Class of 2014 Alumna Scores NHL Job

The love of sports and strategic thinking led Class of 2014 alumna Sara Bennett to her new position with the National Hockey League (NHL) as she is the new senior manager of digital innovation and growth strategy for the NHL. 

“I'm supporting the development, implementation, and execution of League strategies aimed at growing the global NHL audience,” said Sara of her new position. “I look forward to playing a critical role in defining the League's long-term vision for the international strategy of the NHL and shaping the broader sports innovation landscape.”

Sara has been an athlete and avid sports fan her whole life. Playing (and captaining) three Varsity sports as a Hornet earned her the Scholar Athlete Award her senior year at Hamden Hall. 

"I'm thrilled to have found a place to work where my interests and experiences align," said Sara.

Jumping right in, Sara’s first week at the NHL was during the finals of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The thrilling overtime championship game, where Canada defeated the United States 3-2, was the most-watched NHL-sanctioned game with a record-breaking 9.3 million viewers watching on ESPN and 16 million watching across North America. What an exciting way to start!

After high school graduation, Sara attended Wesleyan University and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, data analytics, and environmental studies. While Sara thought she was ready to leave sports behind in college, her Hamden Hall lacrosse coach, Katie Keogh, suggested she try out as a walk-on at Wesleyan, knowing she would miss not having an athletic outlet. Sara credits Katie for that encouragement because she ended up playing all four years at Wesleyan and was named captain her senior year. It’s fun to note that one of Sara’s lacrosse coaches at Wesleyan was Amanda Belichick, who is Bill Belichick’s daughter.

Sara worked for seven years at Deloitte. She started as a college intern and rose to be a senior consultant, developing strategic plans for clients like the Women’s National Basketball Association, National Football League, and United States Tennis Association.  

“Deloitte loves to hire athletes because they embody important qualities like teamwork, problem solving, and a dedicated work ethic, all of which are needed to be successful,” she said. “I was excited to put a business lens on what I was always passionate about – sports.”

When Sara was working for Deloitte in New York City, she was based out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. 

"It was fun to work in one of the busiest tourist intersections with the hustle and bustle of the Rockefeller tree-lighting, the ice rink, The Tonight Show, and more," recalled Sara. 

She said she remembers putting in the hard work and hours expected of employees at a Big-Four consulting firm. Sara typically worked 15-hour days. She traveled to client headquarters Mondays through Thursdays and spent Fridays back in the office at Deloitte. 

"Even if I wasn’t the most skilled player (or employee), I was always the hardest worker," reflected Sara. "I got that dedication from playing sports. I was also very comfortable working with sports clients. I know how to handle the 'Boys' Club' since I grew up with three older brothers," Sara joked.

Fortunately, Sara does not believe that the sports industry is for men only these days.

“I’m a strong advocate for women working in the sports business. At Deloitte, I had a hand in championing the Student Athlete Leadership Experience, which is a unique and interactive development program helping women student-athletes transition from athletic excellence to post-sport career success,” she said. 

In addition to investing time with other women athletes, Sara continues to invest time in her own development. She recently attended the 2025 Women in Sports and Events Symposium.

"It was a career-shaping day filled with insights on emerging trends, best practices, personal and professional development, and networking across the sports and entertainment landscape," said Sara. "Built by women, for women, this event highlighted the unique hurdles that women encounter in the business of sports while fostering a community of support and empowerment."

Sara’s new job at the NHL will keep her in the city. 

“I’ve tried to take advantage of all New York City has to offer,” said Sara. “I try to see a show, catch a game, or grab a nice dinner in the city almost every weekend. I spend a lot of time in Central Park with my dog, Kodak.” 

Sara’s brother, Class of 2006 alumnus Ross Bennett, also lives in NYC, and so do many of her Hamden Hall friends from the Class of 2014.