Danielle Kushner Smith
Vice President, The Collective
Wasserman
Danielle Kushner Smith is a dynamic leader, dedicated educator, and passionate advocate for girls and women in sport. She currently serves as the Vice President of The Collective, whose mission is to advance the power of women through sports, music, and entertainment. She’s returned to the company to deliver a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization, industry, and community. Further, she leads The Collective’s global research and consulting work within Wasserman – a global sports, music, entertainment, and cultural agency.
Prior to her role at The Collective, Smith made significant contributions as the Director of the Sport Administration undergraduate program and Teaching Professor of Sport Administration at the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she not only imparted knowledge to aspiring sports professionals but also shaped the future of the industry; her deep understanding of the field guided her innovative teaching methodologies and academic research in sport marketing.
Previously, Danielle spent the majority of her career making an impact in the world of brand consultancy at Wasserman. Her strategic insights and creative vision helped brands including AT&T, American Express, Nationwide, and Nokia navigate the complexities of the sports and entertainment industry – from strategy to negotiation to amplification – with properties like the NBA, NFL, USTA, USGA, and even Taylor Swift, among others. Smith also spent time as the Senior Director of Corporate Development and Events at The V Foundation for Cancer Research, where she led corporate partners like ESPN and Constellation Brands in cancer research funding through the power of sports and entertainment.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Danielle and her partner are passionate about fostering a love for sports among youth. Together, in their hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, they own and operate co-ed youth flag football leagues in partnership with RISE, Under Armour's esteemed youth flag football system. Through their dedication and commitment, they provide girls and boys with a platform to develop their skills, cultivate teamwork, and embrace the values of sportsmanship. Her passion for using sports as a platform for gender equity extends into her continuing academic research, where she is finishing her doctoral education and dissertation at NC State University, focused on a contemporary analysis of girls’ flag football players.
Smith holds a MBA and Masters in Sports Business Management from the DeVos Sport Management Program at the University of Central Florida and a BS in Marketing from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. These days, Danielle finds joy in being a devoted mother to two boys who share her passion for sports. Together, they bond over their shared love for playing and watching both men's and women's sports – instilling in them a deep appreciation for athleticism,
competition, and the power of sports to unite communities.
Prior to her role at The Collective, Smith made significant contributions as the Director of the Sport Administration undergraduate program and Teaching Professor of Sport Administration at the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she not only imparted knowledge to aspiring sports professionals but also shaped the future of the industry; her deep understanding of the field guided her innovative teaching methodologies and academic research in sport marketing.
Previously, Danielle spent the majority of her career making an impact in the world of brand consultancy at Wasserman. Her strategic insights and creative vision helped brands including AT&T, American Express, Nationwide, and Nokia navigate the complexities of the sports and entertainment industry – from strategy to negotiation to amplification – with properties like the NBA, NFL, USTA, USGA, and even Taylor Swift, among others. Smith also spent time as the Senior Director of Corporate Development and Events at The V Foundation for Cancer Research, where she led corporate partners like ESPN and Constellation Brands in cancer research funding through the power of sports and entertainment.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Danielle and her partner are passionate about fostering a love for sports among youth. Together, in their hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, they own and operate co-ed youth flag football leagues in partnership with RISE, Under Armour's esteemed youth flag football system. Through their dedication and commitment, they provide girls and boys with a platform to develop their skills, cultivate teamwork, and embrace the values of sportsmanship. Her passion for using sports as a platform for gender equity extends into her continuing academic research, where she is finishing her doctoral education and dissertation at NC State University, focused on a contemporary analysis of girls’ flag football players.
Smith holds a MBA and Masters in Sports Business Management from the DeVos Sport Management Program at the University of Central Florida and a BS in Marketing from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. These days, Danielle finds joy in being a devoted mother to two boys who share her passion for sports. Together, they bond over their shared love for playing and watching both men's and women's sports – instilling in them a deep appreciation for athleticism,
competition, and the power of sports to unite communities.