Kathleen Scovel
MANAGING PARTNER OF KAS GROUP INC.
Member Since AUGUST 2021

• Can you talk a bit about your career path? So when I was in high school I was a cross-country captain and track captain, so I've always had that tenacity to push through pain and make it happen anyway. I'm also dyslexic so I had to figure out how to bob and weave to make things happen. I got a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and it was in Individual Study, so I was able to design my own degree and take the classes that I was good at. Part of my degree was broadcasting and as part of that I ended up calling some TV stations in the Twin Cities and talked to Herbert Broadcasting, and became an intern for Howard Broadcasting for a talk show called Good Company. They wanted me to stay and be a producer for them but I said no because I wanted to finish my degree. While I was still in school I did some freelance work including with the American Forces Network as a production coordinator for about six months and produced over 60 commercials. Then I went into the production houses as a production assistant and I was really a jack of all trades doing everything and became a line producer. In the end though, people just weren’t hiring me and so I got a job selling Yellow Pages advertising. I spent six weeks in Denver training and hated it, but I was good at it! I barely passed the test because of my dyslexia, but I passed and came back. I had done wardrobe so I knew how to dress well and I’d show up and go and sell and I’d be in the same suits as the managers and they did not like that, I could tell, and I ended up getting laid off despite my performance. The next week I had two job interviews and ended up getting hired as a line producer at Paisley Park. When all the other production houses wouldn’t hire me they did. I produced there for almost two years and produced about 18 or 19 music videos for Prince himself and then a number of other artists as well. Even after that the production houses still wouldn’t hire me so I ended up selling still photography and I started the KAS Group Inc. I was hitting a lot of glass ceilings, I wish WISE had been around back then! I didn’t even realize I was one of the first women to produce a music video and one of the few to own my own business, but I didn’t know any different. A friend of mine was from Chicago and told me I belonged there. He said I had that attitude and so I thought, I’m just going to do it, so that’s when I went to Chicago.  It was a great move for me to go to Chicago because I was no longer hitting any glass ceilings. I worked with a number of multinational, large organizations and I did everything from being a Deputy General Manager to a National Sales Manager to a Vice President. My real gift is connecting with people and getting in front of the decision makers. Gladwell talks about 10,000 hours for excellence and just last week I was sitting with someone selling Glow and she's like, “my God, to listen to you, it’s like you're not even selling”. I said, ”I've done this a long time”. 
• What are the lessons you learned early on in your career? You have to be tenacious, and also being the only woman in the room, you have to make sure that you are really smart on your toes and that you know everything inside and out. My goal whenever I get in front of a brand is to know as much, or more, about that brand than the person I'm in front of, because I want it to be like I'm their employee already. I have taken my expertise with the KAS Group Inc. and I go and I help other agencies or whoever needs help getting in the door, and building that rapport and those relationships very quickly. I make it look easy and I get called back because I can open up those doors. It's nice that people genuinely trust and like me, but I also have Chicago guts so I can handle a lot.
• Who are some mentors and women that have helped you along the way? Around the time when my mom started to get sick and I was working with a global company and I ended up leaving that job and coming down to Florida because my mom needed help, little did I know how much help she needed. So I took a big step back in my career. She was a great mom and she was one of my mentors that really believed in me and told me, “Kathleen, you do whatever you need to do, you make this happen”. A former CEO that I worked with asked me “where do you get your self esteem” and I told him “everyone puts their pants on the same way”. Part of the reason why I got into Glow is that I have a former business partner, Donna Sue Van Cleaf, who was the president of Jam Productions, which was a promoter throughout the Midwest and one of the few women presidents of something like that. She knew me from my agency world and she goes, “Scovel they’re just horrible to you and you keep at it” and it really made me think about it. We ended up doing work together and decided we really need to partner together. Through her I was connected with Randy Levy and that led to Glow. We’re now in our fifth year and we’re going to Joliet Slammer’s Stadium, which brings me back to my roots in Chicago too! It was called in and I always feel like you can call things in. I do a lot of yoga and run and you can call things in and leave space for things to grow and it happens!
• Tell me about #SheHer? About seven years ago I ended up going out to New York for an event and I connected with someone who turned out to be Shelley Zallis of #SeeHer and the Female Quotient, which is about empowering women and helping women empower other women. So I ended up working with them to help bring on board new brands. The goal was by the year 2020 we would have a 20% increase in representation of women. We reached our goal early in 2019, and I still will keep in touch with Shelley. I go to a lot of the Female Quotient events and they've exploded. They went from about 5,000 followers on LinkedIn. Now, they have over half a million people. If you have not got involved yet then you should! It's been incredible and it's on a global level. Shelley has really made my career even more impactful because I was in a room full of change agents and change makers, and it makes you realize you can do anything and change anything, because as Shelley says, a woman alone has power, collectively we have impact.
• Through all of your experiences have there been pillars or core values that guided you in owning your own business and managing other team members? Belief in yourself is really important. I still get imposter syndrome all the time, but I do believe I belong in the room. I've lost jobs because I was too successful or I’ve outperformed bosses, it’s crazy. Because of my dyslexia, I'm tenacious as hell. I’m like a dog with a bone, a friend told me, I will figure it out one way or another - how to get in there and how to sell, and how to make something happen. The other thing is to listen to your gut, when you're walking down the street, and in business, too. Think about who your champions are when you sit at a table. I think women can get away with a little bit more in a meeting if you're smart about it. You can say things that men typically can't so use that power and that vulnerability, you've earned it by being there. What seems like the elephant in the room, don’t be afraid to talk about it. Be really authentic and real and comfortable in your skin, which I have been for a long time because life's a gift. I have a great sense of humor and don’t take things too seriously. I also know it’s important to get out when things are bad. It’s not good for you physically, mentally or spiritually to sit in a bad place. If you have the chance to springboard somewhere else, do it! Believe in yourself, use your network, do your homework, and when you walk into a meeting be yourself inside and out, because if you do, you're going to be able to be really comfortable, no matter who you're in front of. Self-actualization is such a key component of being authentic wherever you go and I'm not just using that word because it's a buzz word.
• For those who are looking to enter the industry or those that are seasoned professionals, what do you hope fellow women in sports events are able to get out of WISE? Just like anything else, you get what you put into it. If you put in 5%, you get 5%. If you want to learn something new, if you don't understand digital well, or you don't understand ticketing or you don't understand event activation, go and volunteer. It's a great way to learn and when you go back to the office, you can say, I picked up this new skill set. I also want to say, don't just network inside your WISE network in the Twin Cities. It's a national program.  I've never worked for a team or a league, but I’ve done a lot of different roles and we are all sellers. You sell yourself every single day and I don't think people realize that. If you're just brand new, just getting in, it’s a good way to network, but if you're a seasoned person it's a great way to help give back too. I think if you're not giving back one way or another in the community, you're not doing what you're supposed to be here for. You’ve got to share your gifts.  I didn't climb the corporate ladder, I built my own career. I've had a really interesting dynamic career and whatever you want, you can make it happen. It's just belief in yourself and getting that imposter system out of you and, even before Nike said, just do it! What have you got to lose, go open that door!

Katt parsons
Skating Coordinator- City of Eagan - Parks and Recreation
Member Since March 2024

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member: Having the awareness about the tremendous strides women are accomplishing in sports and having the opportunity to network with other accomplished women.
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year? Slow down. Pause.  
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)? Provide broader programming for a more diverse community.
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? There have been many amazing and a few really not so amazing leaders throughout my career. Important lessons were learned from both sides about work ethic, awareness, organization and culture.  
• How do you encourage women around you? Empower with knowledge and guidance. Support with flexibility, understanding and kindness.
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: Passion for the sport has been the inspiration not so much a specific book, podcast or blog.
• In my free time you can find me: At the ice rink watching the Wild, college hockey, the PWHL or my children.

Jenifer Freeman
Resident District Manager
Aramark
Member Since October 2023

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member: The ability to network with such a diverse and strong group of women in the industry.
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year? That sometimes it is ok to say no to the things (meetings, events, obligations) that do not bring added value to your life, personally or professionally.
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)? Continue to drive revenue across my accounts. Find new ways to elevate the fan experience with food and beverage and develop future leaders of this business.
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? Yes. My former GM. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. He believed in me when others did not think I could commit the time it would take to grow in this industry while also raising children. He always reminded me to focus on the quality of work that I was doing, that the rewards would follow. He was right.
• How do you encourage women around you? I try to extend the same grace I was given. Remind them that the sky is limit. That we can have it all, just in various ways and moments. And in my office and in the way that I lead my team, it is family first. The rest will work itself out.
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: Not so much books or podcasts. I would say I am visually inspired. I spend a lot of time on the web or Pinterest looking for new ways to push the envelope in food creativity.
• In my free time you can find me: With my family at our home, relaxing.

Molly Gallatin
VP of communications
2026 special olympics USA games
Member Since march 2024

• Originally from the Twin Cities, Molly Gallatin, VP of Communications for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, shares her remarkable career journey, which began with an internship at the Minnesota Twins. She talks about how she was able to carve out a niche for herself, leading to significant roles at the LPGA and PGA, where she not only developed as a leader but also navigated the challenges of being a woman in male-dominated sports. Now back home, Molly is channeling her extensive experience and passion into the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Read the full interview where she discusses the unique challenges of organizing such a massive event with a small team, the importance of volunteer support, and her vision for making these Games the best yet. 
• Can you talk a bit about your career path, what made you interested in communications and what did your path look like to get where you are? I’m from the Twin Cities originally so it’s nice to finally be back home. I spent 10 years outside the market in Florida and Texas, but I started my professional career in the sports industry here in town with the Minnesota Twins. I interned for a couple years and paid my dues, and then started in the communications department. It was 2004 and that was a good time to start because it allowed me to write my own destiny from a career perspective. Photographs were still taken on film back then and they were just transitioning to digital, so I was able to carve out a niche for myself, which I  think that’s so important for people, especially in the sports industry. I also volunteered a ton at things like  Minnesota Timberwolves games at night to try and get to know people. I started the Twins creative services and photography department so I've just naturally always been interested in the creative side of communications, and that's how I have been involved in marketing. I spent 10 or 11 years at the Twins, which was an awesome ride, but I needed to broaden my horizons so I targeted golf as a way to see the world and get to learn about new audiences. I started at the LPGA, which was a hell of an opportunity and so fun. I was a little nervous going from men's professional sports to women's, but it allowed me to have freedom to create and become who I wanted to be. Sometimes I think in these male dominated sports as a woman you tend to be put into a box. The commissioner was Mike Juan, who now runs the USGA, and he gave me a whole lot of confidence as a leader and a professional and that led to great opportunities. I left the LPGA to join the PGA after seeing some great results, making lifelong friendships and traveling to way too many countries, and way too many tournaments! That confidence boost led to my development as a professional, and I was quickly promoted to an executive level position there, which was great. It was an incredible opportunity to manage a team and I oversaw Brand, Marketing and Communications for them for five years before COVID hit. At that point I was tapped to oversee our inclusion and culture efforts to try to get people on board for the PGA’s headquarters move from West Palm Beach to Frisco, Texas. It was a new kind of role for me and I went from focusing on the external side of things to really a more internal focus among our staff members, and then our 30,000 PGA professionals. It was a great experience but Texas wasn't the best fit for my LGBTQ family. We were excited to move back to Minnesota and the Special Olympics USA Games was something that popped up relatively quickly to us coming back here. It's a great opportunity to be on the team that puts these Games on, and it really feels like a startup type of atmosphere here, where it's all hands on deck and just get things done. So, yeah, my title is VP of Communications, but I really work on a whole lot of different projects and really do everything!
• Since joining the team at the 2026 Special Olympics, have there been any standout events/projects that you are particularly proud of? Part of what we work on now is we try to find ambassadors because we don't have a paid media budget because we are in fundraising mode. We reach out to celebrity ambassadors to help spread the good word and that's been a really fun opportunity to get creative, for us. Down the road, I think it's gonna be something that we can hang our hat on - the ambassador program that we built. Hopefully it will be something that a lot of people model their own programs after and if we do it right, it's gonna be something that's pretty game changing, from a sports and a nonprofit perspective.
• Given the size of the team and how large the event is and the impact that it has on the Twin Cities alone is massive, how will you get it done with so few staff? We are going to rely on probably around 15,000 volunteers to run this thing. We're gonna have over a 100,000 people on-site at this thing over the course of six days. We need to recruit and train 15,000 volunteers and we’re building the org charts now, even though we only have a smaller staff, we're probably around 25 or 30 staff in all. We will need to get very skilled volunteers, certainly, who are working for free and doing very important jobs. We also have a community of athletes who have intellectual disabilities that we need to protect and we need to ensure they have incredible opportunities to compete and be safe, and have fun at these games. We want them to leave and say these were 100% the best games we've ever been a part of. When you look at our leadership table it’s an incredibly skilled group, and that's purposeful. Our senior leadership team and our CEO knew that we have an uphill battle here from a fundraising perspective, especially in this corporate climate and she put very, very senior people together and who most likely took pay cuts but they want to make these games a huge success. With that determination and their efforts I have no doubt this will be far and away the best USA Games ever.
• What’s at the forefront for you and your team prepping for the Games? We built out a marketing and communications plan very, very early - about three and a half years out. I've been with the team since December, so the plan was done prior to me joining, which was incredible. The 2024 focus is brand awareness from a partner perspective and audience perspective, and also a general awareness that the Games will be in Minnesota. A lot of our communication strategy is we just want people to know the Games are coming because It's a busy market from a sports perspective and we need to to get a lot of eyeballs on us. We’re also starting to plan for our year to go already, which will be June 2025. That's going to be a huge opportunity for us. One of the most visible and important things for the Special Olympics Games is the Law Enforcement Torch Run. They raise so much money for the Special Olympics year after year, and they'll do the same for us. They will run the torch over a huge, huge footprint within the United States and so from a communication standpoint is a big piece for us . We'll be doing a a whole tour all over the East and West Coast. June 2026 is just gonna be wild for us. I've done a lot of big events for sure, but the lead up to these games is like nothing I've seen. 
• What are the key pillars of your leadership style that guide you as you work with your team? I want everyone on my team to feel like they fully and clearly understand their personal goals and our department goals, and how important they are to achieving those. I want people to feel very much a part of the team, so team building is so important to me. I always loved leaders who gave feedback, didn't sugarcoat it and would tell you where you need to improve. That's the leader that I want to be to people too. When you're starting off in your career, you have the opportunity to observe a whole lot and figure out what you like and don't like and learn what kind of leader you want to be. I worked in baseball in the early to mid 2000’s, and there weren't a lot of people that look like me who were in leadership positions in baseball, but I always gravitated to the ones that were there and I would watch them and observe how they interacted. When I got to the LPGA the majority of the C Suite and executive table were women, and that was a huge confidence boost for me. From a communications and leadership perspective, I think starting with clarity is very important. I also know how important it is to share information that you can because the more you silo information, the worse people feel about what they're doing and what we're doing as a whole.
• How can WISE help the efforts of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games?  For now it's spreading the word, and brand awareness. The best opportunities for corporate sponsors or just people getting involved is always networking. So, talk about it, mention it and if you find yourself in a great situation where there's a corporate partner who might even have some dollars to spend, we would love to be connected in some way. There's a lot of companies out there who want to find a great inclusive organization and the Special Olympics is certainly a name that's recognizable, but sometimes people don't think of us. We want to be a good partner for all these corporations who work with us, so spread the word, network and bring some brand awareness!

Heidi Dohrmann
CEO and Founder
Elefortis Performance Group
Member Since april 2024

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member: The networking opportunities to engage with other women in sports and events. It has been so valuable getting to know others in the industry and the events WISE puts together does an amazing job enabling it.
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year? So many great lessons in starting my company – the main ones is that Leadership is all about influencing and bringing value – and the best way to do that is to give value first. You get what you give.
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)? I just started my studying for the NASM CPT I am so excited! All my life I am been very interested in sports and coaching – this brings both of those loves together and I am excited to add this service to my company and work with individuals, athletes, and corporate athletes (executives).
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? I have been blessed to have many great mentors in my life. What sums all of them up is just hearing their stories, them being vulnerable with me about their life journeys – the good and the challenges – and what they have learned from them. All of my mentors have a growth mindset and I have learned so much from them about how to tackle all life situations as learning opportunities. There is so much growth to endure from them if we let ourselves.
• How do you encourage women around you? First and foremost, I pay it forward from my mentors and share my life story and what I have learned from it in hopes of it inspiring others. Secondly, I am very active in several women-led associations in the Twin Cities – WISE being one of them – I think it’s important to always be building that network & create amazing connections, and lastly, being a mentor myself to many female entrepreneurs providing consulting and coaching to them as they continue to grow both personally and professionally.
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell
• In my free time you can find me: at the soccer field I am a HUGE MNUFC fan and have played soccer all my life😊

Sally Kurth
Tournament Manager
3m open
Member Since dec 2022

• Can you talk a bit about your career path; what made you interested in events and what did your path look like to get there? I studied Sports Management at North Dakota State. While I was there I got a great piece of advice from a professor, which is “the best thing you can do is get involved”. You have so much free time at college so I really took that to heart and I got involved and it’s probably the best advice I’ve ever been given. I interned with the St Paul Saints and then the Athletics Department at North Dakota State. By my senior year I was running games, which was a great learning opportunity. I also interned at the Olympic Training Center at Chula Vista and the 3M Championship, which came about quite by chance. That’s what eventually led to me getting a position there out of college as Volunteer Coordinator. In 2019 the event transitioned into a PGA Tour event and I stayed on as Volunteer Coordinator and helped everyone transition. I then moved into the Tournament Manager Role, which I’ve been doing since 2020.
• What are the various parts of the tournament you oversee in your position? In my current position I like to say I wear a lot of hats because we put on a big event. We have 11 full-time staff members so we all do a lot of things. My role is a real hodgepodge! My biggest responsibility is that I’m the main contact for 3M as our Title Partner. I work really closely with them to bring 3M science to life at the event, as well as what we call Title Sponsor Branded Elements and 3M activations. That involvesf a lot of logistics and operations and working with our team to bring that all to life. I also oversee our social media and our summer interns who help with that. We have so much to cram into one week of the event, including lots of sponsor content with our sales team, and layering in fun content that’s going to get views. I also help with our Player Services, which includes things like hotel blocks and activities.
• Can you talk a bit about what the demand/schedule looks like for a role like yours or on your team? Based on feedback I’ve had, our quality of life is so much better than working on the team side. We don’t have a five or six-month span of events. For us, it all comes down to that one week. Fall is slow which gives us the opportunity to process the tournament and plan for next year. We really start to ramp up in May, and then June and July are crazy and we don’t get a 4th July holiday. During advance week we work to make tournament week go as smoothly as possible. Once we hit tournament week it’s 24/7 and we’re up and at course between 5 and 6 each morning and here until the sun goes down. It’s a lot but it’s so fun because you get to see everyone enjoy the event and see all the work you put in. It slows down again after the event and for a month or two we’re working on recaps and then we start looking at the next year by setting our theme and laddering up to our ‘Golf That Matters’ overall brand.
• What key metrics or goals do you try to deliver on to ensure the tournament is seen as a “success”? In terms of hard metrics, social is a really important one to us and 3M. We look to increase our overall impressions and engagement year-on-year. Social changes so much and we’ve had some real curveballs happen in the middle of our tournament, so our interns and being able to be flexible are really important. This last year we got lucky and had some interns that were really good at using video, so we focused on that. We also focus on how well the 3M branding shows up on TV.
• How can the WISE community help bring attention to the 3M Open? Social engagement is a huge win for us. It’s something we always encourage volunteers, 3M employees and any other communities to do. That’s a great way that WISE can help us!
• What are the key pillars of your leadership style that guide you as you work with your organization? I always like to tell my interns that I’m not a micromanager. We really value our interns here and I always tell them that we’re never going to let you fail because if you fail, we all fail. No matter what we’re here to guide. I’m big on questions and I want them to ask me anything they need to, and I’ll figure out a way to answer it.
• Are there lessons you learned early in your career that helped shape how you operate in your role today? One thing I learned early on working with 1200 plus volunteers is to learn people’s names. It matters to them and it makes them want to show up. I say to everyone on my team, learn five names and learn a little bit about their story. Truly getting to know people, asking them questions and just being a human goes a really long way, especially with loyalty. Volunteerism is declining so for us to be able to embrace those humans is important for us as a tournament.
• How have women helped you along your career path (any particular mentors, advice, etc.)? There is a woman I work with in our HQ and she oversees our corporate events and she’s always been a great sounding board for me and someone who’s challenged me and taught me a lot about management. She always says ‘I’m never going to give you a task that I haven’t done’, which I think is important in events. She takes the time to understand every aspect of an event so she can speak to it. I think that’s really powerful to understand what’s on other people’s plate.
• What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone trying to get a role like yours? Get involved! Go and volunteer at an event like the Twin Cities Marathon. You never know who you’re going to meet. Understanding the back end of sports events is invaluable experience. Also, don’t say no to opportunities, you never know where it will lead.
• Can you talk about your involvement in WISE? What do you hope fellow women in sports and events are able to get out of WISE? One of my favorite things about WISE is learning about other opportunities and positions. The Sportradar event is an example - I learnt so much from that and it really blew my mind. I’ve also learnt that working in sports is not just working for a team - there’s so many other avenues and I think WISE really opens your eyes to that.

Nichelle Middleton
Sr. Registration Coordinator 
Twin Cities in Motion
Member Since Aug 2022

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member: So far it has been a great way to meet and fellowship with women across the industry. It has been great to learn about other roles and opportunities that exist in the event space. I have also had the opportunity to reconnect with people from past roles and see where their work journey has taken them. 
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year: I learned that no matter how hard you prepare and how much work you put in, some things are just out of your control. Being a part of the cancellation and restitution period for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon & TC 10 Mile really showed about the resilience of my team and how we reacted in those circumstances. Creating and executing a plan for refunding registered runners as well as early registration for the 2024 event is hopefully a once in a lifetime experience.
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally): This year I have an intern and they are a non-traditional student so I am really excited to help with their growth and development. It has been an eye opening process watching them apply concepts from school in practical applications. I am also enjoying learning from them and seeing different ways to approach a task.
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you: I have had a few mentors throughout my career. I think one of most important things I have gained was the ability to take time and see things from another perspective. Realizing just how much your past experiences influence your decision making and interactions has helped me develop more empathy.  It really goes a long way in assuming positive intent when you are able to take a minute and put yourself in someone else's shoes and see the other factors that are affecting the way they are reacting to a situation.
• How do you encourage women around you: I make it known that I am always available as a resource to bounce ideas off of as well as being vocal about celebrating successes big and small. I have realized that women on teams try to downplay their contributions, so I try to make a point to bring forward their ideas in project planning meetings and give them space to expound on ideas within the group.  It is also about being an advocate and making sure to speak well about them and give them credit even if they aren't in the room. 
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: True North, it was a book that I had to read for a leadership class. It had the added benefit of helping to determine and define my internal perspective and a framework moving forward with my career. Understanding my internal motivations helps ensure that I am alway moving authentically through any environment or situation
• In my free time you can find me: Somewhere that I needed my passport to get to. I love to travel and one of my most recent trips was to Egypt and I got to see the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. If I am staying local, I am probably reading a book on my deck.

Lisa Quednow
Associate Director
Minnesota State High School League
Member Since 2023

·     What I find most valuable about being a WISE member:  I am a very new member and it is exciting to see the number of Women in this arena!  I look forward to the connections with the talented women of this group,

·     What major lesson did you learn in the past year? This year has been a testament to the importance of challenging my beliefs. It's easy to become complacent, holding onto ideas simply because they're familiar or comfortable. Yet, when we actively question and scrutinize our beliefs, we open ourselves up to growth and understanding. One of the key lessons learned is that beliefs are not static; they evolve as we gain new experiences and knowledge. By challenging our beliefs, we invite critical thinking and introspection into our lives, leading to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

·     What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)? Elevating women and girls with leadership potential is not just an aspiration; it's a commitment to creating a more equitable and empowered future. By actively investing in their development, providing mentorship, and fostering opportunities for growth, we not only unlock their full potential but also pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse leadership landscape. Together, let's champion their voices, celebrate their achievements, and pave the path for a world where every woman and girl can thrive as leaders

·      Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? I have had some amazing mentors.  Having a mentor who has inspired me to look beyond my potential has been transformative. Their guidance, wisdom, and unwavering belief in my abilities have not only propelled me forward but also expanded my horizons. Through their mentorship, I've learned to challenge self-imposed limitations, embrace new opportunities, and strive for excellence. Their influence extends far beyond professional growth; it's a testament to the profound impact mentorship can have on one's journey of personal development and fulfillment. I am deeply grateful for their support and commitment to helping me reach heights I never imagined possible.

·     How do you encourage women around you?  I think that recognition of accomplishments even seemingly smaller ones is such an important part of encouraging women when they feel that no one sees their effort and work.  The day-to-day tasks and doing them at a high level are as important in encouraging progress and leadership at a higher level.  Also, encouraging women when there are challenges and failure is a part of the process of recognizing that every opportunity provides learning and growth.

·     A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is:  Present not Perfect 

·     In my free time you can find me:  Enjoying live music with my husband, time with my 4 daughters and traveling! 

Sophia Hayden
Marketing & Content Strategy
The Sanneh Foundation
Member Since 2023

• Can you talk a bit about your career path; what made you interested in marketing and what did your path look like to get to where you are today? 

  Ever since I was a little kid I loved sports. I loved to go to the games and wear the uniforms and was super social, but I wasn’t the best on the team, I was a bench rider. My dad is such a great guy and he just wants me to be happy and had a great idea in 9th grade when sports were getting more competitive and he suggested I managed for a bit and see if I liked that world. He knew that sport management and working in the sports industry was an up and coming area for women and he foresaw that it might be a career that I was interested in. I just loved it and I loved being part of sports. It was so interesting to me and it didn’t feel like work to me.

  Fast forward and I went to college at Mankato State and they have a super good sports management program filled with so many great women professors that are so talented and have so much experience. I fell in love with so many of them, specifically one called Dr. Houghton, who is the best and really inspired me.

  Going into my junior year I did an internship with the Minnesota Vikings doing football operations. It was so male heavy and I wished there was a way I could meet more women. So I joined the club Women in Sport Managed and we started doing some interviews with women who work in the sport industry who gave us tips or insight into their career paths and how we could make room for ourselves. As part of that I met Laura Shingler who now works for Minnesota United FC. She was part of WISE and told me all about it and I thought that would be perfect for me. 

  That year I decided to move back to the Twin Cities and I started my job at Sanneh, which is Marketing and Content Strategy. I got my Minor in Marketing and it’s something I’ve always been excited about, especially digital marketing. Tony Sanneh is the founder of the foundation and I went to his Gala4Goals, which is a big fundraiser he does. We talked a bit and he said that he would really be interested in me running his social media, which is how I started.

  My boss was Amy Kuehn and she said I should join WISE and she said she’d bring me. I went and I loved it so I joined. That was my road to WISE!

• Can you tell us a bit about The Sanneh Foundation? Why did you choose The Sanneh Foundation? 

  It’s a Black led organization that focuses on many different programs to help empower, improve and unite the community. We do a lot of things including nutritional services, which helps decrease food insecurity for families in the Twin Cities area. We also do a lot of mentorship, and youth development through after school and summer programs. I would say the biggest thing that was super interesting to me and why I wanted to work there is that we offer completely free sports camps throughout the summer. We do pickleball, basketball, soccer and we’re looking into adding football into the mix. We also partner with Solomon Hughes Golf Academy to do golf camps for kids. It’s all 100% free to the community which is so important because as we know it can be hard for many different reasons for kids and families to be able to afford to send their kids to sports camps. We also have a girl’s first program, which is a soccer program and league that includes 10U up to 18U soccer league.They play soccer with their friends and also get the opportunity to experience mentorship, workforce development, and team building as well as go to games and see Minnesota Aurora play. They get to have a great time, play soccer, and learn a lot.

  I had some other job opportunities but Sanneh is near and dear to my heart. I grew up in this community and volunteered a lot growing up. My boss Jeanette, who’s worked for some really big companies before, was willing to give me a shot at learning and experiencing and allowing me to learn, grow and make mistakes while I was new in my career. That was really important to me being new in my career. Having Tony as my boss as a professional soccer player is incredible and he’s a big help with introductions and sharing his knowledge with me.

   
• What does your day to day look like at the Sanneh Foundation? 

  I handle all of our social media platforms whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube, I run all of those. Day-to-day for me is always planning our content, pulling data so that we can know our audience better and also doing digital campaigns, and newsletters for fundraising.

  I also work on big projects, like the marketing collateral for our big gala event coming up. I do a lot of special projects like video shoots, when I work on scripts, shot-lists, and managing videographers and photographers. I am mostly focused on digital marketing and campaign strategy. We have a small team, including our  VP Branding and Sustainability, Janette Fernandez, and a Marketing Manager, so I have the opportunity to try a lot of different things.

• Since joining the team at Sanneh, have there been any standout events/opportunities/projects  that you are particularly proud of? 

  I’ve done so much since joining because working for a non-profit it’s always go, go, go. I’m super proud of the work I’m doing on our big Gala4Goals and also our golf tournament Golf4Goals. It’s hard to have such a small team doing marketing for such a big event when you also have to run your daily marketing. I’ve never worked on such a big event before so it’s a great experience and I’m super proud to be planning our whole calendar for social media and producing all the collateral. I think it’s going to turn out really well!

• What would you say are the keys to building out a great marketing and content strategy as it relates to the Foundation?

It’s definitely data. You can’t have strategy without data. It’s super important to see what works and what doesn’t, what hit and what didn’t. This helps us improve our strategy to increase our funding to serve our community. If I don’t hold the data I’m not strategizing and then I’m not getting as much money as we could to help those people.

• For anyone pursuing, or currently in the marketing and content field, can you talk about recommendations you have? 

  Use the things that are at your fingertips and always say yes! The biggest things that helped me were doing different training sessions and going to the learning events. On LinkedIn there’s always training that talks about strategy and digital marketing and those are at our fingertips and super easy to do. I wish I would have done more of those while at college. There’s also webinars with really successful and knowledgeable people and you might get the chance to ask them a question. Attending those have helped me so much. In my job I’ll learn something and bring it to my boss and it’s really helpful. Get a friend to join them with you, that way you can make it fun and create conversation about it afterwards.

• Have you received any coaching or had a great mentor through your career so far? If so, what has that looked like for you?

I haven’t had any formal mentors but my current boss Janette Fernandez has been a big mentor for me. When I stepped into this role I was shy, not trusting of myself, I had imposter syndrome, and she helped me by inviting me to events with other women in the marketing industry, finding professional development, and giving me a lot of her time. We’ve worked on my goals and every week she checks in to make sure I’m taking one more step towards them.

• What have you seen set women apart in sports and events? Are there any common skills, values, etc. you see among women you respect throughout the industry?

  I think women are just so helpful and that was the thing I loved about WISE when I went to my first event.  Everybody wants to connect, people want to chat, they want to talk and they want to be a resource for me. I’m so appreciative of that. Sometimes men can withhold information for power and I think women find power in being helpful and that’s so important to me. I would never want to feel embarrassed for asking a question or asking for help or to connect. Helpful, that’s my word for this question!

• How can WISE Twin Cities members get involved with The Sanneh Foundation?

  The biggest thing you can do is volunteer. We are always looking for volunteers and we have so many opportunities between our nutritional food service distribution on Tuesday and Friday in the Conway community in St. Paul and the South Minneapolis community. We also have opportunities with our after school programme as well as volunteers for our soccer leagues as referees and coaches. Volunteers are how we serve our community the best and so getting more people to learn about our foundation, to value our mission and to feel connected is a big thing. All of our volunteer opportunities are listed on our website.

  
  

BECCA GLASS
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Bally Sports
Member Since 2018

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member:  Meeting so many smart, hard-working women with similar passions.  I’ve been inspired by so many women in the industry and have built wonderful networks and friendships. 
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year?  It’s ok to change your goals as your life changes.  Life is so fluid and unpredictable.  You’re not quitting; you’re re-aligning. 
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)?  I hope to quit comparing myself to others and also to focus less on my past mistakes and more on my future opportunities.
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you?  My former boss of ten years has been my greatest teacher and supporter of my career.  He listened when I told him my goals and helped me achieve them by teaching me about the business, giving me the exposure and responsibility, and letting me fail and succeed.  Even after he left the company, he reaches out to check in and catch up.  It’s a relationship I’ll forever be grateful for.
• How do you encourage women around you?  I am a working mom of three kids and I am a huge supporter not only of work-life balance but also supporting new parents.  I advocated for a better pumping room in our office as well as a better parental leave benefit.  Working parents should feel supported in order to do their best work.
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is:  Anything and everything by Brene Brown.  I think about her books and podcasts daily.
• In my free time you can find me: Watching/coaching my kids’ hockey, playing broomball, running, attending stand-up comedy shows

Jessica Poole
Team President and Chief Operating Officer 
Minnesota Aurora FC 
Member Since Oct '23

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member: The connections with colleagues across the industry, both locally and nationally, is incredibly valuable to me both personally and professionally. I think anytime you are able to connect with likeminded people in your industry it gives you a boost and gets the creative juices flowing and being with this group always gives me an energy boost.
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year? I really learned to trust my instincts. We all have the "gut feeling" we get sometimes about certain situations and circumstances and I tended to rationalize the feelings away but this year I really leaned into trusting my gut and taking leaps and well, it brought me to Minnesota!
• What do you hope to accomplish next year (personally or professionally)? In the next year, I would like to continue to expand my professional network here in the Twin Cities. I know a few people here and there from my role with Minnesota Aurora FC and also my previous life in intercollegiate athletics but I really want to lean into going to events and connecting with people both in the sports industry and outside. 
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? Yes, I have had mentors throughout my life in both a personal and professional capacity and I have a personal "Board of Directors" that I rely on heavily to help me see things from various perspectives. I think the main thing my mentors have helped me with is seeing myself the way that they see me and also serving as my "blind spot". Having people who can push you and hold you accountable to yourself has been key for me on my journey. 
• How do you encourage women around you? I'm a Black woman, solo mom, sports executive which in the sports industry is a bit of a unicorn so I want to make sure that I'm being a resource to those who could potentially come after me. I try to share the wins and the pain points, especially when it comes to being a mother in this industry. I want my example to be an authentic example to those around me and also those who are watching.
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: I am a HUGE fan of podcasts and listen to many and could name so many that have inspired me but Gamechangers Podcast with Molly Fletcher is one that I find to be really amazing. She's an inspiration herself as a sports agent and her story of getting there is just awe inspiring but her podcast is a mixture of leaders in the sports industry, and business leaders and also practical tools for leaders. I listen to it often and I'm always inspired and learn something. She's also a Michigan native like me and although she's a Spartan and I'm a Wolverine, I don't hold it against her! 
• In my free time you can find me: Hanging out with my almost 3-year old son William and his amigos and their families. We are incredibly fortunate that we have "Framily" here in the Twin Cities and we do lots of life together which has been so fun for my son and I! 

Andrea Graham
Co-Executive Director
Big Ten Men's & Women's Basketball Tournaments
Member Since Feb '23

• Can you talk a bit about your career path; what led you to working in events originally, and then migrating into sporting events? Originally, way back, my career started in theater production and it translated very organically into the hospitality world and private events. I’m from Minnesota and after having moved around with the hotel company I was with at the time I decided I wanted to stick around. I took a job with Surly Brewing Co and helped them build their event program when they opened their destination brewery here. That included both the private event business model and building out all of their brand events and getting their brand in front of as many new audiences as possible. That’s how I connected with Wendy Blackshaw, now CEO at Minnesota Sports and Events, and we really clicked and hit it off. When I was ready to move on from the beer world I was talking to them and they said, “well actually we have the Women’s Final 4 coming up” and I said “well great, let’s do it”. So that was how I got into it, I’ve always been a sports fan so it was a natural transition. The main thing that changes across all these events is the scale. There’s so many moving components and details so it’s really just are you doing it for 100 people or 100,000 people.
  
• What’s the scale for the current events you’re working on? The Big 10 Tournament really varies. In 2023 we blew all of their attendance records out of the water, which was our goal. Minnesota is great because Minnesotans love sports and we also really love and support women’s sports. It was awesome to get that fanbase out and rallying around all of those young athletes. Looking out to next year, Target Center caps out at around 20,000. In a dream world it would be great to sell out both the men’s and women’s tournaments. I think we’ll see a really strong showing and I wouldn’t not be surprised if we beat last year’s numbers for the women. It will be interesting to see whether folks who are used to traveling to Indiana or Chicago come up here for it.
  
• What are the various parts of the business you oversee at Minnesota Sports and Events as the Co-Executive Director for the Big 10 Tournaments? My Co Executive-Director, Tyler Boike​, and I really split things down the middle and he is on operations and I oversee all ancillary events, run the Marketing Team, Fundraising, Community Legacy and really pull all the pieces and people together to make it happen. We have a really strong team that we’ve been building. We started at four staff and we’re getting closer to 20 people in the team working across all our projects, including the 2024 US Olympic Gymnastics Trials….The big difference for me now working in sports is having a really solid team to support, delegate and execute effectively. In the world of private local business you’re a one woman show so it’s been really great to get to take all the plans out of my head and put them out into the world.
  
• What’s it like putting on two big events back-to-back? We have the women’s tournament here from March 6 - 10 and then the men’s is the next week, March 13 - 17, So it will be a very fast and furious two weeks with just one dark day. It will be go, go, go because the games are one after another and then all the ancillary events and youth programs. We’re also working on a huge community impact project, that will really impact both St Paul and Minneapolis, which is exciting, and leave a lasting legacy.
  
• What sets MN apart for events like this? Every city is different, but here in Minnesota we put a lot of Minnesota influence and representation into what we’re helping to produce. Definitely the fans set us apart - they’re huge. One thing we try to really put out there in our bids is to show them the revenue they’re going to generate by coming here because money does drive decisions. Competing with some of those bigger markets we can still get them where they need to be financially and do that efficiently and bring this much extra. What kind of experience they want to give their fans and their athletes. 
  
• What key metrics or goals do you try to deliver on to ensure an event is seen as a “success”, and hopefully comes back in the future? Every bid that comes over has different goals, priorities and what they need to execute. As the Big 10 grows, their city options change and they need more and more. Both Minneapolis and St Paul are set up nimbly and because they are so close we have resources on both sides of the river should these larger events continue to come here, as we saw with the Superbowl. I think events are looking to see how we can make a city splash for them - and make the city feel like theirs is a big part of it.
  
• What are the key pillars of your leadership style that guide you as you work with your team? I believe in leading with empathy and honesty and meeting people where they’re at. Partnership is a key word for me and being supportive and arm in arm with your colleagues. I can’t do my job without everyone else, so we’re all in it together. Having a sense of community means that we’re stronger together so I try to lead that way and make connections between people so we can figure out answers. I like being honest and know that no one has all the answers so keep an open door policy.
  
• Have you always aspired to lead people? I am an oldest child and a female so I think leadership is ingrained in me since birth! When I was studying theater my focus was directing, so right from the get go it was all about building casts and building shows. A core desire to create with others has really driven all of my work and so the more people I can have on my team the better!
  
• Are there any leaders that have shaped your path or helped you learn along the way? Absolutely and I feel so fortunate to have been able to connect with incredibly strong women through every part of my career. Thanks to the women I’m working with right now I continue to learn so much every day. It’s the kind of learning and mentorship that’s hard, but it’s not defeating hard, it’s exciting and you’re tired because you have to use your brain a lot! It’s good learning and good change and involves trying new things and taking risks. Our president (Wendy Blackshaw) has been a huge influence on me in the past three years. I’ve learned so much from her on how to model, how to approach things, how to lead conversations and I feel so lucky….One thing I have learned from women coming after me and those leading the path is the importance of shared institutional knowledge and connections. There’s no value in gatekeeping and or devaluing someone else’s experiences. You only can do better by engaging all around. Always give people the time because you never know what that conversation will lead to.
  
• Can you talk about your involvement in WISE? What do you hope fellow women in sports and events are able to get out of WISE? I really love WISE, it’s so fun to see it grow over the past few years with what Anne has done and now what Kara has taken on. It’s been really fun to connect with all these different women that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I was originally advising on the Events Committee now I’m shifting onto the Advisory Board to help from that angle and it’s fun to support and watch the upcoming leaders really get their feet wet.
• Any words of advice for WISE members? Believe in yourself and your instincts - know when something is working and when it’s right. Be honest with yourself and with those around you about what’s going on because that’s how you can get help and learn and grow. You know what you're doing so take big chances!

Connor Lewis
Data Scientist & Head Coach
Sportradar & MN vixen
Member Since Feb '23

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member: Getting a glimpse into all the different types of professions that make up the sporting and entertainment industry. 
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year? Listen. Learn. Lead. 
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)? This year I have been focusing on intangible goals in all facets of life: dealing with challenging situations,  having difficult conversations when needed, and understanding how the people around me work. 
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? Yes, many, although they might not all realize it. I'll talk specifically about one mentor. I was fortunate enough to meet her early on in my career and she opened up my eyes to the world of data science. She has encouraged me to take jobs that push my limits and talked candidly about negotiations and valuing myself properly.  
• How do you encourage women around you? I encourage them to self-advocate and know their self-worth, provide a sounding board when needed, and celebrate their successes!
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: Honestly, I don't have one. For me, inspiration comes from within and from the people around me doing amazing things! 
• In my free time you can find me: Playing sports, traveling, reading, and spending time in nature. Currently, my main sport is Australian Rules Football. I play locally for the MN Freeze and nationally with the USA Freedom. Upcoming trips include Banff and New Zealand.

Ginna wasmund
Sales Account Manager
Topgolf
Member Since Dec '22

• What I find most valuable about being a WISE member:  In addition to making new connections, I love hearing from such successful women on how they have broken down barriers and really have been pioneers in their field. I especially love when I can hear from a woman who is wildly successful and is also an amazing mom. Having a 4 year old myself, I still struggle trying to give my all to my family and to my job so seeing how other women balance it and crush it, gives me so much motivation.
• What major lesson did you learn in the past year? If the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that I can only control what I can control. This phrase is not new to me but being able to accept it and embrace it has been a huge lesson. Actively reminding myself of this and practicing it whether it be in a professional setting or personal setting has been very impactful.
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)? I have been trying to focus on getting out of the office and making connections in the community, whether it’s joining an organization, attending a conference, exhibiting at an event, volunteering, or hosting events at our facility. Trying to get more involved in the “outside” world has been a big goal for me this year.
• Have you ever had a mentor and, if so, how have they helped you? I’ve never had a professional mentor, but I’ve always consistently reached out to my mom as she is a former business owner. I grew up doing odd jobs in her office and she was a “Boss Lady” before that was even a term. Because she owned and operated her business for decades, she’s been an amazing resource should I have any questions about my career or need any advice on how to approach a situation or opportunity.
• How do you encourage women around you? I think my mindset has really changed in the last few years. I used to feel this overwhelming sense of competition or comparison between myself and other colleagues or other women in the industry. When I started working at my last job, my counterpart was like my other half and that’s when my mindset shifted. It became more of a collaboration and a “how can we do this together?” “how can we succeed as a team?” type mindset. With other colleagues in the industry it became a sense of community of women just cheering each other on versus trying to be Queen of the mountain. I’ve carried that into my current role and I think it not only creates a much better culture but it helps me to be better and perform better.
• A book, podcast, or blog that has inspired my career is: Simon Sinek is my guy! Every time he speaks I feel like I have a revelation. His view of the corporate workplace, mindset and life as a whole is just phenomenal. I really think everyone should have to listen to him speak!
• In my free time you can find me: In my free time, you can find me with my daughter. I love being a girl mom and having a mini-me! I love taking her new places and just seeing her face light up in awe. She is such a light in a sometimes dark and scary world. Watching her and my husband play just melts my heart. I love throwing parties during the holidays. I am an event planner on the side so I don’t do anything super small. I love a good theme! Outside of that, I love playing volleyball and watching some trashy reality TV.

Ann Dunne
assistant GM
ASM Global, U.S. Bank Stadium
Member Since Nov 2022

• Tell us about your career path and what made you interested in live event space?: It started at a young age, I was really bitten by the live event bug when I went to my first concert at 7 years old. It was the Olivia Newton John, Let’s Get Physical tour at the old St Paul Civic Center. My parents took me to a lot of concerts and sporting events when I was growing up and I just loved it. It felt like you were in the center of everything when you went to these events or games. When I was in college I was a cheerleader for the Minnesota Vikings and I just loved NBA Basketball, so I really focused on trying to get a job with the NBA when I got out of school. I was fortunate enough to get my first job working for the Timberwolves at Target Center in marketing and after that I worked in corporate events for many years. All of those experiences are a culmination of how I ended up here - working in sports, live entertainment and events. It gets you and that’s how I wound up where I am! It’s strange because there were a few times that I thought my career would take me to other places but the opportunities here kept presenting themselves, so I have been in this market my entire career, which in this industry I think that’s a tough thing to say.
• Describe what you oversee in your current role and what the makeup of your team looks like. I’m really lucky because I get the flavor of the day and wear a lot of hats. My oversight includes booking all the non-Vikings events, Marketing, Communications, Private Event Sales, Premium Sales + Services, Ticket Operations, Event Management, HR and Administration. I don’t do all of those things by myself, I have a great team, but I have the opportunity to have oversight of all those areas. We’re sitting at a team of around 10 or 12 right now. I’ve got a team of directors and they have team members that report to them. We call it a small but mighty team!
• Tell us about making the move to Assistant General Manager. It was definitely a big jump to go for the AGM role. I was in the live events and sports industry for the first seven years of my career and I moved into what I call ‘the other side’ and that was working in marketing, advertising, and media for almost 20 years. This job took me right back to my start when I was doing PR and marketing and working in the ticket office and doing all those things for the Target Center and for concerts. I said am I crazy to go back into this, but it did feel like the right move for me. -- I’ve been growing the whole time I’ve been here and I’m coming up on my fifth-year anniversary. When I started I wasn’t booking the building, our GM at that time was, and then he left and it was a natural progression for me to pick that up and learn that side of the business. There were a lot of days where I wondered whether I could do it, but I have a great team.
• What gave you the belief and confidence to take on your role? I just think I was crazy a little bit. Especially with where I’m at with my career it's good to constantly be challenged. If you're comfortable, then you’re not really growing. For me it was about challenging myself and saying ‘go ahead and try it, you might enjoy getting back into the business you were in before’. --It takes a special person to work in our industry - time isn’t always your own, you miss personal things, you are dedicated, but for certain people it really works. I am one of those people and I really love providing the experience to our guests and making memories. 
• Tell us more about the logistics for some of your bigger events like the Eras Tour. It seems like it would be pretty daunting because it is one of the biggest events, but some of the words of advice I gave to our team leading into the concert were ‘it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and the biggest thing you’ve worked on so take it all in and enjoy every minute’. Really, it’s not any different to other concerts we host at the venue. They’re all big, they all have roughly the same number of people and we plan like it was any other type of show. For us the planning starts as soon as we know the show is coming to the stadium, which can be one to two years in advance.
• How have you helped make Minneapolis and the US Bank Stadium a destination that artists want to come to? This all goes back to our staff and they excel at the experience portion of hosting events. It is important to everyone here that whoever comes into the building, whether it’s the artist, tour staff, guests, we want it to be the best experience they can possibly have. Our goal is always to have the tour staff say ‘that was our best stop yet’. That’s what keeps shows coming back and we’re starting to see that and the shows we’re booking is all due to the relationships and the experience that we’re providing. We have to build trust and the promoters have to feel like the most important person on the planet and know that you and your team are going to go above and beyond across all areas. That means getting the ticketing right, welcome gifts for the artist - there’s so many things that go into it. Our team all have a competitive nature and that’s how we work together to focus on that common goal. We want everything to be the best and we’re all on the same page with that.
• Tell us more about your leadership principles. The number one thing is communication. We’re all a piece of the puzzle here and each is an expert in their own area, which when you bring all those things together, it’s what makes the magic happen. Second, trusting the team and making sure that they know that they have the ability to make decisions and have solutions. That really goes a long way I think.
• As your career has grown, how have you seen your leadership style change and who has helped you develop that along the way? I’ve been really lucky to have some great role models and mentors that have invested in me. Hopefully I’m doing that now to pay that forward through mentoring and coaching others. For me, no matter where you’re at in your career, you should always be learning and at every stage. I’ve had people that I’ve really learned a lot from. Even as recently as a couple of years ago, our company merged with another and I was exposed to new leaders in that space and that was a great experience. 
• What does being involved in WISE mean to you? It’s all about connections. Having been in the market for a long time I know a lot of people and it’s a good reminder and excuse to get together and reconnect. This is a great community where we can come together with others that understand what we do. It takes special people to work in our industry so it’s important to be together with them.
• For people that want to advance in the events industry, are there specific values or skills that set people apart? Dedication and a lot of hard work, as well as a willingness to put your job ahead of personal needs. But it also can be a lot of fun so it doesn’t always feel like work. Even though we’re running around doing all kinds of stuff on an event day, at the end of the day we’re at a concert or an event. I can’t complain! -- I appreciate the opportunity to be able to share my experiences and hopefully it helps somebody else who’s out there who may want to get into some craziness in their life and get into this insane business that we’re all in.

Leila Riley, MPE-AA
Ph.D candidate, Sport management
University of Minnesota
Member Since Jul '22

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: I came from communities where there were not many women in sport and there weren't many opportunities to connect with them. I am so appreciative of this community of like-minded folks that I get to connect with on a regular basis. I'm really grateful for the meaningful connections that I've made through WISE!
• What major lesson(s) did you learn in 2022? I think 2022 was a big year for being my authentic self. I like to joke that I am a recovering perfectionist, but I have been recognizing how that makes it difficult for me to show up as my authentic self. I celebrate the imperfections of others and have been working to show myself that same grace. 
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)?  Professionally, I'm very much hoping to have my dissertation very close to being finished by the end of the year. I think personally, my goal for this year is to reclaim some leisure in my life and just enjoy being in beautiful Minnesota!
• What do you hope to accomplish this year (personally or professionally)?  Professionally, I'm very much hoping to have my dissertation very close to being finished by the end of the year. I think personally, my goal for this year is to reclaim some leisure in my life and just enjoy being in beautiful Minnesota!
• Who is your mentor and how have they inspired you?  I've been lucky to have many mentors throughout my professional development. I'm incredibly grateful to my advisor/mentor Dr. Vicki Schull who has put in an incredible amount of work into me both emotionally and professionally. I'd be so lost in this program without her guidance. I also want to put out an honorable mention to Stephanie Davis who I've developed a very meaningful peer mentorship with.
• How do you encourage women around you?  I think one of the ways I best encourage women around me is by sharing knowledge. If I have information about resources you need, you bet I'll share or find someone that knows. If I've hit hurdles that you're coming up to, I will share what I know so that hopefully your ride is less bumpy. I strive to be a good community member in this way.  
• One of my favorite books, podcasts or blogs is: I am hooked on all things Brene Brown. I've read a few of her books, but I think Daring Greatly was very impactful for me as a leader. I'm not super into podcasts, but if I need something to listen to I do enjoy her Dare to Lead or Unlocking Us podcasts.
• In my free time, you can find me: outdoors with my partner and my dog. We've really enjoyed coming to Minnesota and having so many new parks and hikes to explore.

Leticia Silva
SVP, Human Resources
Minnesota Twins
Member Since Apr '21

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: The sense of belonging that comes from being surrounded by so many inspiring women.
• What major lesson(s) did you learn in 2022? The importance of prioritizing self-care. Facing the fact that I am never going to be “caught up” and that I need to take time for myself once in a while without feeling guilty about it (although this is still a work in progress 😊).
• What do you hope to accomplish this year? Personal – to travel someplace new. Professional – I love to learn, so each year I look for new learning opportunities. In 2023, I plan to evaluate leadership coaching certificate programs and complete one in the calendar year
• Who is your mentor and how have they inspired you? I am fortunate to have a number of mentors who share their knowledge, vulnerabilities, candid feedback and encouragement. The most inspiring aspect of these relationships is learning about other people’s journeys and challenges they faced along the way. Too often we have unrealistic perceptions of other people’s leadership journeys and when we experience challenges/failures on our own journeys we tend to internalize these experiences and fill our minds with self-doubt.
• How do you encourage other women around you? By celebrating their WINS no matter how big or small. As women we tend to be so hard on ourselves which can be exhausting, it’s important to give ourselves credit once in a while! 
• One of my favorite books, podcasts or blogs is: Anything from Brené Brown – Books, Podcasts, etc. If I had to choose one, it would be Dare to Lead.
• In my free time I'm: Spending time with family and friends, in the winter someplace indoors and in the summer OUTDOORS in the sunshine. 

Cecilia Lettner
Dir, Inclusion & People Development
Minnesota Twins
Member Since Apr '21

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: I have honestly valued this network of women to connect with as I entered the sports & entertainment industry. In my short time I have enjoyed the opportunities to share our stories, learn together, and simply grow a supportive network.
• What major lesson(s) did you learn last year? Take time to recognize the small wins. Remember it is okay to lean on and reach out to your networks for support. Take the time to listen to your own advice – we are the hardest on ourselves but we too deserve the grace we try to afford to others. Take a deep breath. Take that day off, sis!
• What do you hope to accomplish this year? In 2022, I hope to make a positive impact personally and professionally. That may be by creating space for others, leading work or community initiatives, or simply holding conversations. It will take shape as the days continue, but that is one thing I hope to accomplish, creating a positive impact.
• My first job was: My first job in high school was as the drive-thru queen at Arby’s. After college, I worked as a front desk receptionist at a local non-profit, the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery.
• Who is your mentor and how have they inspired you? Bernice Lamkin at Xcel Energy; she has been in my corner cheering me on, being a sounding board on projects I’ve lead, and inspired me through her own career growth as a black woman. Her words of reassurance and feedback ring through my mind on most days when my nerves or anxiety feel insurmountable.
• How do you lift up other women around you? I find it really important to advocate for other women in meetings they may not also be at. Recommending to pull someone into a project or discussion while highlighting how beneficial it will be to have their input or viewpoint will be.
• In my free time I'm: watching any one of our Minnesota sports teams, crocheting another scarf, or on a patio in the warmer months.

Savanna Townsend
HR Generalist
Premier Sport Psychology
Member Since May '21

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: The connections and learning opportunities with such inspirational and accomplished women.
• The best career advice I've received: No matter who is in the room - do not be afraid to ask questions.
• I'm currently intrigued by Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal: The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay
• In my free time, I'm: Running, at the beach, fishing, or spending time with family & friends.
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Brand New by Ben Rector
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? Being part of and contributing to the continuous growth processes of Premier Sport Psychology.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Coworker and former Olympic swimmer, David Plummer - His story is INCREDIBLY inspiring and I'm fortunate to work alongside him every day!

Monterae Carter
Foundation programs manager
Minnesota Vikings
Member Since Jun '18

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: I have truly valued being able to connect with women who have become mentors in my career.
• The best career advice I've received: To bring my personality into my work and be my most authentic self.
• I'm currently intrigued by Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal: Women at Work recommended to me by Anne Doepner
• In my free time, I'm: Roller Skating and Crafting
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: I have a playlist that I listen to on the way to game day to get me in the fundraising mood. Money-Leikeli47
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? My biggest accomplishment this year is the Purple Turf Collection, a fundraiser for the Minnesota Vikings Foundation.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: I have the honor to work with some of the Vikings former players. Alan Page is a pillar in this community and it has been privilege to get to know him.

Katie Amys
Partnership Activation Coordinator
Minnesota Wild
Member Since Nov '18

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: I truly find the networking and community aspect of WISE the most valuable.
• The best career advice I've received: Do every part of your job well, even what you think are the boring parts.
• I'm currently intrigued by Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal: A friend of mine started a great podcast, "Hot Coffee, Cold Beer," for those looking for career growth advice, specifically in sports. I'd highly recommend checking it out!
• In my free time, I'm: Always on the go! I play multiple rec league sports (soccer, kickball, and volleyball), I'm a kickboxing trainer at Title Boxing, and I love spending time outdoors with my dog, Charlie, or just spending time with friends and family!
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Stronger, Kanye West.
• What are you working on? In addition to preparing for the season, I'm currently working on Winter Classic Host Committee Partnership events.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Growing up, I was a competitive figure skater and was always inspired by Michelle Kwan. A current athlete who inspires me: Simone Biles.

Amy Doherty
Asst. Director
MN State High School League
Member Since Jul '18

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: I have found it valuable to create a network of local women in the industry. After seeing and talking to some WISE members many times over the years, I appreciate knowing that I could pick up the phone and call any number of them for support, ideas, or as a connection to their organization. Of course, these types of connections do not just happen by signing up; it is important to attend events as often as possible.
• The best career advice I've received: Maintain connections. After interning at the MSHSL in college, continuing to work at MSHSL events on weekends helped me to land my current position.
• I'm currently intrigued by Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal: Most have likely read it by now, but I would recommend Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. I just started reading Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez. Podcasts: Hidden Brain, The Ezra Klein Show, Code Switch, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Stuff You Should Know
• In my free time, I'm: Reading on my porch or taking a walk (and in non-pandemic times, I love traveling to the Caribbean to scuba dive).
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: My Own Drum from the Vivo soundtrack.
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? Creating MSHSL athletics and fine arts events with ever-changing health and safety guidance was very challenging. We were forced to re-envision events from the ground up. This required an immense amount of planning. I’m sure others in the industry can relate!
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Kathrine Switzer.

Vanessa Lambert
Producer
Bally Sports North
Member Since May '18

• What I love about being on the WISE Twin Cities Board of Directors: I love being a part of a powerful group of women here in the Twin Cities who are supportive and advocate for one another. I’m also a firm believer in having mentors at any stage of your career that can help you both personally and professionally, and I want to help others find the right person to help them on their journey.
• The best career advice I've received: My mom has always told me, “All they can say is no.” I feel like most women aren’t great at sticking up for themselves, asking for help, etc. So don’t be afraid to ask because most of the time, your co-workers or boss will say yes while the worst answer you’d get is a no, but it’s always worth a shot. 
• Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal I'm currently intrigued by: I love any true-crime podcast, show, documentary, and probably have overdone it! I need some good summer reads but may re-read “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle because every person needs to read it at least once.
• In my free time, I'm: I’m enjoying Minnesota summers (but not winters), spending time with friends, attempting to cook new recipes, reading, watching sports!
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: My walk-up song would be “Move B***h” by Ludacris. Totally inappropriate, but I’ve claimed it since I started working in sports in 2003. I’ll spare you my favorite line 😊
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? My biggest accomplishment this year (and all of my co-workers, for that matter) is reinventing how we do TV. Because of the pandemic, we haven’t traveled for games since March 2020. We’ve had to adapt and learn how to produce games locally while the teams are on the road. We are very reliant on the home team to provide us what we need back here in the Twin Cities.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Maya Moore. She’s won at every level of her career (high school, college, WNBA, EuroLeague, China, Olympics) but gave that up to focus on what’s important to her – advocating for others and justice reform in our country. 
  
  

Madge Makowske
Assoc. Athletic Director/Sr Woman Admin
St. Catherine University
Member Since Mar '18

• What I find most valuable about being a member of WISE: WISE has been a valuable resource in meeting and interacting with strong women in the sports industry. The events are engaging and have helped me grow professionally.
• The best career advice I've received: Show up everyday, be authentic and never stop learning.
• I'm currently intrigued by Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal: I am currently reading Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle. Additionally, I have been very intrigued by the topics of mental health and social justice. I have watched a number of documentaries on athletes in these areas recently that are great. Michael Phelps - Weight of Gold, ESPN 30 for 30 - Maya Moore, Netflix - The Playbook: Coaches Rules for Life, and Netflix - The College Admissions Scandal.
• In my free time, I'm: Soaking up the outdoors. Running, biking, hiking, dog walking, gardening, kayaking or just about anything that is an "ing".
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: This is a tough one to answer. I am an unassuming person, but like the attitude in all three of these songs depending on my mood. Confident - Demi Lovato, Run the World (Girls) - Beyonce, or Unstoppable - Sia.
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? The biggest accomplishment this year was helping to hold everything together in our department and to provide a meaningful experience for our student-athletes. The restrictions and guidelines were changing so fast. It was a whirlwind for sure.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Naomi Osaka and recently Simone Biles. I am so in awe of their maturity as young female athletes to speak openly or take a stance about mental health, often at the risk of losing money or sponsorships.

Kristin Gow
Sr. Delivery Manager
Second Spectrum
Member Since May '18

• What I love about being on the WISE Twin Cities Board of Directors: Serving on the board has allowed me to build a close network of strong women across the sports industry. My fellow board members inspire me every day, and I have learned so much from them. I also love attending our events to meet new people and connect with our membership base.
• The best career advice I've received: 1. Bring your authentic self to everything you do. 2. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want.
• I'm currently intrigued by Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal: I'm kind of a money nerd. So I rotate between a few personal finance podcasts and audiobooks.
• In my free time, I'm: drinking cold brew coffee, chasing after my kids, and exploring the Twin Cities with my family.
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.
• What are you working on? I'm working on being more intentional with my time to slow down, create balance and enjoy the little moments in life.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: My daughters. Watching them try new sports, learn new skills, make friends, and gain confidence is one of my greatest joys in life.

Karah Lodge
Assoc. Director
MN Amateur Sports Commission 
Member Since Feb '18

• What I love about being on the WISE Twin Cities Board of Directors: The opportunity to learn from women with varied experiences across the industry and the possibility of offering support in return.
• The best career advice I've received: Talk to everyone! Relationships are key. 
• Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal I'm currently intrigued by: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky
• In my free time, I'm: updating and working on my home. 
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Like This by Kelly Rowland and Eve
• What are you working on? I am working on an online resource system that supports and connects amateur sports organizations and stakeholders in effort to make recreational opportunities more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable across the state. 
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Maya Moore. 

Amy Rahja
Dir of Booking, Marketing & Sales
Target Center
Member Since APR '21

• What I look forward to most about being a member of WISE: Meeting other women in the sports and events industry, especially in the Twin Cities. 
• The best career advice I've received: Be open to change.
• Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal I'm currently intrigued by: I just finished the WISE Emerging Leaders class, and they recommended “What the CEO Wants You to Know” by Ram Charan, so I’m currently reading this book. I’m also into any podcast that deals with true crime!
• In my free time, I'm: Chasing after our two dogs, Lucy (shepherd mix) and Ari (husky).
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Lose Yourself / Eminem (I’m from Detroit, so I have to pay homage to my hometown!)
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? I’m grateful that I survived our building being closed for a year due to the pandemic. I’m excited to be working on the Lynx season and our plans to reopen in July with our first non-NBA or WNBA event.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Kevin Love.

Emily Weinberg
Health Program Representative
MN Dept of health
Member Since Mar '20

• What I love about being on the WISE Twin Cities Commit: I love being surrounded by like-minded and motivated people who are constantly working to become better versions of themselves, and are committed to ensuring that women in the sports and events industry are supported. 
• The best career advice I've received: Not to underestimate what you are capable of - never sell yourself short.
• Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal I'm currently intrigued by: The Unbiased Science Podcast, The Babesment podcast, and Dateline. I also just finished the book Medical Apartheid. Highly recommend.
• In my free time, I'm: Usually at the gym, watching football, at the lake, or hanging out with friends and family.
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Get Along - Kenny Chesney
• What is your biggest accomplishment this year? Earning my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the NSCA, as well as graduating with my Master's degree from Ohio State.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Tia Clair-Toomey

Kelsi Rahm
Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley
Member Since Mar '21

• What I look forward to most about being a member of WISE: Being a part of a new community of women who share similar ambition and toughness. I’m excited to be a part of a network that empowers girls and leads women to be the best they can be.
• The best career advice I've received: Someone once told me they didn’t see me as leading my own practice, and although that isn’t career advice, it pushed me to work hard, put myself out there, and not let negative people hold me back… and the desire to prove that person wrong was definitely a motivating factor. 
• Book/Podcast/Blog/Journal I'm currently intrigued by: 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Caste, Make me Smart, and all stock market update podcasts I can listen to while walking my dogs.
• In my free time, I'm: Busy. I don’t have a lot of free time.
• If I had a walk-up song, it would be: Confident by Demi Lovato.
• What are you working on this year? To continue to grow my business, help my 2 daughters enjoy their summer after a long, long school year, train my 1-year labradoodle to come when called, and run the TC Marathon without breaking my hip this fall.
• Name an athlete who inspires you: Lindsey Vonn.