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Zach Stone (’13) | Director, Growth Strategy at U.S. Soccer | Atlanta, GA

Hi, my name is Zach, and I’m currently a Director on the Soccer Growth Strategy team at U.S. Soccer, based in our Atlanta HQ. In my role, I focus on Pathways strategy and professional development programming, thinking about how we expand access to the game, support talent across all levels, and create clearer, more connected routes into careers in soccer.

Before joining U.S. Soccer, I spent five years at McKinsey & Company as an Associate and Engagement Manager. I primarily worked on strategy, pricing, and transformation initiatives within the Marketing & Sales practice, partnering with organizations to solve complex business problems and drive growth. That experience gave me a strong foundation in structured problem-solving and exposed me to a wide range of industries and leadership challenges.

I went to McKinsey after earning my MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, where I was a Full Merit Fellow and graduated as a Dean’s Scholar (top 5% of the class) with a concentration in Management Consulting. I decided to pursue business school after starting my career in football, where I spent four years working in player personnel, including a scouting role with the Tennessee Titans.

I’m a 2013 graduate of Wake Forest University, where I majored in Finance and minored in Politics and International Affairs. I usually joke that I “double majored in football” as well; I worked with the team all four years in a mix of video, operations, and player personnel roles, which ultimately sparked my journey towards building a career in sports.

I’m always happy to connect with fellow alumni, especially on topics like breaking into sports, transitioning between industries, consulting, deciding whether to pursue an MBA, and navigating career moves, including relocating for new opportunities. I can also share perspective on working across different parts of the sports ecosystem, from teams to consulting to a national governing body.

Looking forward to connecting with you!

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