Christine Dorfler: From Army Captain to the NFL’s CFO

What does it take to manage the finances of the world’s most powerful sports league? In this episode, Maria sits down with Christine Dorfler, the CFO of the NFL, for an unfiltered look at the business behind the game. From her journey as an Army Captain to navigating the complex financial landscape of the NFL, Christine shares the leadership lessons and high-stakes decision-making that keep the league growing. We dive into the "Billion-Dollar" choices that impact everything from international expansion to the game-day experience. And of course ‘The Taylor Swift Effect.’ All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. ⁠⁠⁠Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Follow Maria on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Follow Maria on X⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack 00:00:00 – The Power of Confidence and Humility 00:02:00 – Learning to Lose: Lessons from Sports 00:03:45 – Leadership Lessons from the Army 00:06:00 – Taking a Big Promotion During Maternity Leave 00:09:40 – The Art of Saying "No" in Finance 00:10:45 – Moving into the Sports Industry 00:12:30 – Advice for Young, Ambitious Professionals 00:14:30 – Transitioning to the NFL 00:15:30 – Roger Goodell’s Leadership Style 00:18:00 – The "Taylor Swift Effect" on NFL Viewership 00:20:45 – Growing Girls’ Flag Football 00:22:45 – Mastering the Art of Negotiation 00:24:45 – Reflecting on the NFL-ESPN Media Deal 00:29:45 – Sports Betting and Protecting Game Integrity 00:33:45 – Global Expansion and New International Markets 00:38:15 – Evolving Fan Consumption Habits 00:41:00 – Lightning Round: Routine, Perfection, and Resilience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices