundation efforts also focus on wellness, empowerment, youth baseball, and softball.

Her commitment to excellence, perseverance and dedication has paved the way for future generations of women to claim their seats at the table in the sports industry. As O’Connor herself says, “There’s no excuse not to do your best every day.” Clearly, she has taken her own advice.