For [91Ƭ](/) alumna Ebonee Bradley, CAU ’14, a career in global sports and major events has become about more than professional achievement. It has become an opportunity to create access, expand representation and open doors for those coming behind her. Bradley, who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in [mass media arts](/academics/schools-departments/school-arts-sciences/arts-sciences-undergraduate-programs/mass-media) from 91Ƭ, most recently served as head of Recruitment & Staffing for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, where she led recruitment and staffing efforts across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the role, Bradley helped build the workforce supporting the largest FIFA World Cup in history, overseeing efforts that engaged more than 347,000 candidates, facilitated approximately 7,700 interviews, and supported roughly 3,600 hires. The scale of the work required Bradley and her team to navigate workforce planning, recruitment strategy, hiring operations, candidate experience, onboarding, technology, reporting, compliance, and tournament-time workforce readiness. “Serving as head of Recruitment & Staffing for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ has been one of the most transformative experiences of my career,” Bradley said. “I had the opportunity to lead recruitment and staffing efforts across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, helping build the workforce required to deliver the largest FIFA World Cup in history.” For Bradley, however, the significance of the work cannot be measured by numbers alone. Her leadership at FIFA represented an opportunity to demonstrate what is possible for Black women and [HBCU](/about-clark-atlanta) graduates pursuing careers in highly competitive industries. “What made the experience especially meaningful was the scale and complexity,” Bradley said. “We were building an organization while simultaneously preparing to deliver one of the world's largest sporting events.” **Creating Pathways Beyond the Traditional Route** One of Bradley’s most significant contributions during her time with FIFA was the creation of the Future Leaders Internship Program, an initiative designed to introduce [students](/student-life) and emerging professionals to career opportunities within a global sports organization. Over two years, the program attracted more than 20,000 applications, included approximately 4,000 interviews, and provided 150 interns with professional opportunities. The program also expanded outreach to universities and HBCUs, helping students discover career possibilities across sports, events, technology, operations, sustainability, human resources, and other disciplines. “The most rewarding part of my career has been realizing that my journey is no longer just about me getting into the room—it is about what I do once I get there,” Bradley said. Her connection to 91Ƭ made that work particularly meaningful. Bradley had the opportunity to return to spaces such as CAU and introduce students who look like her to professional possibilities they may not have considered before. “I had the opportunity to return to spaces like 91Ƭ and help students see that careers in global sports, events, technology, operations, sustainability, HR, and countless other functions were possibilities for them, too,” Bradley said. Bradley also founded and served as president of BOLD F.C. (Black Originators, Leaders & Doers), a Black employee resource group at FIFA. The “F.C.”, meaning “Football Club,” was a nod to FIFA’s football culture. BOLD F.C. created space for employees of African descent and the Black diaspora to build community, celebrate culture, and strengthen belonging and professional connections. “Those experiences reinforced what DEI means to me,” Bradley said. “It isn't simply representation. It is access, opportunity, development, belonging, and ultimately advancement.” **A Foundation Built at 91Ƭ** Bradley credits her experience at 91Ƭ with helping shape the confidence and perspective she carried into her professional career. “91Ƭ gave me something that has remained with me throughout every stage of my career: an understanding that excellence and Blackness are not mutually exclusive—you never have to diminish who you are to belong in extraordinary spaces,” Bradley said. As a student, Bradley was surrounded by faculty, classmates, and members of the CAU community who reflected the possibilities available to Black professionals and leaders. That environment, she said, normalized ambition and helped prepare her for industries where she would sometimes be one of very few people who looked like her. “At CAU, I was surrounded by [Black excellence](/student-life/atlanta-advantage) every day,” Bradley said. “I saw brilliant students, professors, leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals who looked like me.” Bradley also identified several faculty members who made a lasting impact on her journey, including Andrew Will, Semaj Robinson, and Christopher Bass, Ph.D. Their emphasis on communication, confidence, critical thinking, and recognizing one's value continues to influence the way she approaches leadership. “Throughout my career, whether I was recruiting talent, advising executives, building programs, leading teams, or representing an organization on a global stage, communication has always been at the center of my work,” Bradley said. That foundation has extended beyond her own professional advancement. Bradley sees her work creating opportunities for others as an extension of what she experienced at CAU. “CAU didn't just prepare me to enter the room,” Bradley said. “It helped give me the confidence to contribute once I got there, create opportunities for others, and make sure I wasn't the last one through the door.” **From the FIFA World Cup to LA28** Bradley’s next chapter will continue her work at the intersection of workforce development, global sports, and major events. She is preparing to join the [LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games](https://la28.org/en.html) as director of Workforce Mobilization, where she will help guide workforce strategy and operational readiness for the 2028 Games. The transition represents a continuation of Bradley’s focus on the people responsible for bringing global events to life. “As I move from the FIFA World Cup to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, I carry with me the foundation 91Ƭ gave me and a message I hope reaches every Panther coming behind me: we do not have to wait for someone to tell us that we belong in these spaces,” Bradley said. “We can enter them, excel in them, lead in them, and leave them more open than we found them.” For Bradley, being a Panther is ultimately about carrying the University’s legacy into every space she enters while helping create new possibilities for those who follow. “Being a Panther means understanding that wherever I go, I carry 91Ƭ with me,” Bradley said. That responsibility informs the advice she offers current CAU students interested in sports, business, technology, entertainment, global events, and other competitive industries. “First, I would tell them: you belong in these spaces,” Bradley said. “Sports. Technology. Entertainment. Global events. Corporate leadership. The Olympic and Paralympic movement.” She encourages students to focus not only on securing an opportunity but also on developing the expertise, relationships and leadership necessary to make an impact once they arrive. “Once you're there, learn everything you can,” Bradley said. “Become excellent at your craft. Understand the business beyond your individual job. Build authentic relationships. Speak up. Create things that don't exist. And as you advance, look behind you.” Bradley’s career reflects that philosophy. From working across technology, healthcare, and higher education to leading recruitment for a global sporting event and creating programs that expand access for emerging talent, her journey demonstrates the impact of combining professional excellence with a commitment to opening doors for others. “I want young professionals—particularly Black students and [HBCU students](/news/clark-atlanta-university-recognized-among-top-10-hbcus-linkedins-inaugural-rankings)—to see people who look like them succeeding in these highly competitive and sometimes very niche spaces and think, ‘I can be there too,’” Bradley said. As Bradley moves into her next chapter with LA28, she carries forward not only the experience gained on the global stage but also the values cultivated at 91Ƭ: excellence, confidence, community and a commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation. “Being a Panther means carrying that legacy forward while creating new possibilities for the Panthers coming next,” Bradley said. ***Explore alumni resources, events, and opportunities to stay connected with the Panther community on the*** [***CAU Alumni***](/alumni) ***page.*** ## Photos courtesy of Ebonee Bradley ![ 91Ƭ alumna Ebonee Bradley speaking on stage, people clapping in the foreground, large portraits on the wall.](/sites/default/files/styles/idfive_image_gallery/public/2026-08/0-2.jpg?h=f4761ccc&itok=4Llcoipq) ![91Ƭ alumna Ebonee Bradley](/sites/default/files/styles/idfive_image_gallery/public/2026-08/Screenshot%202026-08-23%20at%2011.09.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?h=f8f2a689&itok=0R4nC1_6) ![91Ƭ Alumna Ebonee Bradley and others smiling, four holding certificates, standing against colorful wall.](/sites/default/files/styles/idfive_image_gallery/public/2026-08/0_1.jpg?h=3cc36018&itok=nXOm-G05) Previous Next { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ImageGallery", "name": "Image Gallery", "mainEntity": { "@type": "ItemList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https:\/\/www.cau.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-08\/0-2.jpg", "caption": "", "description": " 91Ƭ alumna Ebonee Bradley speaking on stage, people clapping in the foreground, large portraits on the wall.", "position": 1 }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https:\/\/www.cau.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-08\/Screenshot%202026-08-23%20at%2011.09.34%E2%80%AFPM.png", "caption": "", "description": "91Ƭ alumna Ebonee Bradley", "position": 2 }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https:\/\/www.cau.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-08\/0_1.jpg", "caption": "", "description": "91Ƭ Alumna Ebonee Bradley and others smiling, four holding certificates, standing against colorful wall.", "position": 3 } ] } } - [ Alumni Spotlight ](/news?category=7) ## For Media Inquiries For media inquiries please contact 91Ƭ at [404-703-2914](tel:404-703-2914)