WISE’s all-female panels grow into signature events

WISE Power Play events

In 2010, the NYC Metro chapter of Women in Sports & Events posed a question: Where are the women in sports business, and what do they do?

The response was the “Power Play: Up Close With … ” initiative. An all-female panel discussion hosted annually in March in celebration of Women’s History Month, “Power Play” features senior- to executive-level women from the same organization, or section of sports business, who represent different disciplines.

“We believed by presenting this group of accomplished professionals who could speak confidently about their organization’s business, their work and their career journeys, we would be contributing to a larger conversation surrounding women in leadership roles,” said Van Adams, creator of the “Power Play” concept and president of the WISE NYC Metro Chapter. “Representation matters. Programs like ‘Power Play’ advance the dialogue on female leadership and encourage productive conversations on career advancement by bringing to the table those who inspire us to see the possibilities of progress.”

After nearly a decade-long run with the NYC Metro chapter, “Power Play” has become a national signature program of WISE, with events held in 15 chapter cities across the U.S. and Canada last month.