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United States Erika Ayers Badan is a prominent American businesswoman, known for her leadership at major media companies and her focus on digital innovation and building community-first brands.
Erika is the founder of Work Like A Girl, a community of professional women built on Slack. This community focuses on empowering professional women and is part of Mule Media.
Co-founded with entrepreneur Layla Lisiewski, Mule Media is a community-first media company for women, bringing together Work Like A Girl and The Local Moms Network.
Erika Ayers Badan has a partnership with Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, for the publication of her book "Nobody Cares About Your Career."
Erika has identified and cultivated numerous successful talent ventures, including the podcast Call Her Daddy with Alex Cooper. This exemplifies her ability to foster and monetize talent.
Erika has identified and cultivated numerous successful talent ventures, including PlanBri. This highlights her strategic involvement in developing new media personalities and brands.
During her time as CEO, Erika oversaw Barstool Sports' partnerships with major organizations including the NFL.
During her time as CEO, Erika oversaw Barstool Sports' partnerships with major organizations including the NHL.
During her time as CEO, Erika oversaw Barstool Sports' partnerships with major organizations including Team USA Olympics.
Erika Ayers Badan partnered with the founder of cannabis media and lifestyle brand WeedFeed, demonstrating her involvement in diverse media ventures.
Erika Ayers Badan, born on November 6, 1975, has established herself as a significant figure in the digital media and lifestyle sectors. Her career trajectory demonstrates a consistent focus on scaling businesses and leading through innovation. Ayers Badan served as the CEO of Barstool Sports from 2016 to 2024, during which time she transformed the company from a regional blog with a small team into a nationally recognized media powerhouse. This period involved substantial growth in employee count and brand influence within sports, lifestyle, and entertainment.
Prior to her leadership role at Barstool Sports, Ayers Badan gained extensive experience in pivotal roles across several major technology and media companies. Her early career included positions at Microsoft, AOL, Demand Media, and Yahoo. These experiences provided a foundation in digital innovation and media strategy, which she later applied to her executive roles. In April 2024, she transitioned to become the CEO of Food52, a culinary and homeware company. This move reflects her continued interest in leading and growing brands, particularly those focused on female founders and customers, and expanding into new and evolving markets. She is also the author of “Nobody Cares About Your Career.”
Beyond her corporate leadership, Ayers Badan has been recognized for her impact on the industry. Forbes named her one of the Most Powerful Women in U.S. Sports, highlighting her influence during her tenure at Barstool Sports. She has engaged in various initiatives, including co-founding Mule Media, a community-first media company aimed at women, which brings together communities like Work Like A Girl and The Local Moms Network. Her work often involves leveraging digital platforms to connect with audiences and build strong, monetizable cultural machines.
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