Sandra Douglass Morgan, the president of the Las Vegas Raiders, never imagined herself in the role of team leader. The city in which she was born, reared, and currently resides had no professional sports teams until the late 2010s. After the Raiders relocated from Oakland to Los Angeles in 2020, Morgan made NFL history two years later when she was appointed as the first Black woman president (she was just the third woman or Black person to hold that post). “Women make up half of NFL fans,” she claims. “We always talk about how important it is to make sure that the fan is at the center of decision-making, and it is crucial to have a leader who can relate to and communicate with half of the fan base.”

With more than 20 years of legal experience and several noteworthy positions under her belt—such as chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and city attorney for North Las Vegas—it’s hardly surprising that Raiders owner Mark Davis first approached Morgan about becoming the team president. “I wasn’t actively looking for it,” the woman claims. “However, it was a fantastic opportunity, and given my background and the challenges I faced in my work, I would not hesitate to accept it.” Since then, she has started a variety of community-driven projects, such as a program that connects the group with diverse and women-owned businesses. Morgan and the Raiders were getting ready to host hundreds of people—including Taylor Swift—at Super Bowl LVIII when I chatted with her. This is how she completes it.

On her morning routine: 
Around 5:30 or 6 a.m., I wake up. Naturally, I rise at that hour, but we also have to make sure our children are awake by at least 6:45. My two kids are 13 and 17 years old. They’re getting close to independence—my son drives—but we’re not quite there yet. Whenever I wake up, I’m fortunate enough for my hubby to bring me coffee. In the morning, we flip on SportsCenter to check the latest sports headlines. I read The Wall Street Journal and our local newspaper.Then it’s time to move. I often wait until approximately seven to eat. That can be anything you eat quickly on the run, like a yogurt parfait or a croissant. I then check my calendar. Every night before I go to bed, I check it again to make sure nothing has changed. I left at about seven thirty.

On a typical day during football season vs. off-season: 
There are many meetings because I’m in charge of everything that goes well for us off the field. Game-day planning is given a lot more attention during the season, whether it’s checking out potential special visitors or attending various concerts and festivities that take place either before or after the game. Every game, we have an amazing halftime show. We’re navigating that and seeing if any of our partners want to meet them because it’s usually a well-known artist.

Once upon a time, I believed that our off-season actually was off-season. However, I discovered during my first season that a lot of the important work gets done at that point. In order to make sure we’re meeting their demands, we’re collaborating with football operations to observe what training camp is like. Off-season concerts and other events are also on our radar. To top it all off, I serve on a couple NFL subcommittees, including the Legal Sports Betting Committee and the Stadium Committee.

On how she celebrates a win at work:
A “great job” and a high five. Since we are in Las Vegas both supporting the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the NFL, these past several weeks have been extremely difficult for the crew as they prepare for the Super Bowl. We are going to throw a big post-Super Bowl party to celebrate.

On staying grounded:
My husband and I spend every evening, or at least five nights out of seven, talking on our upstairs balcony. It may be just reflecting, or it could be laughing or venting. It’s something we do that helps us understand that we are but minuscule parts of a vastly larger world. It’s a beneficial restart. If you only use it for five minutes, it is soothing. Additionally, it’s a habit that strengthens our bond as a pair.

On the last show she binge-watched: 
Yellowstone National Park.We got to meet Cole Hauser, who portrays Rip, and it was great to meet someone who genuinely loves the Raiders. Sports or stand-up comedy are usually what I watch on television. Oh, and I’m a major fan of Game of Thrones.

On dealing with criticism: 
It’s a necessary aspect of the work, particularly when managing a team with ardent supporters and weekly victories and defeats. I will be able to sleep at night if I am confident that whatever I do will serve the Raiders’ interests. I’ll be able to sleep at night if it’s a personal choice and I know that whatever I decide will be best for my family. Of course, criticism is difficult, but I’m willing to hear it. The ability to adapt, grow, and absorb criticism is crucial.

On the team accomplishments she’s most proud of:  
The Raiders are growing their fan base in Las Vegas and brand in a way that is genuinely significant to our city. We’re making investments to promote both physical and mental well-being and the growth of football as a sport. We are hosting our inaugural gala with the express purpose of ensuring that mental health resources in southern Nevada are increased. Given the popularity of flag football and its recent inclusion in the Olympic Games, we should expect to see an increase in the number of female supporters. Why not let them use it to grow and play with it?

On the advice she wishes she’d gotten at the start of her career: 
I wish someone had encouraged me to speak up more when it came to discussing my own objectives, both personal and professional. My mentor and I didn’t discuss my interests and the reasons behind my career change until I decided to pivot and go to a different position. “Why didn’t you tell me before?” he exclaimed. It was always the same for me: get a job, focus, show up, work hard, go home, and repeat. I’ve always believed that I should do the tasks assigned to me and pursue my other hobbies on my own.However, perhaps I could have gotten those opportunities sooner if I had discussed my objectives with a partner at a business or someone a little higher up than me. People will arrive more quickly thanks to that vulnerability than if they try to accomplish it alone.