Clara Stroude
Panelist
Chief of Culture and Inclusion at Miami Heat
Clara Stroude Vazquez is a 22-year veteran of the Miami HEAT, where she leads the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and serves as the champion of HEAT Culture. In her role, Clara brings the franchise’s values to life by crafting strategies and programs that inspire, motivate, and develop employees while fostering a culture of inclusion, belonging, and high performance.
Clara’s career with the HEAT began as an intern in Community Affairs and evolved into a full-time role in Marketing. Over the years, she supported marketing campaigns and game operations before overseeing the team’s world-renowned entertainment assets, including the HEAT Dancers, Burnie the mascot, the Golden Oldies, and more. This blend of creative leadership, operational experience, and people-first focus ultimately led her to her current role, shaping the franchise's organizational culture.
An alumna of East Carolina University, Clara also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Andreas School of Business at Barry University, where she completed her graduate studies. She is the chapter president of WISE (Women in Sports and Events) South Florida, supporting the advancement of women across the sports and events industry. Raised between the DMV and the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Barbados, Clara brings a global perspective, creative energy, and deep appreciation for culture and community to her work.