How a Binghamton University grad went from Nike to building his own marketing brand

This might sound cliché, but Chris Gaube ’09, MBA ’11, has Binghamton University in his blood.

His father, Jerry Gaube Sr. ’76, is in the Binghamton Athletics Hall of Fame. He was the first Binghamton athlete to sign a pro contract when he inked a free-agent deal with the New York Yankees, and pitched in their minor league system for three seasons before becoming a Yankees team scout. His mother, Bette Anne Gaube ’01, MA ’05, spent more than 20 years as a member of the University Athletic External and Advancement Team, responsible for athletics philanthropy while working to enhance the student-athlete experience.

That’s just a snapshot; his immediate family members collectively have earned a dozen degrees from Binghamton. So, when it was time for Chris to join the Bearcat ranks, you’d think he’d have every step of his college journey already mapped out.

Well, not entirely. But for him, that’s part of what made it fun.

He began as an English major, and later earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the School of Management. Along the way, he ran track and field and cross-country.

Fast-forward more than a decade: He’s the founder and chief marketing officer of Changent (a play on the term “change agent”), which provides marketing services to business clients and helps brands navigate the evolving digital landscape.

“I always had an itch for entrepreneurship,” he said. “The lows in entrepreneurship can be really hard, but the highs are like nothing else. Building something from the ground up, seeing it come to fruition and driving impact is incredibly rewarding. The key is always to make sure you’re investing in yourself.”

Gaube credits his time as an SOM student for helping shape that outlook. He jokes that he didn’t have “the college experience you might see in movies,” because of his intensive commitments, juggling athletics with a rigorous MBA program.

“When I was doing the MBA, I started really connecting the dots,” Gaube said. “I never realized what my capacity was until then, and what I learned has guided me through all my years as a professional. It was just about grinding and balancing, being super disciplined and organized with my time.”

As a sports fan passionate about business, the prospect of working for Nike was irresistible. And, while finding time for an internship in addition to his athletic commitments was challenging, networking made it possible.

The experience he gained during his first summer honed the skills required to represent a brand, a voice and a mission, plus how to reach target audiences.

Eager to keep learning, Gaube took a retail job at a Nike store in downstate New York. Over eight years, he worked his way up through various roles, culminating in 2019 as head of integrated marketing in sports performance. He was part of the team that launched the Nike Run Club app. He also held a leadership role in Nike’s EKIN program, where employees act as product specialists and ambassadors to communicate Nike’s brand story, innovation and product benefits to retail partners and consumers.

Ready to break out on his own, Gaube launched Changent in September 2023. While marketing is fiercely competitive, his lessons from Nike and working at other major entities like Raymour & Flanigan helped him discover his niche.

“Many businesses are used to working with an agency or freelancer, so they’re getting more of a transactional type of marketing support. But for me, it’s about sharing in the wins of the business,” he said. “I think my superpower is working with CEOs and founders, not just as a marketer, but more as a right-hand guide or advisor.”

Gaube relishes his close ties with Binghamton. His brother, Thomas Gaube ’05, MS ’07, was a captain on the baseball team and spent 15 years working at the University, finishing as senior director of development for athletics. His wife, Kimberly Gaube ’07, ’14, and his sister-in-law, Nina Gaube ’06, ’09, MS ’13, are also Bearcats.

Experiences, relationships, wins and losses from Binghamton helped catapult Gaube into a successful career, which has inspired him to find a way to give back.

This year, he’s participating in SOM’s speaker series and mentoring in the EY Student Leaders Program. And in collaboration with the SOM Dean’s Office, Changent took on its first intern for a semester-long program providing flexible, experience-based learning for SOM student-athletes.

“I know how hard it is to gain practical, real-world experience while studying at a challenging academic institution and performing at a Division One level in sports, so I want to keep those opportunities open for students like me,” Gaube said. “I think the next generation of leaders who keep up the grind while treating people with integrity will thrive in the workforce. I’m thrilled to be seeing it firsthand!”