Donna Orender
Donna Orender
CEO
Orender Unlimited
Donna is currently the CEO of Orender Unlimited, a consulting firm whose competencies include providing Sales, Marketing, Media and Diversity Strategies. The PGA of America has recently retained her to lead a significant golf industry growth initiative focused on the highest growth target – women. In addition, Orender Unlimited is involved in providing strategic services to private equity, digital/technology companies as well as developing and guiding the launch of a new brand, Generation W.
Donna most recently served 6 years as President of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Her responsibilities included the oversight of all league operations including both business and competitive aspects of this complex organization.
During her tenure, Donna focused on revitalizing the brand, its value and relevance, resulting in 4 years of consecutive attendance growth, increased television ratings, digital growth, and merchandise sales. The league continues to benefit from an 8 year contract extension with Disney/ABC/ESPN and an unprecedented 6 year Collective Bargaining agreement. Donna additionally opened new markets, brought in new owners and innovated in both the Digital and Sponsorship business areas.
Prior to the WNBA, Donna spent 17 years at the PGA TOUR, the men’s professional golf tour. During that time she led the growth of both the creative scope and business depth of PGA TOUR Productions as well as building a significant global television business. Donna oversaw the TOUR’s global television and production businesses for nine years. She led the negotiating team that changed the paradigm for how PGA TOUR golf was both packaged and sold for television resulting in significant growth for the TOUR. Her last position was in the Office of the Commissioner, as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Development where she was responsible for developing strategic direction across all business lines including direct oversight of Brand Management, Advertising and Digital Strategy.
Donna’s business career began after playing 3 years in the Women’s Professional Basketball League, the WBL. This experience enabled her to work in network television sports at ABC and later in cable television at SportsChannel before forming her own production company.
Donna has been recognized as one of the top 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports, one of Newsweeks100 most Influential people in sports has been a recipient of the March of Dimes Sports Leadership Award and was honored by the UJA-Federation of New York’s Entertainment, Media and Communications Division for her dedication to the community.
Donna is a graduate of Queens College in NYC and pursued graduate studies in social work at Adelphi University where she was recently awarded an honorary doctorate. She is a sought-after speaker on issues such as leadership, teamwork, motivation and gender/diversity issues.
