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They’re proud �������� graduates doing impactful work for the National Football League’s (NFL) Washington Commanders and helping to change the face of professional football. 

The irony? Neither nor had ever watched a football game before stepping into their current respective roles with the team—Nambiar as football solutions developer and O’Donnell as senior manager for premium client services. 

The journey has been both challenging and empowering. 

Gayatri Nambiar: From Mumbai to the gridiron 

A native of Mumbai, India, Nambiar earned her MS in applied information technology from the in 2018. With no sports background, she was surprised when the Commanders reached out to her in 2021 about joining their football technology team, but she was immediately curious. 

“The sport wasn’t part of the culture I grew up in,” she said. “Everything—from the rules to the strategy—was completely new. Once I started working in football, I immersed myself in learning the game. The strategic side has been fascinating, and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for how much data, planning, and detail go into every decision.” 

Based at the team’s training facility in Ashburn, Virginia, Nambiar works at the intersection of technology and football operations. Her team partners with scouts, coaches, analysts, and front-office staff to build tools that support player evaluation, draft strategy, contract planning, and performance analysis. 

“No two days are ever the same,” she said. “And that’s what makes it so engaging.” 

Nambiar credits her time at George Mason as foundational to her career. She worked as a research assistant, gaining valuable hands-on experience, and learned from professors who were deeply supportive. Working at Ike’s dining hall was key to developing time management and interpersonal skills, and she landed her first U.S. job through a university career fair. 

Bridget O’Donnell: From the court to the front office 

O’Donnell, who graduated in 2016 with a BA in communication with a concentration in journalism from the , was a Patriots women’s basketball player before playing professionally in the . She grew up in a basketball-focused family in New Jersey—her aunt was the late Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist women’s basketball legend —so football wasn’t in the forefront. 

“Luckily, I’m not out there coaching the team,” she joked. “But we’ve certainly learned a ton about the sport over the last three years.” 

Now based at the Commanders’ corporate office, just 20 minutes away from Northwest Stadium in College Park, Maryland, O’Donnell oversees premium client services. She’s responsible for delivering top-tier service to annual suite clients, generating additional revenue with new business targets, renewing and negotiating multi-year suite lease agreements, and strategizing and executing year-round client engagements through partner events, away-game travel, and more. 

“Being in sales is incredibly empowering,” she said. “Navigating tough conversations with influential business leaders, negotiating high-value deals, commanding rooms, and earning your own success. It’s not always easy, but I’m lucky to have many extraordinary, trailblazing women to look up to at the Commanders and across the industry.” 

O’Donnell said her experience as a George Mason—as a student-athlete and Athletics communications intern—deepened her connection her to the university and continues to shape her approach to leadership and teamwork. 

Advice for the next generation 

Both women take their roles as trailblazers in a traditionally male-dominated industry seriously. They hope to inspire others who may not see themselves represented in such fields. 

“What’s encouraging is how things are starting to shift,” Nambiar said. “More women are moving into roles across coaching, analytics, operations, and tech. Being part of that change—helping to redefine what the industry looks like—is both humbling and motivating.” 

“When you find ways to connect your skills and passions to the business side, you open the door to making a real impact,” O’Donnell said, “and becoming an invaluable part of any team or organization.”