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From the NBA to the Next Generation: Tammy Henault’s Vision for Belonging and Equity in Leadership

Image courtesy of the NBA

25 Jul '25
By The Shift
25 Jul '25
By The Shift

The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.

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Tammy Henault is the Chief Marketing Officer of the NBA, where she leads all global marketing efforts for the NBA and its affiliate leagues. With prior roles at Paramount+ and The New York Times, she brings cutting-edge insight into how sports and culture connect on a global scale.

The Shift:

Who are three women that inspire you?

Tammy:

My mother who always encouraged me with limitless possibilities. She loved fiercely and unconditionally and always put family first. She was a risk taker immigrating to America even though she initially didn’t speak English and served as an U.S. Army spouse for decades. 

 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg for being a transformative force in the fight for gender equality, systematically dismantling legal barriers that discriminated against women, arguing landmark cases before the Supreme Court that established critical legal precedents for gender rights that I don’t take for granted today. 

 

Michelle Yeoh as she represents an extraordinary journey of breaking cultural and industry barriers in global entertainment. She has consistently defied expectations and has been a powerful advocate for Asian representation and cultural understanding in global media.

 

The Shift:

“What is the legacy you hope to leave behind as a changemaker and leader in your industry?”

Tammy:

As a leader committed to meaningful change, I hope my legacy is fundamentally about contributing to a corporate landscape that my daughters- and all young women, particularly those from the AAPI community- can enter with confidence, opportunity, and genuine belonging. I want them to inherit a world where their potential isn’t constrained by gender, race, or outdated institutional norms.  Where they see themselves reflected in leadership at every level and where their unique perspectives are not just welcomed, but considered essential.

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Tammy Henault is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.