Steve Fenn / ESPN Images
Chara-Lynn Aguiar has a long history with The Walt Disney Company. She began her career with ABC as an intern in the research department the summer before she graduated from college.
“When you’re 23 and you hear the word ‘strategy’ you’re like, that sounds cool. Shocker, it was cool,” said Aguiar, also a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2021.
After a few other career opportunities, including at Fox Sports and YouTube, Aguiar came back to ESPN more than six years ago to start a strategy team at the brand.
Earlier this year, ESPN promoted Aguiar to executive vice president and expanded her responsibilities to include ESPN finance, overseeing a $17 billion business in fiscal year 2023.
Also serving as ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro’s chief of staff, she was part of the team that oversaw The Walt Disney Company’s recent restructuring under three core business segments: entertainment, sports and experiences. That included helping launch ESPN Bet last year, which is expanding across the country.
Aguiar and her team worked with the network's programming, acquisitions and distribution leaders to help facilitate rights acquisitions across the NFL, MLB, NHL, Formula 1, Wimbledon, Australian Open, college conferences, XFL and more. Not to mention her involvement with the upcoming launch of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, the new sports joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery and the company’s holistic distribution strategy across all its properties.
“There are days where I think I could use a dull moment,” said Aguiar. “I’m very biased in saying this, but I think I have one of the best jobs in sports. Don’t take yourself too seriously. We get to work in sports.”
Aguiar also champions diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at ESPN, serving as executive champion for ARISE (the Asian American/Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group), and is a mentor in various programs across ESPN and her alma mater, UCLA. — Mollie Cahillane
Chara-Lynn Aguiar
Executive Vice President, Finance, Strategy, Research and Office of the Chairman, ESPN
Age: 36
Born: Daly City, Calif.
Education: UCLA; B.A., economics / international studies; French
Advice to my 20-year-old self: Buy a good winter coat.
What my friends/family think I do all day: Math.
How I deal with stress in the workplace: Try and sneak in a few minutes of exercise every morning.
Cause supported: St. Anthony Foundation in San Francisco.
App I use most: Instagram.
First social media platform I signed up for: Myspace.
Person in sports business I’d most like to meet: Draymond Green.
Most pivotal decision in my career: Moving to New York … both times.
Sports business leaders should be more mindful of … : Diversity isn’t enough — you have to focus on inclusion, too.
Most pressing issue facing my generation is … : Climate change.
Back to the Forty Under 40 home page
