WISE/R Symposium | Los Angeles Edition

Elizabeth Lindsey
President, Brands and Properties, Wasserman

Elizabeth Lindsey runs Wasserman's brands and properties business, leading a team of more than 600 professionals globally. Instrumental in the direction of Wasserman's corporate strategy, she helps guide the agency's decision-making around acquisition and international expansion, among other initiatives, and serves as a senior adviser to the chairman and chief executive officer. Lindsey is the senior leader in charge of The Collective, Wasserman's platform for raising the profile of and creating opportunities for women in sports, a passion area of hers since launching a women's networking group more than a decade ago. She is a 2020 WISE Women of the Year honoree and was named one of Adweek's Most Powerful Women in Sports in 2018.

Audra Bohannon
Founder, Bohannon Advisory

As a diversity, equity and inclusion thought leader for more than 35 years, Audra Bohannon helps individuals and organizations see the possibilities for a better tomorrow. A highly sought-after keynote speaker with a deep background and expertise in leadership development and talent optimization, Bohannon's message that "all people have potential — not just a few" touches emotional buttons, connecting people and creating lasting, often life-changing impact. Prior to founding Bohannon Advisory, she was a senior client partner at Korn Ferry, and also served as principal at Global Novations, senior vice president of Novations Group, and as partner and business architect of J. Howard & Associates. Bohannon is a certified executive coach, and a board member at Community Builders, Accelerated College Experience, Inc., and The Center for Financial Planning.

Chiara Motley
Lead Executive Coach, GK Training

With roots as a personal coach, Chiara Motley now primarily consults with GK clients in the fields of law and finance, specializing in professional presence, vocal production, poise, composition and movement training. She helps her clients determine what they want to present, how to organize the presentation, and how to communicate that content effectively, with poise, confidence, physical grace and clarity. Motley holds a Master of Fine Arts from The National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, CO, and a bachelor's degree from Stanford University, where she was awarded the Evelyn M. Draper Prize for Performance, and graduated with distinction. Her approach to teaching is informed by her own career in the arts, as both a performer and voiceover artist.

Kristin Connelly
CMO, Activision Blizzard

The leader of Activision Blizzard Sports' global fan-facing initiatives, from brand strategy, advertising and promotions to digital content and social media, Kristin Connolly manages a portfolio of global brand marketing that includes ABE's two professional esports leagues, Overwatch League and Call of Duty League, as well as World Series of Warzone. Prior to joining ABE in 2017, she led marketing, fan communications and graphic design at the New York Jets. Connelly also spent time at global advertising agency J. Walter Thompson and with the Baltimore Ravens. She earned her bachelor's in communications from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and is currently a professor at Columbia University teaching sports marketing in their sports management master's program.

Chelsea Delbridge
Sr Director, Social, Influencers & Community, Activision Blizzard Esports

As senior director of digital content for the Overwatch franchise, Chelsea Delbridge leads platform, content and influencer strategies across the Overwatch League, Call of Duty League, World Series of Warzone and more. Prior to Activision Blizzard Esports, Delbridge led social media and audience development at Machinima, part of Warner Bros Digital Networks, where her expertise in content, social media and data-driven strategies catapulted Machinima's (non-YouTube) social media viewership to 140MM+ views per month. Delbridge cultivated her expertise in content working in linear television at networks like G4, FUEL TV and the NFL Network.

Eleanor Fortier
Sr Director, Brand Marketing, Activision Blizzard

As brand marketing lead for Activision Blizzard Esports since 2019, Eleanor Fortier oversees marketing for Call of Duty League, World Series of Warzone, Call of Duty League Resurgence and Overwatch Esports. Prior to Activision, Fortier spent seven years at the NFL as brand manager, leading tentpole marketing initiatives including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and NFL team rebrands. Fortier earned her MBA at Fordham University and her bachelor's degree in International Relations from George Washington University. Before her marketing career, Eleanor was a trial preparation coordinator at the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Alison Overholt
Chief Strategist & Storyteller, Good People, LLC

An Emmy, Peabody, and Webby award-winning media executive, Alison Overholt was the first woman to run a major U.S. sports magazine when she became editor in chief of ESPN The Magazine in 2016. Her portfolio as ESPN's SVP of storytelling and journalism later included all of ESPN's global digital longform journalism, espnW, E60, Outside the Lines, The ESPYS and more. In 2021, Overholt launched Oprah Winfrey's new digital venture as General Manager of Oprah Daily, where she pioneered interactive livestream class technology and led record-setting digital membership growth for the brand. She recently launched Good People LLC, a creative content strategy and production studio, to support organizations and their strategic storytelling needs. Adweek twice named Overholt one of the 30 Most Powerful Women in Sports, she was a four-time honoree on CableFax's Most Powerful Women in Cable list, and was a member of the 2016 Sports Business Journal Game Changers class. A Harvard graduate, she also teaches at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

Andrea Jones
Director, Global Brand Sponsorships & Experiential Marketing, American Express

With more than 20 years in the industry, Andrea Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the American Express global sponsorship and experiential portfolio. She currently leads the company's NBA, WNBA and 2K partnerships, as well as their Global Venues portfolio and strategy, inclusive of Barclays Center in New York, United Center in Chicago, and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Prior to American Express, Jones led sponsorship and activation at AT&T on partnerships like NCAA Final Four, Major League Soccer and Team USA.

Erin Zinser
Vice President, Partnership Activation
AEG

A leader in AEG's Global Partnerships division, Erin Zinser directly manages all sponsorship activation tied to AEG Media, which encompasses AXS Ticketing and AXS TV, as well as a budget of more than $20 million in revenue. She also manages the data monetization strategy for Global Partnership's data and analytics platform, AEG Multiply. Zinser portfolio includes managing many of AEG's most prominent partnerships, including with Crypto.com Arena — home to the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Sparks, Galaxy, Kings — as well as the L.A. LIVE, Crypto.com Arena, LA Kings, LA Galaxy and Media elements for American Express. Prior to joining AEG, Zinser worked at the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Kate Sheets
SVP Strategy and Business Affairs, AEG

Kate Sheets works across the global AEG enterprise, providing strategic counsel and insight into all major revenue growth initiatives for AEG's Global Partnerships division, and helping set vision and strategy to optimize partner campaigns and content. In her previous role as VP, Legal Counsel at AEG, Sheets structured and negotiated multi-asset sponsorship agreements on a local and global scale — including leading all legal negotiations for the record-breaking 20-year Crypto.com Arena naming rights agreement in 2021. Valued at nearly $750 million, the landmark deal is the single largest naming rights agreement in sports history. Sheets is a member of the 2022 Sports Business Journal class of "Game Changers," and was recognized in 2016 on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars Southern California list, as well as by Los Angeles Magazine's 2016 Top Attorneys Rising Stars list.

Shelley Pissara
EVP Global Insights and Strategy, Wasserman

Drawing from more than 25 years' experience, Shelley Pisarra shapes the future of how Wasserman delivers unmatched value to partners across sports, media and entertainment through data and technology. She leads a team of data scientists, marketing planners, creative thinkers and others, guiding the development of best-in-class tools and methodologies that reveal untapped revenue opportunities for some of the world's most iconic brands and properties. Since joining Wasserman in 2016, Pisarra has revolutionized the company's audience intelligence and performance analytics capabilities, which include strategy-informing services such as consumer profile development, fan segmentation, partner and talent identification, social tracking and analysis, partnership valuation, brand health studies, comprehensive cross-channel measurement and more.

Danielle Snyder
SVP Arena Services, Cypto.com Arena

For 20 years, Danielle Snyder has played a critical role in the event planning, management, and execution of the more than 250 annual events held at Crypto.com Arena, with a focus on quality service and premium guest experiences. Snyder began her career with the Arena in 2002 as a Guest Services Manager. Today, as SVP Arena Services, Snyder oversees the entire guest experience, working with leaders in guest services, food and beverage hospitality, arena security, and events teams, including over 2,000 event team members, and is responsible for the safety and security strategy, business financial results through the overall guest experience, and leadership and service training programs at Crypto.com Arena. Snyder previously spent four years with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Kathy Carter
Chief Executive Officer, LA28

In September 2021, Kathy Carter was named CEO of LA28 — the nonprofit that is organizing the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics — where she oversees delivery, impact and operations of the Games. Prior to being named CEO, Carter led the commercial efforts for Team USA and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including sponsorship sales, consumer products, brand marketing, hospitality, ticketing and events. She spent much of her 30-year career helping to fuel the growth of soccer in America, first as a member of the 1994 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, then as a founding member of Major League Soccer and, later, as president of Soccer United Marketing. A 2009 WISE Women of the Year honoree, Carter was named to Sports Business Journal's Forty Under 40 twice, New York Crain's Forty Under 40, and Forbes' list of The Most Powerful Women in Sports.

Kathleen Francis
National Board Chair and President, WISE

Kathleen Francis brings 25-plus years of experience leading the development and implementation of high-impact marketing programs. Over her career, she has created and executed multifaceted sports marketing strategies that work at the grassroots level for not-for-profits and major corporations, including Major League Baseball, Meadowlands Sports Complex and the United States Tennis Association. She is founder and president of Oasis Sports Ventures, a marketing and grassroots development agency. A 2001 WISE Women of the Year honoree and president of WISE since 2011, Francis launched the WISE Executive Leadership Institute, WISE Emerging Leaders Certificate Program and WISE/R Symposium. SportsBusiness Journal named her one of its Forty Under 40 sports executives and for two consecutive years honored her as one of its Top 25 Women Sports Executives.

Kimmi Chex
On-Air Host, NFL Network and NFL Media

As a full-time on-air host and media personality for NFL Network and NFL Media, Kimmi Chex works across NFL platforms as a studio show host of NFL Total Access, NFL Fantasy Live, Good Morning Football and more, and is an in-venue analyst for events including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and NFL Draft. During a time where diversity, equity and inclusion, and social justice have been at the forefront of conversation, Chex has used her platform and voice to raise awareness of issues Black and Brown communities are facing, liaise with League leadership, and advocate for programming that reflects the diverse population of the players in the league. She has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30, The Athletic's NFL 40 Under 40 and Front Office Sports' Rising 25.