Maria Cabande

Raiderettes The Studio, Las Vegas Raiders

We are honored to feature Maria Cabande, who leads Raiderettes The Studio, the first and only NFL-recognized dance studio. With 17+ years in cheer and dance, Maria has coached at UCLA & LMU, worked with the ICU to grow cheerleading worldwide, and helped pave the way toward Olympic recognition.

Thank you, Maria, for sharing your inspiring journey. Your passion, resilience, and dedication to mentorship continue to empower the next generation in sports and dance.

– Zara

Please describe your role & responsibilities at that position?

Business operations in the professional dance industry, I operate the first and only Dance Studio that is recognized by the NFL.

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

My educational background was unconventional. I took time to travel and work with a cheerleading/dance company to pave the road for cheerleading to become recognized as an olympic sport.

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

1. Becoming a cheerleader in high school 2. Becoming a competitive cheerleader and starting a career in cheerleading 3. Coaching as a head coach of UCLA & LMU 4. Working with the ICU to introduce cheerleading world wide while working toward the goal of Cheerleading being recognized as an Olympic Sport.

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

I’ve faced plenty of challenges as a woman in sports so much so that I did not even recognize myself as a woman in sports business. The cheer and dance world is not well respected typically and I have overcome this by continuing to remind myself that my work is and has been my passion for over 17 years and no one can tell me that my work has not been instrumental, or not qualifies as work. I really attest my proudness of my title as a woman in sports business to the families and children, teens and aspiring professional dancers that I work with. Their daily interest in my business and personal aspirations is fulfilling because I know that it is more than just cheer or dance or even business, but it is something that helps shape lives, families, and careers.

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

Work-life balance is a career in itself when you make time for it but it is something extremely important and essential for me. I prioritize my health and that will always come first. The way that I balance my work with life is by creating strong boundaries, filling my own cup emotionally, physically before I head into the day, or a busy work week or event. It is very possible to work hard and long hours but I’ve learned that the work is not done as well as when you’ve taken care of yourself first.

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 for women in this industry is increasingly growing. It is important for everyone to voice their stories so that others watching and listening can learn and understand and grow. My mentor in my career is Travis Neese, he ultimately taught me how to be hardworking, persistent and to always believe in myself.

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?

I do believe we are becoming more and more respected as time goes on, at least in my experience. However I know there is room for plenty of growth and I know not all women experience what I do. Since my industry is mostly women, I do not share the same experiences that some of my colleagues in our organization experience.

I believe that any growth starts with listening to understand and learning and application. Also, respect goes a long way.

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

I enjoy the day to day interactions with the families I work with and watching the youth grow interest in a sport I fell in love with myself. I also enjoy being a part of something as great as the NFL, I very much respect the level I am a part of. I find majority of my challenges in starting the very first professional dance studio within the NFL, this is what comes starting with any business.

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

My advice for women aspiring to build a successful career in the sports industry is to truly understand their passion, follow that intuition and use your resources. Learn from anyone and everyone that you have access to and to continue to open doors for yourself.

What is your long-term personal goal that you still want to achieve both business wise and personal?

My long term personal goals business wise are to continue to build and perfect the business of professional dance studios and my hope is to understand how other dance and cheer studio/gym owners can grow in their business. My personal long term goals are to continuously grow, learn and feed my excitement for life, others, give back to my communities and balance my corporate business life with my personal business endeavors.

Any fun facts or interesting things you’d like the world to learn about you? Favorite food, hobbies, pet peeves, etc.?

My fun fact is that I filmed a Youtube episode with Kevin Hart while he was learning to do cheerleading and that I traveled to Mongolia to start their cheerleading and dance national teams!