“Sports taught me discipline; Columbia gave me perspective; and New York gave me courage,” said Shuchi Kulshreshtha (’18SPS), an alumna of the M.S. in Sports Management program. Endlessly driven by these lessons, Kulshreshtha has had an incredible career in sports leadership.
From working with global organizations such as the US Open, Lagardere Sports, BNP Paribas WTA Finals, and Rajasthan Royals to heading up business development at Skyesports and leading partnerships at the Association for Sports Industry Professionals (ASIP), Kulreshtha’s journey in sports has been driven by “a deep passion for bringing strategic value and innovation to the Indian sports industry.”
But even for someone so motivated and certain, “Coming to Columbia,” she said, “was a leap into the unknown.”
Taking the Leap—and Every Opportunity After
Growing up in Singapore, Kulshreshtha describes her upbringing as “comfortable and protected.” She points to her father’s faith in her as a wellspring for her success. She promised him that she would “go only to the best school and give everything I had,” and he, in turn, supported his daughter in her choice of an unconventional pursuit—a higher education degree in sports. Choosing Columbia’s program was her way of keeping that promise. “As the eldest daughter I wanted to make him proud, honor his faith in me, be fierce and independent, and make the most of every opportunity,” she said.
She took back-to-back internships, volunteered, attended countless workshops, and networked at every chance she could get. Her peers joked that she was omnipresent because she seemed to be doing everything, everywhere, all at once. Her attitude extended beyond campus as well—Kulshreshtha was temporarily blocked by LinkedIn for sending so many messages to potential industry connections outside her contacts list.
“I like to tell everybody this story because it perfectly captures how relentless and passionate I was,” she said of the LinkedIn episode. “I was chasing connections, soaking up knowledge, and basically treating networking like a full-contact sport.”
Letting Lessons Lead to the Unexpected
Though she had already been active in the sports world prior to joining Columbia, the program still managed to be “instrumental” in shaping her career trajectory. “It shaped my approach to sports business, strengthened my strategic thinking, and helped me see how to scale impact—whether in women’s cricket, digital engagement, or entrepreneurship,” Kulshreshtha said, adding that, “In hindsight, the program’s emphasis on business strategy, partnerships, and sports marketing guided my path towards founding my own start-up and holding senior roles in esports and sports partnerships.”
Kulshreshtha credits her time at Columbia with honing her skills in people and time management, strategic thinking, out-of-the-box approach, and communication and marketing fundamentals. But most of all, she was shaped by the people themselves and the culture of empathy and collaboration she learned while a student. And she also credits one of her greatest teachers with emboldening her: The City of New York.
“The beauty of Columbia is that magic moments happen when you least expect them. One day, I was crossing the street and ran into Professor Sunil Gulati, former president of US Soccer, completely unplanned. Another day, I found myself chatting with Gavin Flickinger, director at FOX Sports Media Group. And just like that, doors opened,” Kulshreshtha said.
“Impact is Greater When It’s Shared”
Amid all this momentum, Kushreshtha had a thought—why not create a space to gather the network, bringing together students, alumni, and professionals. And so, the Sports Management Association at Columbia (SMAC) was born. Her contribution to founding SMAC (including naming it) is one of her proudest achievements from her time at SPS.
This mindset of giving back carried through in her career at Rajasthan Royals, where she spearheaded a team creating programs and pathways for school girls that increased participation and opportunities for female cricketers. And in 2020, she also worked with them to develop an app, Pavilion, to expand access to cricket coaching by making expert mentorship available to aspiring cricketers globally—a service that was particularly needed during the pandemic when in-person training wasn’t possible.
Now, at the Association for Sports Industry Professionals, she’s working to empower sports business professionals, shaping the sports education system in India through partnership and driving collaboration across the broader ecosystem. In addition to her role in the sports world, Kushreshtha is working on a start-up called RUSHU, a luxury handloom brand that brings India’s centuries-old weaving traditions to the world while empowering the artisans who sustain them.
The M.S. in Sports Management program strengthened her confidence to lead, innovate, and break barriers. “Without the program, I wouldn’t have been able to navigate these spaces with the same boldness and clarity,” she said. Kulshreshtha continues to give back and engage with the Columbia community as the alumni lead in New Delhi for the Columbia SPS Alumni Club (India).
“Columbia is not just a university; it’s an experience that will shape you if you allow yourself to fully lean into it. It has so much to offer, but you only truly experience it if you show up fully,” Kulshreshtha offered as advice to incoming students. “If you’re willing to hustle with heart, to learn passionately, and to open your heart wide—selflessly—you can move mountains. I did, and so can you!”
About the Program
The Columbia University M.S. in Sports Management prepares students with a comprehensive curriculum and access to sports industry practitioners and leaders. Students acquire skills in areas such as entrepreneurship and innovation, global sports management, facility and event management, and sports law and ethics.
The spring 2026 application deadline for the M.S. in Sports Management program is November 1. The program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment. Learn more about the program here.
