Ena Patel was hired as Vanderbilt Athletics’ chief of staff in January 2024 after serving nearly two years as director of planning and integration under the chief business officer for LA28, the team building the infrastructure for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

In addition to working with key partners, including the International Olympic Committee, she was involved with several departments to help develop strategies, oversee high-level meetings, and project workforce and business needs for the games. She also evaluated the technology necessary to implement a data management system that would allow for reporting and analysis of information across work areas.

Patel also has experience as the vice president of operations for the Drone Racing League and operations director/chief of staff at Fireside Chat, a company founded by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. As head of soccer operations at Angel City Football Club, she advised management and ownership on organizational structure, staffing, operating budgets and day-to-day operations, and she advised the Charlotte FC front office during that time.

As director of player personnel for the Colorado Rapids Soccer Club in 2018-19, Patel was the highest-ranking female on a technical staff in Major League Soccer. In her role as the organization’s second in command to the president and general manager, she assisted with club transactions, including negotiation of contracts, player development, management of the salary cap and day-to-day operations. While with the club, Patel earned the People’s Choice Award as the Best Sports Lawyer from Colorado Sports Law.

She has also served as an associate at Baker McKenzie LLP, DLA Piper LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Patel received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern California in 2005, adding a juris doctor in 2008 from Loyola Law School and a master of laws in taxation from Northwestern in 2012.