Michelle McKenna

Michelle spent over two decades as a senior leader within Disney, Universal Studios, and the NFL leveraging technology to improve the human experience. Michelle brings her technical expertise and leadership acumen to C-Suite executives as they consider how to tackle their toughest challenges. Her goal is to empower leaders to achieve the optimal outcome of any endeavor. Today, Michelle uses the wisdom of what she has learned, built, and been a part of in creating and leveraging technology for the human experience as an advisor, speaker, and consultant for the company she founded - The Michelle McKenna Collaborative. She is also a partner and Sr. Advisor for Evercore, an investment bank, advising on M&A in the technology, media, entertainment and sports. She speaks on topics of technology, data, AI, Sports, Women in Business, Finance, Leadership, and as a breast cancer survivor, she also speaks on overcoming adversity and playing to win.

As CIO of the NFL for 10 Seasons, Michelle was responsible for the NFL’s technology strategy and management of the league’s technology activities, including all in game technology (statistics, sports betting feeds, replay, communications systems), the in-stadium fan experience, and reaching new fans through data and digital marketing. Implemented The League’s cyber security program, established data science foundation, led the 2020 Virtual Draft and The League’s technology response for tracing and testing of COVID19. Executive Sponsor of NFL’s Women’s Interactive Group. Partnered with NFL Sponsorships to bring in new era of technology partnerships/sponsorships, and drove the league’s digital transformation.

Michelle is an experienced Public Board Director, her strong technology, operations, marketing, and financial background make her both a strategic and operationally insightful member of the boards on which she serves. She is also an active investor and advisor to private companies through private equity and venture capital. Ms. McKenna joined the NFL from Constellation Energy in Baltimore, Maryland where she was the Chief Information Officer. At Constellation, she led the acquisition of competitive energy businesses and the ultimate merger with Exelon. In this capacity, she served as a board advisor and worked closely with the Chairman and CEO.

She has extensive experience in the media and entertainment industry as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Universal Orlando Resort. In this role, she was responsible for the innovation, oversight and leadership of technology at Universal Orlando Resort, including the launch of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Ms. McKenna was also Senior Vice President, CRM & Chief Information Officer at Centex Destination Properties. She had a 13-year career with The Walt Disney Company in a variety of executive positions in Resort Development, Finance, Marketing, Operations and Technology. As Vice President, Information Technology, McKenna led the company’s largest ever technology investment – Destination Disney, a multi-year company strategic initiative to transform the company’s marketing, sales, on-line, and customer relationship management processes. Prior to Disney, Ms. McKenna held positions at MetLife and Pricewaterhouse Coopers as controller and CPA respectively.

Ms. McKenna is a certified public accountant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She has been a guest on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, Morning Joe, Good Day New York, Cheddar and is a sought-after speaker on topics of technology, operational change, and women in leadership. She lives in New York and Florida.