Marissa Soto ’17 has built an impressive career in professional sports marketing, grounded in strategy, storytelling, and a deep understanding of fandom across generations. Today, she serves as Director of Marketing for the New York Giants, helping lead brand strategy for one of the most historic franchises in professional sports.
In her role, Marissa oversees season-to-season marketing strategies. She describes marketing as “the engine that drives all of it,” supporting everything from ticketing and sponsorships to brand storytelling and fan experience. Her work focuses on honoring tradition while modernizing the brand to connect with all audiences. Marissa plays a key role in expanding what Giants fandom looks like today - at the intersection of sports and entertainment.
Marissa’s path to the NFL began at Central, where she was a student-athlete playing lacrosse. She credits her time as an athlete shaping her professional life - from time management and resilience to teamwork and leadership. “The qualities you need to be a student-athlete in a Division I program are the same qualities you need in the real world,” she shared. Learning how to balance demanding schedules while showing up as a supportive teammate prepared her for the fast-paced, collaborative environment of professional sports. During her undergraduate studies, Marissa benefited from strong relationships with advisors, coaches, and teammates who consistently checked in on her academic and personal growth. After starting college undeclared, she discovered her passion for marketing through the School of Business. One class in particular solidified her interest in sports marketing, helping her see the field as both creative and strategic.
Marissa follows a powerful philosophy: get your foot in the door. She pursued an internship with the Atlanta Falcons, where she gained hands-on experience. Her work ethic opened new doors, including opportunities with Atlanta United and later the New York City FC. From there, she continued to grow, taking on a role with the Brooklyn Nets before ultimately joining the Giants, where she worked her way up to her current leadership position.
Some of Marissa’s most memorable moments have come from being part of experiences few ever get to see up close, including standing on the field at five Super Bowls and helping bring the Giants’ 100th season celebration to life. The campaign took years of planning and collaboration across the organization. “Seeing it all come together was incredibly rewarding and it’s something I’m very proud of” she said.
Despite a demanding schedule and frequent travel, including international games and fan engagement across the country, Marissa remains deeply connected to Central. She stays in touch with former teammates and mentors whenever possible and takes pride in representing the University at the professional level. Marissa shares that being a Blue Devil means absolutely everything to her, and she couldn't be prouder to be an alum. She even met her husband here at Central - Casey Brown '16, a former Central baseball alum!
Marissa’s journey reflects how hard work and persistence can lead to meaningful careers in the sports industry.
