Sarah Cunningham

About Sarah Cunningham

I\'ve spent 17+ years at the intersection of brand strategy and elite sport, leading C-suite partnerships at AKQA for Nike, Mayo Clinic, lululemon, NOBULL, and Therabody. I\'ve helped scale emerging brands into category leaders and developed growth strategies that consistently exceed business goals.What most people don\'t expect: I\'m also a competitive boxer — ranked #2 in Ireland, Golden Gloves champion, and a USA Boxing Metro Board member. That combination gives me something rare in the sports business landscape — authentic competitive credibility paired with proven commercial instincts.I\'m now focused on the massive untapped opportunity in women\'s sports monetization, particularly combat sports. Through Between the Rounds, my boxing analysis podcast, and strategic consulting, I bridge the gap between what athletes experience and what brands need — helping both sides unlock real value.Open to conversations around sports media, brand partnerships, and the future of women\'s sport and performance.

Experience

1. Managing Director

   AKQA

   Jan 2025 — Present · US

Education

• University of Galway

  Bachelor's Degree of Commerce, Marketing

  2005 — 2008

• Technological University Dublin

  Master of Arts (hons), Public Relations

  2008 — 2009

Skills

• Marketing
• Sponsorship
• Reputation Management
• Integrated Marketing
• Creative Direction
• Social Marketing
• Publicity
• Social Media Marketing
• Corporate Communications
• Press Releases
• Digital Media
• Social Media
• Blogging
• Direct Mail
• Digital Marketing
• Brand Management
• Public Relations
• Internal Communications
• Media Relations
• Marketing Communications
• Event Management
• Digital Strategy
• Crisis Communications