Charlotte Powers MBA ’25, Leading Neurodiversity Inclusion at Agganis Arena and Beyond

Charlotte Powers, a Questrom School of Business Part-Time MBA’25, is revolutionizing the way we think about inclusivity at Boston University. Balancing her roles as a part-time employee at Roadrunner and a full-time Senior Marketing Manager at Agganis Arena, Charlotte has spearheaded initiatives that ensure live events are accessible to everyone, regardless of their sensory needs. Her work, driven by personal passion and bolstered by her Questrom MBA, is transforming the culture of inclusivity at BU.

Charlotte’s journey toward inclusion began with a deeply personal connection. Growing up, she spent summers with a family friend whose son, Matthew, has nonverbal autism. Attending live events with Matthew, she witnessed firsthand the difficulties he faced when experiencing sensory overload in environments that weren’t designed to accommodate him. “There was nowhere for Matthew to go when things got overwhelming,” Charlotte recalls. “It made me realize how much work we need to do to create inclusive spaces for everyone.”

Photos below depict Charlotte with family friend Matthew (left) and hanging with Matthew and his sister (right) in Minnesota.

After completing her undergraduate degree in Sports Management, Charlotte joined Agganis Arena, where she quickly moved up the ranks. But her vision extended beyond her role as Marketing Manager. In 2022, Charlotte, along with colleague Rebecca Reid, spearheaded the creation of Agganis Arena’s first sensory room—a quiet, calming space for individuals experiencing sensory overload. The room was the first of its kind in a Boston live event venue and has since been used at 80% of Agganis events.

“The sensory room was a deeply personal project for me,” Charlotte shares. “I saw the need for it through my experiences with Matthew, and I knew that live events could be more accessible with the right support in place.”

Photos below depict Charlotte at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Agganis Arena’s Sensory Room (left), Sensory bags (middle), and a view of the Sensory Room (right).

Charlotte’s efforts didn’t stop at Agganis Arena. As part of her work with Roadrunner, she’s been consulting on similar sensory support initiatives to that venue, ensuring that the community she serves continues to grow in its inclusivity.

Her passion for inclusion has been further fuelled by her time at Questrom School of Business, where she’s pursuing her MBA while balancing her demanding roles. “The knowledge and tools I’ve gained from Questrom have been transformative,” Charlotte explains. “My coursework has directly impacted how I lead projects and approach challenges.”

One of the most pivotal courses in her Questrom journey was branding with Professor Kim Donlan. “Professor Donlan’s class opened my eyes to the impact branding can have on creating meaningful, socially responsible work,” Charlotte notes. “It’s helped me align my passion for inclusivity with my professional goals.” Another key influence was her design thinking course with Patricia Hambrick, which taught Charlotte to approach problems from new angles. “In the sports world, we often jump to the quickest solution,” she says. “Design thinking helped me slow down and develop more innovative, long-term strategies.”

Photos below depict all full and part-time staff at Agganis Arena being trained in sensory overload and how to best assist guests through the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (left) and Charlotte with Rebecca Reid (right).

Charlotte’s time at Questrom has also expanded her network. Through a digital strategy class, she connected with Lucy Levine from BU’s First-Year Success program, leading to new collaborations between Agganis Arena and Questrom, where they plan to bring first-year students to experience live events in a more inclusive way. “Questrom has given me the opportunity to meet and collaborate with people from all over BU, which has been invaluable for my work,” she shares.

Looking to the future, Charlotte’s short-term goal is to continue elevating the guest experience at Agganis Arena for the upcoming hockey season. Long-term, she hopes to climb the leadership ladder within BU’s auxiliary services, continuing her mission of providing accessible, high-quality live events.

Her message to Questrom students—especially women looking to enter male-dominated industries like sports—is clear: “Confidence is key. My MBA has given me the confidence to thrive in this space. I encourage anyone considering a career in sports, entertainment or marketing to trust their skills and push forward.”

Charlotte’s journey exemplifies Questrom’s core values of leadership, innovation, and community. Her work at Agganis Arena and her extension of sensory support initiatives to Roadrunner reflect a profound commitment to creating inclusive spaces for all.