Rice University sport management alumna Kristen Gambetta ’05 was recently named Global Head of Partner Marketing at Amazon Music. For the past two decades, Gambetta has worked in brand partnership and strategy in sports, entertainment, and tech sectors, all while staying rooted in the passion she brought as a varsity women's soccer and track athlete for the Owls.
Gambetta was initially drawn to the performance side of sport at Rice because of her father’s background as an athletic development coach. But after she took the Department of Sport Management’s introductory course, “the mix of classes, hands-on projects, and internships helped me discover a completely different path,” Gambetta said. She shifted to the management side of sport after graduation, playing a pivotal role in launching Houston’s first Major League Soccer team, the Dynamo, in 2006. “I wanted to stay connected to sports, even if I wasn’t playing anymore,” Gambetta said. “It was an incredible crash course in building a brand and fanbase from the ground up."
During her tenure, Gambetta led the club’s Partnership Marketing department, helped open Houston’s first soccer-specific stadium, and contributed to the launch of the National Women's Soccer League’s Houston Dash.
“Those experiences set the tone for my career,” she said. “I gravitate toward roles where I can build something new or make something better.”
After leaving Dynamo, Gambetta focused on brand partnership roles at a women’s sports media startup, Rakuten, Esurance, and now Amazon Music. She was recently promoted to Global Head of Partner Marketing from her prior role as Head of Partner Marketing for Sports and Games. Gambetta now leads strategy and execution for partnerships across a wide array of verticals, including devices, artificial intelligence, automotive, mobile, and sports. Her work ranges from large-scale integrated campaigns to artist collaborations and brand activations, each designed to bring fans closer to the music and podcasts they love.
“My background building partnerships from both the brand and rights-holder side really shaped how I approach the work,” Gambetta said. “I understand what both sides need to be successful, and I’ve learned how to navigate fast-paced, high-stakes environments without losing sight of purpose or creativity.”
In her current role, Gambetta is most excited by the people she works with and the opportunity to explore new ways of connecting music to sport and culture.
“There’s so much potential to create partnerships that feel authentic and fresh,” Gambetta said. “I love that challenge, and I love leading a team that’s thoughtful, driven, and full of good humans.”
Gambetta is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, where she teaches “The Rise of Women’s Sports” in the sport management master’s program. Passionate about lifting up women in sports, she has also served as vice president of the Women at Rakuten committee and as a board member for Women in Sports and Events (WISE) in San Francisco. She credits this advocacy to her time at Rice.
“One course in particular, 'Gender and Sports,' left a lasting impact,” she said. “It validated my personal experiences as a female athlete and deepened my understanding of the disparities in sport. It pushed me to become a strong advocate for women working in sport and for the growth of women’s sports.”
Reflecting on her career, Gambetta offered one key piece of advice for students: Always negotiate your compensation.
“I spent too long just being grateful for opportunities and not asking for more, which set me back early in my career,” she said. “Now that I’m on the hiring side, I respect and expect that candidates come prepared to have that conversation. It shows confidence, preparation, and self-worth.”
From launching professional franchises to shaping global partnerships, Gambetta continues to lead with passion, purpose, and a commitment to elevating sport for all. She now lives in San Francisco with her husband and daughter, cherishing favorite moments such as family dance parties (featuring Taylor Swift and Beyoncé) in the kitchen.
Sergio Rojas, a Rice senior from Houston, Texas, is double-majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance and in Sport Management with a concentration in Leadership.