Game Changers: The Evolving Business of Youth Sports

Rachel Baker is the General Manager of Duke Men’s Basketball, where she leads the program’s strategic vision off the court—overseeing name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiatives, brand development, player engagement, and team operations. Appointed in 2022, Baker became the first GM in college basketball, bringing a modernized approach to program management in the new era of college athletics. Since, Duke has signed three consecutive top-two recruiting classes (2023–2025), two ACC Tournament titles (2023, 2025), and a final four appearance.

Before joining Duke, Baker held influential roles at Nike and the NBA. At Nike, she worked in sports marketing, helping shape athlete storytelling and branding strategies for some of the world’s most iconic figures. Her tenure included work on elite youth development and grassroots programs as well as Kevin Durant’s signature business, equipping her with a strong foundation in both talent nurturing and sports business.

A former Division I lacrosse player, Baker graduated from La Salle University. She brings a deep understanding of both athlete experience and brand strategy—bridging the gap between performance and opportunity in college basketball’s new landscape.

Amber Sabathia, 43, became the first black woman baseball recruiting agent for CAA Sports in 2021. In 2024, she represented the trifecta of having a draftee in the first round, an MLB future star, and an All-Star client. Additionally, she co-founded the PitCCh In Foundation in 2008 to enrich the lives of at-risk youth in inner cities. As Executive Director, she has dedicated the foundation's mission to three signature programs: an all-star baseball clinic, youth backpack program, and field renovations. She is married to her high school sweetheart and former MLB pitcher, CC Sabathia, a six-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner for the New York Yankees, retiring in 2019 after 19 years in the MLB. Amber has been involved in every aspect of CC’s 22-year MLB career, from leading brand partnerships, to executive producing media projects, and overseeing new business ventures. In 2023, Amber and CC launched Grapefruit Media, a platform for minority athletes to grow their legacy from seed to fruit, with the first project "New Wave" profiling four of the top black prospects in the lead up to the 2022 MLB Draft. A native of Vallejo, CA and currently residing in Alpine, NJ, Amber's strongest passion and purpose amidst all her professional success is being a loving wife and mother to her four children. 

Rich Kleiman is co-founder and CEO of Boardroom, a sports and entertainment company that includes the flagship media network, Boardroom.TV. Founded in 2019 by Kleiman and Kevin Durant, Boardroom covers the business of sports and entertainment, with a special focus on the ways that athletes, executives, musicians, and creators are moving the business world forward. Other projects under the Boardroom umbrella include the critically acclaimed scripted series SWAGGER in partnership with Imagine Entertainment and Apple TV+, the Academy-Award-winning short film Two Distant Strangers (Netflix), and Emmy-nominated documentary NYC Point Gods (Showtime). In March 2025, Kleiman and Boardroom announced Boardroom Members Club, an exclusive membership community designed to provide unparalleled networking and experiences for professionals across industries.

Kleiman and Durant are majority owners of Major League Pickleball’s Brooklyn Aces and have made minority investments in Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, National Women’s Soccer League’s Gotham FC, Premier Lacrosse League, Athletes Unlimited, League One Volleyball, and TMRW Sports.

Kleiman has been Kevin Durant’s manager since 2013, as well as co-founder in 35V, which houses over 100 early stage investments across sports, technology, finance, media, and more.

Kleiman serves as the Executive Director of the Durant Family Foundation (fka Kevin Durant Charity Foundation), helping underserved and low-income families and youth across the globe. He also sits on the Board of Directors at New Heights Youth, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to sports-based youth development and education in New York City.

Previously, Kleiman helped launch Roc Nation Sports, where he served as Vice President of the agency founded by Jay-Z. Kleiman started with Roc Nation in 2008 as a music manager representing Mark Ronson, Solange, Meek Mill, Wale, and many others.