06-29-2022, 12:40 PM
also on the list in her Front Office role
Elizabeth Blackburn, Bengals director of strategy and engagement | Age: 29
The Bengals are, at their core, a family business. So it was probably only a matter of time before Blackburn found herself working alongside her parents, Bengals executives Katie and Troy Blackburn, and grandfather, team owner Mike Brown.
But Blackburn didn’t want to take a job with the team until she knew she had the external business and management experience necessary to add new value.
That moment came in early 2020, after nearly six years working in corporate consulting and strategic management (and completing a rotational training program at the NFL office). She returned to Cincinnati right before Joe Burrow arrived as the No. 1 pick.
Since then, Blackburn has contributed to the launch of a Ring of Honor at Paul Brown Stadium and to a uniform redesign. She also helped manage a digital content team that finished in the top of the NFL in engagement rates the past two seasons.
“Timing can be everything, and I knew that the franchise and organization was entering into a pivotal chapter,” Blackburn told The Athletic earlier this month. “I thought I had hopefully done enough to have skills to apply on the business side, and I knew I had the energy and passion to come home and be part of this era of Bengals history.”
Elizabeth Blackburn, Bengals director of strategy and engagement | Age: 29
The Bengals are, at their core, a family business. So it was probably only a matter of time before Blackburn found herself working alongside her parents, Bengals executives Katie and Troy Blackburn, and grandfather, team owner Mike Brown.
But Blackburn didn’t want to take a job with the team until she knew she had the external business and management experience necessary to add new value.
That moment came in early 2020, after nearly six years working in corporate consulting and strategic management (and completing a rotational training program at the NFL office). She returned to Cincinnati right before Joe Burrow arrived as the No. 1 pick.
Since then, Blackburn has contributed to the launch of a Ring of Honor at Paul Brown Stadium and to a uniform redesign. She also helped manage a digital content team that finished in the top of the NFL in engagement rates the past two seasons.
“Timing can be everything, and I knew that the franchise and organization was entering into a pivotal chapter,” Blackburn told The Athletic earlier this month. “I thought I had hopefully done enough to have skills to apply on the business side, and I knew I had the energy and passion to come home and be part of this era of Bengals history.”
Winning makes believers of us all
