From religiously following and supporting Bay Area athletic teams throughout his time at Menlo to managing the most valuable NBA franchise in the league, Golden State Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider (97’) had no idea his love for athletics could result in a career that didn’t involve being a six-foot-eight professional athlete.
At Menlo, being a part of the open-to-all-kinds-of-participation athletics program through soccer, tennis, baseball and track contributed to the competitive spirit and ambitious drive youth sports had instilled in him. “I just think you learn a lot from sports. You learn a lot about competitiveness, but also teamwork and how to collaborate with other people,” Schneider said. Beyond athletics, Schneider appreciated the uniquely intelligent and supportive environment Menlo had to offer, both from students and faculty members, many of whom he remains close to today. “To this day, some of my best friends are people that I went to Menlo with,” Schneider said.
After graduating from Menlo and majoring in business and economics at UCLA, Schneider expected to engage in a career in investment banking or venture capital, but a hiring freeze prevented him from pursuing those fields. After a brief stint as a waiter at Il Fornaio in Burlingame, Jeff Krolink, a family friend and industry professional at the time, connected him with the then-current Warriors President, who offered him a position in ticket sales on the spot. From there, he joined the Warriors community and never looked back. “We’re a really small company, so you really feel like you’re having an impact on the success of the company,” Schneider said.
After 23 years with the Warriors, Schneider appreciates how the length of time with the same organization has helped him develop as a person and build lasting relationships with a devoted Warriors team. “I’ve constantly had the opportunity to learn and grow,” Schneider said.
For Schneider, learning and curiosity didn’t end when he completed his formal education. He continues to face new challenges and cultivate new areas of knowledge or skill in every moment of his time with the Warriors. From launching the Valkyries in May of 2024 to designing Chase Center throughout the pandemic to bringing the NBA All-Stars Game to Chase Center as part of the Bay Area Host Committee, Schneider’s learned how to tackle creating team culture, aspects of the restaurant industry and working with local government officials, among others. “All of these things were totally outside the scope of anything I’ve ever done,” Schneider said.
On a daily basis, Schneider manages all aspects of the Golden State Warriors franchise, from communicating with other Bay Area athletic teams, collaborating with other NBA teams across the country and overseeing Golden State Warriors departments. In his position, Schneider has faced some of the difficulties of leadership, learning to balance what is best for the company with what is best for each individual on the Warriors team. “No matter what you do, someone’s not gonna like it,” he said. According to Schneider, in an entry-level position, an employee is judged on how much they accomplish and the value they add as an individual, whereas as he has grown in the company, Schneider has realized that success as a leader is measured by the success of everyone around you.
Despite the challenges, Schneider loves each member of his professional community and has enjoyed each day within the company, no matter the position. “I work probably more than anyone that I know, but I do it because I want to, and I love what I do,” Schneider said. Schneider encourages Menlo students to enter careers in which they will find joy and wholeheartedly believes in the saying that if you find something that you love, you will never work a day in your life. Schneider also hopes that Menlo students will capitalize on the networking opportunities they’re afforded, whether that be connecting with parents at their younger brother’s soccer games like Schneider did or building relationships with Menlo community members. “Sometimes it’s more who you know than what you know,” Schneider said. Lastly, as someone in an industry that is eager to better utilize advanced technologies, Schneider encourages Menlo students to take advantage of their education around artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies to capitalize on them in their careers.
