# Disrupting the Sport of Cheerleading: Creating a Juggernaut Business and Brand (Episode One)

By Ron Stefanski · Published 2024-11-18 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/jeff-webb-cheerleading-business-brand
Creator hub: DisruptED

> From sideline tradition to billion-dollar empire, one innovator transformed an underestimated activity into a global athletic force

## Key points

- Cheerleading evolved from a sideline tradition into a globally recognized competitive sport driven by deliberate business innovation.
- Building a dominant brand required reframing public perception of cheerleading as a legitimate athletic discipline.
- The business model scaled through competitions, apparel, and events to create a multi-billion-dollar industry ecosystem.

Block Field

Cheerleading has leapt from the sidelines to center stage, thanks to its transformation into a global athletic powerhouse. With its [recent recognition as an Olympic sport](https://19thnews.org/2023/04/college-cheerleading-future-the-olympics/), the evolution of cheerleading from school spirit activities to a multi-billion-dollar industry is monumental. Central to this transformation is **Jeff Webb**, whose [groundbreaking vision](https://19thnews.org/2021/08/cheerleading-olympics-could-end-the-gendered-debate-sport/) reshaped the sport and built a business empire. How did a college cheerleader with a dream turn **Varsity Spirit** into a $2.5 billion enterprise?

Welcome to [*DisruptED*](https://marketscale.com/shows/disrupted/). In this episode, host [Ron J. Stefanski](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronjstefanski/) and guest host [Ashley Williams](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymichellewilliams/) sit down with [Jeff Webb](https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjeffwebb/), the founder of [Varsity Spirit](https://www.varsity.com/) and president of the [International Cheer Union](https://cheerunion.org/), to explore his journey from a law-school-bound student to a pioneer in the evolution of cheerleading. Webb shares how he turned challenges into opportunities, from organizing innovative cheer camps to creating a globally recognized brand.

The main points of discussion:

– **From Law School to Cheer Camps:** How Webb's decision to defer law school launched his career in cheerleading, laying the foundation for Varsity Spirit.

– **Building a Vision:** The creation of a modernized, athletic, and entertainment-driven approach to cheerleading that redefined the sport.

– **Navigating Obstacles and Scaling Innovation:** How Webb tackled financial challenges, developed new products like performance uniforms, and expanded into a multi-faceted business empire.

### About the Guest

**Jeff Webb** is a master entrepreneur and a visionary in the world of sports branding. He founded Varsity Spirit, the driving force behind the evolution of cheerleading, which sold for $2.5 billion in 2018. Webb also serves as president of the International Cheer Union, where he played a key role in cheerleading's Olympic recognition. With over 40 years of experience, Webb is a sought-after business and politics commentator.

Tags: Ashley Williams, cheerleading, DisruptED, International Cheer Union, Jeff Webb, Ron J Stefanski, Varsity Brands, Varsity Spirit

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