Nadia Witt, a first-year MBA student at the A. Gary Anderson School of Management (AGSM), is determined to make a lasting impact through her passion for sports. As a proud Highlander, Witt has embraced opportunities on and off the field, serving as the captain of UCR’s Division I softball team. For her, the sport is far more than a game — it has been a guiding force, a source of discipline, and the reason she chose to pursue her academic and professional journey in California.
“Growing up, I always loved the thought of living in California, and softball gave me an opportunity to take advantage of that. Where I’m from, there are not a lot of minority individuals in general, and not everyone gets to play D1 softball,” Witt explains. Originally from Oregon, she relocated to Riverside to join UCR’s softball program, completing her undergraduate degree in ethnic studies in 2022. “Softball has shaped almost everything for me; it’s made me into the person I am today.”
Witt recognizes the responsibility that comes with her leadership role, both on the field and within her community. “I’m only the second person in my family to get a bachelor’s degree. And, I’m a woman of color working to be an example for other students who look like me or are trying to do similar things, considering not a lot of Black women play softball,” she shares. For many of her teammates and peers, she represents both a mentor and a role model, someone who demonstrates that persistence and determination can pave the way toward new opportunities.
Looking ahead, Witt aspires to build a career in sports that merges her academic background with her love for athletics. “Ideally, I’d like to stay in the sports world. I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet, but I’d love to be a sports agent or a director of operations, working with athletes in a business role,” she says. Whether advocating for players as an agent or ensuring programs run smoothly in an administrative position, Witt wants her work to directly benefit athletes while also promoting equity and inclusion in the sports industry.
Her decision to pursue an MBA reflects both ambition and purpose. Witt views the degree as a gateway to greater career options and as a tool she can use to make sports more inclusive. “I found ethnic studies so interesting and useful, as I’ll be able to apply it to the workforce being an advocate for minority populations. I’ll share what I know and provide support for minority populations, especially women of color.”
For Witt, the intersection of ethnic studies and management represents an opportunity to bring diverse voices into decision-making spaces that have traditionally lacked representation. She hopes to use her education not only to succeed professionally but also to ensure that the sports world evolves into a more welcoming and equitable environment. By combining the leadership skills she developed on the softball field with the strategic insights of an MBA, Witt is positioning herself to contribute meaningfully to the future of athletics and to inspire others who follow in her footsteps.