Allie Kleva's Purpose-Driven Path: How a Career Built on Impact Led to Athletes Unlimited
Allie Kleva’s career hasn’t followed a straight line, but every turn has been guided by the same compass: purpose.
From eight years in New York City public service, followed by a decade at CNN, to her current role as Chief Growth Officer at Athletes Unlimited, Kleva has built a career around making a measurable impact, whether that’s changing the landscape of New York’s film industry, shaping a global news brand’s strategic partnerships, or elevating women’s professional sports.
“I’ve had a very nonlinear path,” Kleva said. “When I look at the trajectory, it’s really been driven by gut instinct about what fulfills me. Particularly when you’re a working parent, being away from your family–I have to love what I’m doing in order to sacrifice that time.”
That clarity about what drives her professionally has been consistent throughout her career, even as the industries and roles have changed.
“The through line of the jobs that I’ve been at is that they’re purpose-driven,” she explained. “I feel like I’m doing something that is positively impacting the business, but also having a larger social impact as well.”
As someone who has spent her career in leadership positions, Kleva’s drive has never come as a surprise to those who know her best.
“I think I’ve always been incredibly driven,” she said. “I was always very hard on myself when it came to personal success, and I’ve always held myself to a very high standard. It’s also just been part of my family’s life–always have a purpose.”
But Kleva’s path to leadership required evolution and, at times, uncomfortable growth. Early in her career at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, a career mentor gave her transformative advice.
“She said, ‘You know, if you want to be in media and entertainment, it’s a highly relationship-based business, and you have to work on that,'” Kleva recalled. “Success also means you have to be uncomfortable, or else, if you stay comfortable, you’d just be stagnant.”
Her eight-year tenure at the Mayor’s Office provided Kleva with a first taste of work that created visible, measurable change. As Associate Commissioner and Director of Marketing and Partnerships, she developed the marketing strategy for the “Made in NY” brand.
“In public service, that’s a direct kind of benefit, and you can see that working,” Kleva said. “That was kind of addicting. We were really changing the landscape of New York City’s film and production industry.”
At CNN, where Kleva spent a decade rising to Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, she found herself at the center of a transformative period in the news industry while navigating major life milestones and growing her family.
“I worked for two women, one at CNN and one at the mayor’s office, who were just completely incredible leaders for me on a professional and personal basis,” she said. “Having supportive bosses was hugely impactful.”
But after a decade of intense work during a tumultuous period in news, Kleva was ready for a change.
“I left CNN in 2022, and it was a really intense period of time, and I wanted to take a break from news.”
Sports emerged as the natural next step. Through her civic engagement work at CNN, she saw how athletes could bring people together.
“Whenever we brought athletes into the mix about encouraging people to vote, it was more unifying,” Kleva said. “Sports is where movements are made.”
A year later, Kleva connected with Athletes Unlimited CEO Jon Patricof, whom she knew from his work with the Tribeca Film Festival while she was at the Mayor’s Office.
“I was just inspired,” she recalled. “Jon and (Athletes Unlimited Co-Founder) Jonathan (Soros) were trying to create something that was going to make a social impact on women’s sports in general.”
Her timing proved perfect. Kleva started as Chief Growth Officer at AU in April 2024, shortly after Caitlin Clark’s dominant NCAA run with Iowa, which sparked a new wave of support for women’s sports. She hit the ground running when it came to establishing new partnerships.
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“I’ve been very fortunate to ride this incredible wave of public support for women’s sports,” she said. “So many people have been working for decades to try to get it to this place. Now, how do we leverage that interest in really making an impact for the athletes?”
To AU, Kleva brought an entrepreneurial mindset honed over years of building initiatives within established organizations.
“I feel like I’m a generalist in that I can approach a professional challenge with an entrepreneurial mindset,” Kleva said. “Coming to AU and understanding that that skill set is exactly what is needed to help grow the brand … It’s just an application of skills in a different environment.”
That adaptability has proven crucial in women’s sports.
“The landscape of women’s sports has changed so dynamically that we’ve been forced to evolve in real time,” she said. “AU is constantly innovating and iterating on itself to meet the moment. Coming into an organization with the remit of helping grow the brand, and seeing that we are starting to break through–there’s so much untapped potential.”
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One moment particularly captured the effect of AU’s growth. A softball athlete from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AU’s first traditional format league) told Kleva about being recognized at a gym. It was the first time she felt like a professional athlete. The AUSL, which launched in summer 2025, yielded a partnership with MLB, brand new audience records, and proved a resounding success for the organization.
“That is awesome,” Kleva said. “Giving these women who have incredible talent the opportunity and visibility where they are now recognized–that’s impact in a big, big way.”
Looking ahead, Kleva sees endless possibilities as women’s sports continue their unprecedented growth.
“I think with women’s sports, it changes daily,” she said. “For AUSL, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve seen Major League Baseball lean in across their organization in such an incredible way. We have hundreds of thousands more followers because of the megaphone that announcement provided us.”
As the AUSL prepares to introduce two more softball teams and home cities for each franchise, AU Pro Volleyball gears up for its most saturated talent pool yet, and AU Pro Basketball continues to reel in new WNBA signees for the winter, Kleva’s excitement is clear.
“I can’t even imagine what next year is going to be like,” she said. “It’s all going up and to the right for AU. You feel that when you talk to not only our staff, but our athletes. The women’s sports community is feeling it too.”
For someone whose career has been defined by seeking purpose and creating measurable impact, Kleva has found her perfect fit at Athletes Unlimited, where business growth and social impact aren’t just aligned, but inseparable.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
