Nasdaq's Adina Friedman: Sports, Deals, and Future Growth

Adina Friedman leads Nasdaq with a vision to revolutionize the intersection of sports, technology, and finance for future growth.

### The Intersection of Sports, Business, and Leadership with Nasdaq CEO Adina Friedman
* 🏙 Jason Kelly and Alex Rodriguez introduce Nasdaq CEO Adina Friedman, highlighting her **unique perspective on the intersection of sports and business**, as well as her role in the **evolving landscape of franchise values**.
* 📈 Friedman notes that the Atlanta Braves are currently the **only MLB team publicly traded on Nasdaq**, suggesting that more sports franchises may follow suit as they recognize the **potential for capital access in the public markets**.
* 💼 Adina describes Nasdaq as a **global technology company** focused on **driving strategy and meeting client needs**, emphasizing the importance of **making a difference every day** in her role as CEO.
* 💪 She shares insights into her upbringing, crediting her **hardworking parents** for instilling a **strong work ethic and the drive to succeed**, which has been a consistent theme throughout her career.
* 🥋 Adina's dedication to TaeKwonDo, where she earned her **black belt over ten years**, has taught her valuable lessons about **discipline, fear, and the importance of balancing offense and defense**, both in martial arts and business.
* 🤝 Reflecting on her career, she acknowledges moments of **imposter syndrome** but emphasizes the importance of **surrounding oneself with knowledgeable individuals** to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
* 🔄 After a successful stint at Carlyle Group, Adina returned to Nasdaq, bringing back valuable lessons about corporate strategy and deal-making, particularly the need for a **clear vision and collaborative culture** in leadership.
* 🌟 Ultimately, Adina Friedman’s journey illustrates the blend of **competitiveness, strategic thinking, and personal growth** that shapes her leadership style and the future of Nasdaq in the sports and financial sectors.

### Navigating Career Growth and the Future of Sports Business
* 🚀 "Don't run away from things. Run towards them." This principle guided the speaker's career trajectory, leading to significant roles including **COO and CEO** at NASDAQ.
* 📈 NASDAQ generates approximately **$1 billion annually** from its markets division, which includes trading, and a total of **$1.8 billion** from various services and capabilities offered to corporates and investors.
* 💻 The CEO emphasized the importance of **modernizing technology and embracing cloud solutions** to drive **innovation and organic growth** within the company.
* 🏆 The speaker highlighted the unique opportunity NASDAQ has to **celebrate pivotal moments** in companies' lives, reinforcing the notion of being part of their **transformative journeys**.
* ⚾ The conversation shifted to the Atlanta Braves, noting how their public listing on NASDAQ allowed fans to **engage with the team as owners**, enhancing **franchise value and community connection**.
* 🌍 The future of sports ownership is evolving, with **increasing professional investment and public equity opportunities**, which may redefine traditional ownership structures and **engage more fans**.
* 📊 Women's sports are emerging as a significant movement, with **rising franchise values** and **increased media exposure**, driven by a generation of **talented athletes** and **strong fan engagement**.
* 🤝 The speaker concluded with a focus on **access to capital** and the importance of **building relationships** within the sports industry to foster **growth and innovation** in this dynamic landscape.

Why Nasdaq’s Adena Friedman Says Sports Teams Should Go Public | The Deal

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Adina Friedman, the CEO of Nasdaq, discusses the company's role in the financial ecosystem and its focus on driving strategy and meeting client needs.

She highlights the increasing franchise values in sports and the potential for more publicly traded teams, with Nasdaq already hosting the Atlanta Braves.

Friedman's journey from intern to CEO, along with her strong work ethic and diverse interests in sports, has shaped her leadership approach at Nasdaq.

Adina's journey to a black belt in TaeKwonDo took 10 years, teaching her discipline and the importance of playing offense and defense simultaneously.

Her parents' push to conquer fear from a young age, including flying solo to Portugal at 10, shaped her mindset.

Adina experienced imposter syndrome twice in her career, but she overcame it by surrounding herself with great people, learning from them, and focusing on a clear path forward.

Adina's Journey to CEO: Embracing Competitiveness and Leadership

Adina overcame her fear of leadership with the help of a friend's reassurance and her competitive nature.

She believes in healthy competition and the importance of having a clear vision and strategy for success.

As CEO, her main goals include defining the business vision, engaging the team, and driving execution while also emphasizing the value of mentorship and feedback for personal and professional growth.

Transitioning from CFO to CEO: A Personal Journey

The speaker received valuable advice from a mentor, emphasizing the importance of empowering the team and seeing the bigger picture.

After 17 years at NASDAQ, the speaker was offered a CFO position at Carlisle, a leading private equity firm, providing a unique opportunity to go public and work in the same city.

The cultural differences between NASDAQ's command and control structure and Carlisle's collaborative partnership model were significant, but the speaker appreciated elements of both cultures and aimed to infuse them back into NASDAQ upon returning.

The Journey of Deal Making and Leadership

The speaker discusses their experience in deal making, highlighting the different approaches of corporate and private equity firms.

They emphasize the importance of having a clear exit strategy in private equity and the shift in focus to return on invested capital in corporate M&A.

The speaker shares their transition back to Nasdaq, where they took on various leadership roles, ultimately becoming the CEO, and emphasizes the importance of running towards opportunities that bring happiness and fulfillment.

NASDAQ has three main divisions: the markets division, which generates about $1 billion a year from trading shares and options; the listings business and capital access platforms, which contribute approximately $1.

8 billion by offering services to corporates and investors; and the FinTech division, providing software and risk management technology, generating around $1.

The company's strategy focuses on organic growth, modernizing technology, and expanding sales through mergers and acquisitions.

NASDAQ aims to be a trusted provider of capabilities for corporates, investment managers, and financial market intermediaries.

Nasdaq's Impact on Companies and Sports Teams

Nasdaq plays a crucial role in defining and celebrating the transformative moments in a company's life, offering a constant flow of deals and deep relationships with innovative businesses.

The exchange's partnership with major companies like AWS, Microsoft, and Google drives its innovation and brand identity.

Nasdaq's involvement in taking the Atlanta Braves public has changed the way sports teams engage with fans, offering them a chance to become owners and creating new value opportunities in the sports economy.

The Impact of Media and Investment on Sports Franchises

The media's role in broadcasting sports has humanized athletes and increased their accessibility, leading to a surge in franchise values.

This escalation has made it challenging for individuals to own teams, resulting in a rise of professional and public equity investors.

The increasing engagement of fans and new ownership models are creating a virtuous cycle, with women's sports also gaining momentum and driving up franchise values.

The Growing Value of Women's Sports Teams

Women's sports teams are becoming undervalued assets, with the potential for significant value creation through investment.

The franchise values of women's sports teams have skyrocketed, with some going from $2 million to $250 million in just a few years.

The movement towards women's sports is gaining momentum, driven by increased media exposure, fan engagement, and a strong product offering.

The speaker is engaging with various elements of the sports economy to elevate women's involvement in sports.

They emphasize the importance of access to capital for entrepreneurial companies in the sports industry.

The speaker also shares personal insights on deal-making, their hype song playlist, and a surprising fun fact about their college experience.