On episode 30 of the Sports Business Leaders Podcast, Justin and Jake welcome Parul Khosla, co-founder and CEO of Arena, an AI-powered career platform transforming how professionals connect in sports, media, and entertainment.

Parul shares her journey from sports recruitment to building Arena, which has already grown to over 6,000 users and 45 partner companies since its launch in late 2024. She explains how the platform evolved from a job board into a networking-focused community, combining curated events, AI-driven participant matching, and career opportunities to help professionals unlock meaningful connections.

The conversation covers Arena’s rapid growth, their strategy for leveraging social media and live events, and Parul’s experience winning a pitch competition. She also highlights the importance of storytelling in pitches, perseverance in breaking into competitive industries, and building authentic networks that lead to real opportunities.

If you are interested in sports, media, or entertainment, or want to learn what it takes to launch and scale a startup in these industries, this episode offers valuable insights.