Prospect HQ, a new digital hiring platform designed to connect current and former student-athletes with each other and with employers, officially announced its founding partners and leadership team today. Set to begin onboarding athletes in December 2025, the platform aims to move hiring beyond résumés and algorithms—toward a human-centered, culture-first approach to recruiting and professional growth.
The founding team includes:
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Cory Carlesimo, Chief Executive Officer
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Art Oswald, Chief Revenue Officer
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John Von Stade, Chief Operating Officer
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LeslieAnne Wade, Chief Branding Officer
A Platform Built on Purpose, Not Just Placement
At its core, Prospect HQ sees itself less as a job board and more as a community for transformation—where the shared experiences of student-athletes become the foundation for meaningful, culture-aligned employment.
“Prospect HQ reimagines the hiring process at the intersection of culture, humanity, and technology,” said Cory Carlesimo, CEO. “Our mission is summed up in six words: Aligning Hires, Elevating Cultures, and Transforming Lives. When employees are fulfilled and engaged, they elevate themselves and their organizations to new heights.”
The platform’s early mission resonates with a growing shift in the HR tech landscape toward values-based hiring, where companies look beyond skills and credentials to assess cultural fit and purpose alignment—a movement gaining traction in both corporate recruiting and university career programs.
The Founding Team: Depth in Sports, Business, and Culture
Prospect HQ’s leadership bench blends decades of experience across finance, media, and sports, reflecting its commitment to marrying business acumen with athlete development and cultural intelligence.
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Cory Carlesimo, a former finance executive at Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Susquehanna Financial Group, brings a career shaped by strategic disruption and leadership innovation. A Fordham University graduate and co-founder of Culture Quotient, Carlesimo’s background bridges business strategy and human potential—a fitting combination for a platform built around purposeful hiring.
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Art Oswald, Chief Revenue Officer, adds over 30 years in global finance with leadership roles at Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, and Susquehanna Financial Group. His entrepreneurial experience across banking and digital marketing offers a commercial lens to Prospect HQ’s community-driven model.
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John Von Stade, Chief Operating Officer, is a sports and media veteran who launched the USA Today Sports Media Group and co-founded The Caddie Network and the Women’s Sports Network. His experience building successful ventures at the intersection of sports and storytelling aligns closely with Prospect HQ’s mission.
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LeslieAnne Wade, Chief Branding Officer, is a trailblazer for women in sports media, having served nearly 20 years on the senior leadership team at CBS Sports and later advising players, teams, and leagues through Endeavor’s 160over90 and her own consultancy. She also teaches sports communications at Seton Hall University.
Where Student-Athletes and Employers Meet on Common Ground
Unlike traditional hiring platforms focused on transactions, Prospect HQ centers on shared culture and character—leveraging the traits that define athletes: discipline, teamwork, resilience, and leadership.
The company aims to empower both employers and candidates with tools for authentic connection, values alignment, and career storytelling—a concept that echoes the growing popularity of “culture-matching” platforms across HR tech.
“We’re truly fortunate to have such a talented and experienced team at Prospect HQ,” said Carlesimo. “We’re committed to helping the next generation of student-athlete leaders discover their paths to purpose and fulfillment. Purpose and profit are not mutually exclusive—they’re mutually reinforcing.”
Looking Ahead
With onboarding slated to begin in December 2025, Prospect HQ invites current and former student-athletes to register at prospect-hq.com.
The platform’s timing could prove strategic: with college athletics expanding into NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities and employers increasingly valuing leadership skills developed through sports, Prospect HQ sits at the crossroads of talent development, cultural intelligence, and digital hiring innovation.
As the future of work continues to emphasize purpose and belonging, Prospect HQ’s playbook—rooted in community, mentorship, and meaningful connection—could make it a standout contender in the evolving HR tech field.
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