Julia Durham

Sr. Manager, External Affairs @ the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games

“Your journey into the Olympic and Paralympic movement is a powerful example of how purpose and strategy can intersect. The way you’ve transitioned from human rights and international affairs into a leadership role at LA28 reflects the kind of non-linear path that more people should feel empowered to take.

Your insights on relationship-building, government engagement, and scaling for the world’s largest peacetime gathering offer a compelling behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to drive real impact. And your point about grounding yourself through community and personal goals, like marathon training or dinner parties, brings such a well-rounded perspective to the demands of the industry. Loved the detail about your visits to Olympic host cities—and Rory the cat is a fun bonus.

Also, totally agree: making authentic connections in a male-dominated space is changing, and your example is proof of that progress.” – Zara Halabu

Please describe your role & responsibilities at that position ?

As the Senior Manager of External Affairs, I manage work streams and long-term business planning efforts across Government Relations, International Affairs, and Protocol as our organization prepares to scale to 4500 full-time staff by 2028. I engage with elected officials to drive the organization’s collaboration with Federal, State, and Local bodies to secure government approvals and build support for the Games..

What did you study in college and how did your educational background shape your career in the sports industry?

While my journey has been an unconventional one, my undergraduate degrees at the University of Georgia and my MBA at the University of Southern California have significantly shaped my career in sports. As an undergraduate student I studied International Affairs and designed my own degree in Human Rights. I have always been passionate about intersecting sports and human rights. My self-designed degree allowed me a deeper understanding of sports as a platform for peacekeeping. During my MBA I had the opportunity to study Business Sports which best equipped me to make a career transition to sports.

Can you share the key milestones in your career that led you to your current position in the sports industry?

As a native Atlantan, host to the 1996 Centennial Olympics, I experienced first-hand the transformative possibilities enabled by the Olympic Games. While I have always been passionate about sports, I didn’t always understand that it could be a viable career path. I entered the sports industry by remaining committed to pursuing my passions in community engagement, program management, and stakeholder relations. While a different environment than previous roles, the knowledge and skills I learned in previous roles allowed me to change industries.

My business degree was a very intentional decision to create the space to pivot into sports, sharpen my business acumen, and learn how to more strategically pursue my passions at scale.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in the sports business, & how have you overcome them?

I’m incredibly grateful to be surrounded by incredible female leaders at LA28. They consistently demonstrate how to lead with grace, intelligence, and compassion. While I’ve never experienced challenges as a woman internally at LA28, I am consistently challenged by the lack of representation in other organizations. Women in Sports & Events (WISE) is an incredible national organization connecting women in sports. I’ve relied on that network heavily to build relationships across the industry and am very grateful for their influence.

Balancing a career is demanding. How do you manage a work-life balance? What strategies have worked well for you?

I’ve found it’s extremely important to have personal goals outside of the professional workplace to keep myself grounded. Last year, for me, that was training for the Los Angeles Marathon. Community is essential to keeping me grounded. My husband and I are avid dinner party hosts.

How important is mentorship for women in the sports industry? Have you had mentors or role models who played a significant role in your career and can give some details ?

Mentorship is absolutely essential and I’ve been consistently humbled by the women who have proactively chosen to invest in my journey, whether formally or informally. As a graduate student exploring a career pivot to sports, I met an accomplished leader in the Olympic and Paralympic Space who shared the same passions for pursuing human rights through sports. When I would only ask for a 20-minute conversation, she would offer an hour to help guide me through the Los Angeles Sports landscape. However, mentorship doesn’t always have to be with a professional lens. I’m consistently grateful for mentors, in and outside my organization, that hold me accountable to pursuing passions outside of work.

In a male-dominated industry, do you feel women are given equal opportunities? What steps do you think can be taken to promote gender equality in the sports industry?

It can be challenging to make authentic connections in a male-dominated industry, but I do believe that it’s changing. I believe it’s important for women to continue to pursue opportunities outside the women’s sports landscape. We’re experiencing such an incredible surge of women leadership in both men’s sports and women’s sports. As discussed by many other exceptional women, pursuing mentorship and joining networking organizations, like “Women in Sports and Events” are essential steps to building relationships across the industry.

What aspects of your work in the sports industry do you enjoy the most ? What parts do you find the most challenging ?

I’m thankful to work with incredible people in and outside my organization and have the privilege to support the planning of the world’s largest peacetime gathering in 2028. I most enjoy relationship building and galvanizing stakeholders to this shared mission.

Conflicting priorities in high-pressure moments is always the most challenging. However, I’ve learned that by taking moments to walk around the office and build informal rapport you can drive successful progress.

What advice do you have for young women aspiring to build a successful career in the sports industry?

Without a doubt, I would encourage young women to follow their passions and don’t be afraid to create your own path. In networking, pursue authenticity and keep connections warm. Always take advantage of volunteer opportunities outside of classwork and internships to demonstrate your interest in the industry.

What are your long term personal goals that you still want to achieve both business wise and personal?

I am currently living my dream job and am excited to see where that takes me. I trust by taking one step at a time, I’ll find the next best fit after the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

Personally, I have the goal to visit all 7 continents and hope for the opportunity to build a family in the future. I’m thankful for the many women who have paved the way.

Any fun facts you’d like the world to learn about you? Favorite food, hobbies, how many kids, pet peeves, etc. The more the merrier!

My last five international trips have been to Olympic hosts cities: Paris, Athens, Rome, Tokyo, and Seoul.

As shared, I’m an avid dinner party host. Recent themes have included an Oscars Best Picture Pizza Party, Mediterranean Summer Nights, and an Annual Chili Cook Off.

I have a wonderful cat named Rory after a character in Gilmore Girls.