Madeleine Pla

Manager, Footage and Photo Licensing @ National Women’s Soccer League

“Thank you, Madeleine Pla, for sharing your inspiring journey with us! As the Manager of Footage and Photo Licensing at the National Women’s Soccer League, you play a key role in shaping how fans, media, and partners experience women’s sports. From working with Getty to coordinating licensing for major campaigns and documentaries, your work helps shine a light on the power of women’s sports on the global stage.

Your path—from studying film at Loyola Marymount to internships at 20th Century Fox and Fox Sports, then leading licensing projects at Paramount—shows incredible persistence and vision. You remind us how important it is to set boundaries, stand your ground, and never forget that women belong in every room, even when they’re the youngest or the only one there.

Madeleine’s advice is simple but powerful: network fearlessly, stand up for yourself, and embrace opportunities to elevate women’s sports. With a long-term goal of breaking into Formula One and continuing to make an impact, her story is proof that passion and perseverance open doors.”

– Zara

Please describe your role & responsibilities at that position?

I’m responsible for all things licensing for the league regarding images and footage of our matches. This could range from sponsorship campaigns, documentaries, supplying archival footage for media partners, working with Getty, and making sure all our partners are supplied whatever they need.

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

I studied film at Loyola Marymount University from 2016-2020. I always knew I wanted to be in sports, I come from a family of collegiate athletes (varying from club teams, D3, and D1) and wanted to marry the film aspect of my education to the industry. I was really able to solidify that goal my senior year of college, when I was a Music Licensing intern at Fox Sports and had been working towards breaking back into the industry ever since. I also think that being a film student at the time I was, in addition to my post grad goals really helped me realize why I wanted to be in women’s sports as well. Being in a major thats majority men, as well as being a female D1 athlete during the Me-Too movement really helped show me how important women are in male-dominated industries, and I really wanted to help bring light to female sports leagues and show how important they are.

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

My very first internship at 20th Century Fox, my last internship at Fox Sports, and then my role at Paramount as a licensing coordinator. I was able to do all the third party clearances for the 2024 Kids’ Choice Awards, where we highlighted Serena Williams and her accomplishments in tennis. It really helped me understand why I wanted to make the move back to sports from entertainment.

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

There’s going to be challenges with every industry, but more so in male-dominated ones. I think being at such a young league as well being a league that’s not as popular as other American sports is always going to be tough. It’s also such a small industry that you have to remember that you’re there for a reason, and you have every right to be there as any man. It’s always going to be hard to be taken seriously when you’re the only women in the room (usually the youngest as well), and making sure that you have to expect certain behaviors and comments is also important.

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

I think it’s a lot easier now than it probably was 15ish years ago which is definitely helpful. But you have to set those boundaries early. Once you start a new job, you have to be vocal about when you’re able to respond and logging off. There’s always going to be fire drills and when you’re so accessible with WFH, it’s hard to separate being online and offline, especially as your career progresses. People will try to take advantage of your time (especially if you’re a young women) so standing up for yourself, and making sure that people know your boundaries is so important.

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 incredibly important, regardless of the industry. While I didn’t have a mentor while entering the sports industry, I got very lucky at my time at Paramount to be surrounded by a predominantly female team. I had just come from a very toxic round of internships and college classes where the men were clearly prioritized, and entering a work space that was that supportive really shaped me to who I am today. I’m not sure I would’ve had the confidence to be as assertive as I am if I wasn’t surrounded by such a powerhouse group in such a formative time in my career.

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?

No I don’t, but unfortunately this isn’t unique to this industry. While I do think there are steps being taken, it’s a long road to be where we’d want to be with female representation. While this is the case, I think there needs to be a lot of cooperation between men and women to help come to fix the issue. This is not a men vs. women conversation, and it won’t be solved until people realize it’s not about ‘replacing’ men with women, it’s about hiring the most qualified person for the role *regardless* of gender. And now more than ever, more and more women are surpassing men in that aspect.

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

Being able to see your work (especially with licensing) in real time and working with athletes so many people look up to is so inspiring, and really helps me stay motivated in trying to work as hard as possible. Most challenging would probably be the timeline of which people are hoping to get projects done by.

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

Network!!! This is such a small industry, and so many people are referral hires, or played with each other, friends of friends etc. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there. It can be intimidating in a space like this, but it’s so important. You really never know who you’ll be able to meet or work with in the future just by introducing yourself.

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

The end goal career wise is Formula One. Women have been making massive strides in motor sport, and I’d love to be part of that story.

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

I’m a big foodie! I’m the go-to person for any new restaurant opening or super niche recommendation. I’ll always try something once. I grew up in Zurich, Switzerland, so have always been exposed to a wide verity of cultures and foods.