Women Leaders in Sports Podcast

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast! I’m Dr. Angel Mason, Director of Athletics at Berry College.

This episode, we take you back to the 2024 Women Leaders National Convention, where the Women of Color Virtual Circle Community comes to LIFE with the Women of Color Conversation.

I had the privilege of sitting down with Nitra Rucker, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Talent at the USOPC, in front of a packed audience of Women Leaders.

With over 20 years of experience in the DEI space, Nitra shared valuable insights on what diversity truly means and how to create a more inclusive workspace, in every room.

Let’s jump right into this impactful Conversation.

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast! I’m your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.  

We are taking you back to Baltimore and the Women Leaders in Sports National Convention, for our powerful “In Every Room” Keynote Panel with Allison Barber, former President and COO of the Indiana Fever, Jill Ellis, President of the San Diego Wave FC and former USWNT Coach and Gloria Nevarez, Commissioner of the Mountain West Conference AND your new Women Leaders in Sports Board President! 

In this impactful discussion, these visionaries and game changers share their personal journeys and valuable insights on how to get in the room, how to have influence in the room, and how to STAY in the room.

Keep listening for more perspectives from Allison, Jill, & Gloria...& remember, We Are Women Leaders! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast! I’m your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. 

Today, I’m excited to be joined by our current Board of Directors President, Meg Stevens. 

After 11 years as Vice President and Director of Athletics and Campus Operations at Averett University, Meg made a significant career shift, and began her new role as President of Arizona Athletic Grounds in July. 

The timing of her transition, which happened shortly after our brand evolution—focusing on impacting women in the broader world of sports—was an unexpected, but  perfectly timed coincidence.  

We dive into the details of her new position, explore imposter syndrome, and emphasize the importance of having the confidence to seize opportunities that challenge you—not just for yourself, but for the women who will be inspired to follow your lead. 

Keep listening for more from Meg and remember, We Are Women Leaders! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. 

Today I am joined by Dr. Ivana Rich, Associate Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Edwards Waters University.

Dr. Rich made history as the first female athletic director in the school’s 155-year history...Let’s go! 

We discuss career pivots, being the first and overcoming associated challenges, cultivating a growth mindset both on and off the field, and taking the necessary time and doing the work to prepare for your dream job.

Keep listening for more inspiration from Ivana and remember, We Are Women Leaders! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. Today I am joined by Sherika Montgomery, Commissioner of the Big South Conference.

Sherika’s path to the commissioner chair at the Big South started as a student athlete in that conference, and as her career progressed includes leadership at just about every level of the NCAA.

We discuss the importance of being informed of industry changes and headlines, showing up prepared so you can show up with confidence, & how intentionally raising her hand for opportunities led her to the role she is in today.

Keep listening for more inspiration from Sherika and remember, We are Women Leaders! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.  

Today I am joined by Dionna Widder, Chief Revenue Officer at the Nashville Predators. Dionna is an outstanding leader and has had a remarkable career in pro sports working in the NBA, NFL,MLS and now the NHL.    She has elevated quickly in all of her roles, but not without grit & determination.  We talk about how she used observation as a superpower, what makes us different is what makes us valuable, the importance of actually listening in sales, and that relationships are built with people that are relatable!  Imagine that.      Keep listening for more from Dionna and remember, We Are Women Leaders! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.

Today I’m joined by Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee!

With the Summer Olympics only two weeks away, Sarah explains how she is leading her team in preparation for Paris!

We also talk about leading through crisis, the importance of athlete well-being, her focus on inclusivity, the effect team sports had on her developing as a leader, and how she continues to lift others around her.

Keep listening for more incredible insights from Sarah, and LETS GO TEAM U-S-A.!!! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.  

In this episode, I’m joined by good friend and partner of Women Leaders, Chrissy Dunlap. Chrissy is the Chief Revenue Officer at BirdieBox, a luxury gifting solution that focuses on the creation of extraordinary personalized experiences. 

Chrissy’s journey to leadership is interesting, because she elevated through the world of sales, which is somewhat non-traditional for a woman.  

But Chrissy dismantles the silent objectives that we all have around sales – and we ALL need to hear this. In fact, Chrissy says that the foundation of sales is the  ‘psychology of connecting with people’ and she even outlines 3 steps to take to do that at a high level. 

There is so much here!  Keep listening for more from Chrissy, and remember, We Are Women Leaders! 

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. 

Today we connect with Jovan Overshown, the Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Revenue Officer at Baylor University - where Jovan is doing it ALL!

We talk about her evolution into fundraising, development, and multi media rights in addition to being the primary sport supervisor for football, and she shares some GREAT advice for pivoting into new roles.

Keep listening for more insights from Jovan, and remember, We Are Women Leaders!

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders in Sports Podcast...I am your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. 

We’ve got a special one for you today as I talk with Beth Goetz, the Director of Athletics at the University of Iowa.  She joins us coming off the SPECTACULAR run the Iowa Women’s Basketball program had this year…making it all the way to the NCAA championship game for the 2nd year in a row. 

We ask Beth for her perspective on “The Caitlin Clark Effect”, what it was like being the A-D during this historic season, and the current state of women’s sports.

Keep listening for more from Beth, and remember, We Are Women Leaders!