Under the blinding lights of Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, the roar of 67,000 fans echoes like thunder to Catherine Hickman.
But she isn’t on the field.
She never has been.
Hickman’s name has never been stitched across a jersey or shouted in a touchdown call. Yet, in many ways, she is one of the most powerful forces in the NFL.
As the Browns’ Assistant General Manager & Vice-President of Football Operations, Hickman impacts football in a huge way, and not just in Cleveland.
Her rise to this position wasn’t unlikely, it was historic.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Hickman’s earliest football memories weren’t of touchdowns or tailgates, but of spreadsheets and scouting reports. Her father, a former high school Coach turned Athletic Director, used to bring her game tape instead of bedtime stories. She’d fall asleep to the sounds of chalkboard strategy and John Madden commentary.
Although she completed a Degree in law at the Université de Sherbrooke and a Master’s Degree in tax before working in business law, her passion for football made it clear she needed to change careers. And she did, with working in the NFL as her goal.
The CFL was a stepping stone to that.
In 2015, Hickman began working in sports for the Montreal Alouettes as an intern. Later in the year, she became the coordinator of Football Administration for the Alouettes, an appointment that made her the first woman to become a personnel executive in the CFL since 1988.
Hickman worked as coordinator until 2017 when she was promoted to Alouettes’ Assistant General Manager, becoming the first woman ever in that role in league history. A stint as Director of Football Administration with the Toronto Argonauts followed, as did a front office position with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL, before the NFL took notice.
Hickman’s entry into the league was in team services with the Philadelphia Eagles, doing everything from organizing player travel to building analytics dashboards for the scouting department.
Her talent, particularly for integrating data with personnel decisions, quickly got attention. When a coaching change swept through the front office, Hickman stayed. Her knack for evaluating talent wasn’t just about 40-yard dash times; she understood locker room culture, coaching fit, and long-term value.
After a few seasons, she moved to the AFC North, joining the Browns as Director of Football Research & Strategy. It was 2020, a time of both chaos and change. The Browns were emerging from years of instability, and they needed minds that could match vision with execution. Hickman became that mind.
By 2022, she was promoted to VP of Football Operations. Her fingerprints were all over the Browns’ evolving identity; she helped build one of the most balanced rosters in football, not just with high-profile stars, but with depth, discipline, and culture.
The 2023 season was a turning point. Amidst injuries and adversity, the Browns didn’t collapse – they adapted. Hickman was the steady hand, advocating for strategic acquisitions, elevating practice squad talent, and empowering coaches with real-time insights.
When the Browns clinched a playoff berth that year, veteran safety Rodney McLeod said in an interview, “Everyone talks about the guys on the field, but Catherine – she’s our edge.”
In 2024, Hickman again made headlines, this time for being named Assistant GM, becoming the NFL’s highest-ranking female team personnel executive.
Currently, Hickman oversees nearly every facet of Browns football operations: roster construction, scouting, draft strategy, analytics, and player wellness. She’s also mentoring the next generation of leaders: women, people of color, and anyone bold enough to believe that a new path through the NFL is possible.
“You don’t need to yell to be heard. Know your stuff, show up every day, and build something that outlasts you,” said Hickman.
At TCS Live, Hickman’s presentation will focus on how a winning culture is a product of bringing together quality people, in all roles within the organization, and then leading them towards a common goal. This includes clearly communicating their function and value within the organization, investing in them by having individualized development plans and measuring internal processes to ensure that everyone is aligned and working together as efficiently as possible.
We’re as excited as you are! Get your ticket now and don’t miss the chance to learn from this sports pioneer!
