Circle Call: Player Engagement/Student-Athlete Development

Women leaders in sports, particularly those in player engagement and student-athlete development, often carry relational, emotional, and operational work beyond their formal roles. Through shared experiences and cross-sector expertise, this 2-part conversation will examine how workload is shaped by identity, values, organizational culture, and expectations, and how leaders can build the people, systems, and boundaries needed to make it more sustainable.

Circle Call: Business & Administrative Operations

As women advance into leadership roles in collegiate athletics, they are increasingly responsible for driving results across teams, departments, and campus partners—often without direct authority over the people or processes involved. This interactive session will explore practical strategies for leading upward with supervisors, across campus and departmental partners, and through the teams we serve. Participants will learn how to build influence, navigate competing priorities, strengthen collaboration, and approach difficult leadership situations with confidence and executive presence. Through real-world scenarios and discussion, attendees will leave with actionable strategies they can immediately apply to their own leadership journey.

Circle Call: Women of Color

This conversation will explore how our male champions can create more equitable opportunities for women, particularly women of color, in sports. We’ll discuss hiring and promotion practices, creating opportunities for women to lead, and building diverse and inclusive departments. We’ll also explore how our male champions can become trusted allies through mentorship and sponsorship, help open doors, and step in when they witness bias or injustice.

Circle Call: Mental Health

Fall can be a season of constant acceleration with school starting, fall sport seasons ramping up, and the growing demands of our work and personal lives. This interactive Mental Health Circle Call will explore practical strategies, ideas, and resources for recognizing early signs of depletion, protecting our energy, and building moments of recovery into busy lives. Part presentation and part conversation, we’ll create space together to connect around an important question: How can we continue to show up for others without consistently giving from an empty tank?