Founder and Visionary of Navigate.
Leading the Navigate team and propelling the sports & entertainment industry forward.
AJ is the founder of Navigate, where he advises the world’s leading brands, sports leagues, teams, universities, and entertainment organizations on their most critical strategic decisions. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of strategy, finance, data analytics, and consumer behavior, AJ is trusted by global sports leaders to anticipate change, unlock growth, and shape the future of their industries.
He has pioneered the use of valuation and market research to assess sponsorships across a client portfolio of more than 150 brands, properties, universities, and agencies since the company’s inception.
As a proponent of giving back to the next generation of sports business leaders, he is routinely a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at a number of esteemed graduate programs. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including TEDx Chicago, the National Sports Forum and SportsBusiness Journal events, on the topic of research and measurement in sports and entertainment.
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Hometown: Fairbanks, AK
College: University of Washington; Arizona State University
Fun Fact: I enjoy the outdoors and find myself hiking, biking, camping and playing any kind of outdoor sport available at any opportunity. Travel is a passion and odds are that I have been there and would love to return again. The rest of my free time is invested into personal growth and giving back. I am here to help if you share any of these interests!
Hobby: Global Travel
In your opinion, what are the Seven Wonders of the World?
The northern lights, Table Mountain (Cape Town), Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium, Meditation, Elizabeth Falls (Zim/Zambia border), the Grand Canyon, Zajac’s Hair.
