In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares an energizing conversation with Sherryta Freeman, Director of Athletics at Division I Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Sherryta fell in love with the administrative side of sport while she was a student-athlete and athletic department intern at Dartmouth College. After graduation, she landed at the Ivy League conference office—and her trajectory in the industry, eventually landing in the athletic director chair, was in motion. A collaborative leader, Sherryta learned early that when you focus on excelling where you are, new opportunities come, and that all the relationships you build along the way prepare you for whatever lies ahead. In our conversation, Sherryta talks about why the book Essentialism had such an impact on her, and She stresses prioritizing and letting the little stuff go while still doing great work and moving forward. Her message for all women is one she tells herself every day, “You got this”! Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember, we are Women Leaders!

Women Leaders Podcast

Episode 112: Sherryta Freeman

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares an uplifting conversation with Diana Sabau, the new Deputy Commissioner/Chief Sports Officer at the Big Ten Conference. Diana recently shifted to the Big Ten after 27 years at The Ohio State University, where she started as an intern after college. Despite her unique longevity at one institution, change is one of Diana’s life mantras. She always finds ways to change, grow, and move forward—and to do so, she reminds us that performance predicts promotions. She has relied on taking advantage of opportunities, taking risks with bold innovations, and leaning into bright colleagues, trusting them to carry the water with her. Diana admits that when she was young and impatient, she didn’t know what she wasn’t ready for. She learned to value relationships, her energy and its impact, and the process of developing trust over time, which often happens by listening rather than doing. You’ll hear how Diana’s long stint at Ohio State helped shaped how she shows up every day—and put her in the right position for her newest role. Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember, we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 111: Diana Sabau

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares a timely and enlightening conversation with Dr. Nicki Webber Moore, the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Division I Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. Nicki has a unique and powerful lens as an AD. With a doctorate in sport psychology, she is acutely aware of the importance of mental wellness as an essential part of overall health for both student-athletes and her staff. Nicki, a national leader in matters impacting the student-athlete experience, talks about her leadership style and how she upholds the particular needs of student-athletes and promotes the professional growth of her coaches. Nicki also shares how her career in athletics administration bloomed early—as a student-athlete who jumped into campaigning and fundraising for a new facility. Since that time, she has carried with her and benefitted from two major lessons: no relationship is disposable, and it pays to say yes to new professional opportunities that increase your value. Nicki is an accomplished and humble leader who will inspire you—don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember, we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 110: Dr. Nicki Webber Moore

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares a striking conversation with Sarah Dehring, the Athletics Director at Division III Alma College in central Michigan. Sarah has a fascinating story about growing up on Mackinac Island near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This beautiful, tiny island has only 500 year-round residents, requires a ferry or plane ride to the mainland, and has no cars. Sarah’s graduating high school class had only eight students! Clearly, her path to becoming a college athlete, coach, and AD is unique! You’ll hear how her island upbringing has deeply influenced her choices and leadership style. On multiple occasions, unexpected circumstances propelled Sarah in new directions and helped shape her career. In turn, she learned to take advantage of opportunities and make sacrifices to get where she wanted to go. She also shares how genuinely and transparently connecting with and relating to others became her leadership superpowers—whether through mentoring her staff or shoveling snow off the bleachers alongside them. Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember - we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 109: Sarah Dehring

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares an inspiring conversation with the new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Denver Broncos, Dr. China Jude. China is the perfect example of writing one’s own story. I wasn’t aware that China didn’t work in college athletics until her 30s—she started with stints in broadcast journalism, community-focused nonprofits, and the Naval reserves. But Her penchant for learning and growth, plus her ability to adjust as needed, allowed her to pivot on her terms when opportunity knocked—including to Division I and II coaching and athletic director positions and, most recently, to the Denver Broncos. A Chicago native who played volleyball in college, China says she was always incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives into her roles long before DEI had a title in the workplace. and she did it even when others suggested she not discuss these issues, that it was too aggressive, and the conversations were too uncomfortable. But, with her goal to be a positive force in helping others, China focused much of her work as an athletic director on DEI issues—and she made an enormous impact. Getting buy-in from leaders and talking candidly about the why of this work are key approaches, she says. China shares how she honed her strengths in creative thinking, storytelling, and resourcefulness, plus her love of football, in shaping her career path. She emphasizes a powerful message of staying true to yourself, especially during temporary detours. Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember - we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 108: China Jude

In this podcast, Patti Phillips share an engaging conversation with the director of athletics at Gannon University, Lisa Goddard McGuirk. Lisa’s experience highlights the power of a growth mindset on a career path—including a not-quite linear one. She is a firm believer in figuring things out, and says there is always a solution to everything. Raised on a farm, where helping with chores was imperative—and in a family and community that wholeheartedly supported her love of sports—Lisa learned about being resourceful and believing in herself. That drive has sustained her through an inspiring career spanning coaching, teaching, and being an athletic director at three institutions, with stints in all three NCAA divisions. Lisa humbly shares how she vaulted from coaching to the athletic director's chair—despite never having previously held a position in administration. She emphasizes the importance of transferable skills, a willingness to see various perspectives, and a collaborative work style. She shares that being able to communicate about skills and passion in the interview process can ensure advancement. Lisa also touches on finding an institution that is the right fit and balancing life as a parent, both key elements in her continued success. Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember - we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 107: Lisa Goddard McGuirk

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares an inspiring conversation with the Director of Athletics at Mississippi Valley State University, Dianthia Ford-Kee.   Dianthia’s energy and zest for life is undeniable. Those qualities, she says, stem from humble beginnings. Growing up playing backyard basketball and softball games with family, she never imagined that her love of those sports would lead to being a dual-sport collegiate athlete, 6-time conference champion Head Coach,  AND a Director of Athletics. Her passion for helping others and mentoring young people is palpable, and truly inspiring.     The fact that a former colleague became a president and then came calling for her reminds us that we are always interviewing for the next job through our performance every day. And just as important, she never shied away from making a connection or taking the next opportunity when it came knocking.   In our conversation, Dianthia opens up about her experience working in all 3 NCAA Divisions, why she has chosen to only work at HBCU’s and what her experience was like being the only female administrator in her department for many years. We also talk about her experience taking the initiative needed for department evolution and how being intentional about lifelong learning positions you for impact.   Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember - we are Women Leaders!    Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member!    Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 106: Dianthia Ford-Kee

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares an insightful conversation with the Commissioner of the Patriot League, Jennifer Heppel. Jen’s pathway to the Commissioner chair not only included extensive NCAA office and committee work, campus and conference office experience, but also what she calls “becoming an accidental student-athlete.” A long-time competitive figure skater turned collegiate ice hockey player, Jen translated her love for the sport and tireless discipline into a long career of leading and impacting the student-athlete experience. In our conversation, Jen opens up about her two stints working at the BIG Ten Conference Office – totaling 12 years, including why she left and why she agreed to go back, We also talk about her belief in why diversity of thought and experience is critical to effective team building and why it should be top of mind in hiring decisions while building your own staff and team culture. Plus, Jen shares best practices for using your voice at the national level, understanding governance structures, and why it’s never too late to get involved! Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember - we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 105: Jennifer Heppel

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares a great conversation with the Deputy Director of Athletics at Rutgers University and current Women Leaders Board Member, Sarah Baumgartner. Sarah’s impact at Rutgers has not only elevated the institution to competition at the highest level in the BIG10 Conference, but inspired women across the country to pursue a career in development. She is no stranger to bold leadership and has trailblazed record-breaking multi-million dollar fundraising efforts for capital projects at Rutgers in the last 4 years. There is no better advocate for working in external relations than Sarah, as she has her hands full with oversight of the majority of extrinsic touch points for athletics. Her philosophy on relationship building and developing skill sets are just some of the many reasons that she has succeeded in her role. But much of what has prepared her for her current role began when she was handed Men’s Basketball as her FIRST sport supervisory role at Mizzou Athletics, and she hasn’t looked back since! In our conversation, Sarah opens up how hiring 13 head coaches in 4 years has taught her about the value of surrounding yourself with good people, why flashy resumes don’t always get you the job and how remaining present in her work and life helps her to be the best in every moment, no matter where she is. We also talk about why you should always raise your hand if you are interested in taking on new responsibilities, how being a working mom allows her kids to see the very best of her and why collaboration and empowerment allows her to see projects through with excellence and efficiency. As Sarah says, “If you can bring great attitude and great energy to anything, you can lift the world.” Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! And remember - we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 104: Sarah Baumgartner

In today’s podcast, Patti Phillips shares a great conversation with the Senior Director of Athletics at Auburn University at Montgomery, Jessie Rosa. Jessie’s childhood dream was to be the athletics director at AUM and today, she is not only living that dream - but also inspiring the next generation to follow their own dreams. Like many, her journey to the chair did not come without hearing a few “no’s” first and engaging in some crucial conversations with herself and others. A former dual-sport student-athlete at AUM, Jessie was dismissed from the basketball team during her freshman year. Despite this often being a taboo topic in athletics, she shares openly about how that experience transformed her philosophy about providing others second chances and why, “it’s your responsibility as the leader to set the tone.” In our conversation, Jessie opens up about how she used her institutional knowledge as a selling factor in securing her full-time role as AD and how the process of removing the “Interim” tag from her title at AUM influenced the ways she looks at hiring her own staff. We also talk about how transparency and communication are the most critical components of leadership, why evaluating a candidate’s career trajectory during the interview process matters more than wins and losses and why it’s important for women to “stop considering it and just do it” for aspiring moms in athletics. Don’t miss a moment of this conversation and remember - we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 103: Jessie Rosa

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares a great conversation with the Director of Athletics at Knox College, Daniella Irle.  Her highly decorated 20-year head coaching career in Division I Swimming and Diving, paired with a masterful 15-year administrative career, has made Daniella a force in this industry and beyond. She is no stranger to defying the odds and when we say resilience changes lives, there is no better example of this than her.  Leaning into self-awareness and committing to personal growth has been the story of Daniella’s advancement and prompted a critical pivot in her career to working in Division III athletics - a decision she’s made and never looked back. In our conversation, Daniella opens up about her experience working in athletics during the wake of Hurricane Katrina and how it became the catalyst for her transition from coaching to administration. The skills that she had already spent so many years refining in her coaching career, she says, were immediately transferable and “translate at any level of leadership.” We also talk about shifting your mindset as a decision-maker when becoming an AD, why perfection isn’t everything, how the biggest difference in each division is simply the decimal point on your budget.  As Daniella says, “It’s always time to be aspiring.” Don’t miss a moment of this conversation! We hope you enjoy our conversation, and remember, we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 102: Daniella Irle

In this podcast, Patti Phillips shares the highly anticipated conversation with the commissioner of the WNBA, Cathy Engelbert. Cathy is an innovative and people-first leader who has made an immediate impact on the WNBA in her first 18-months as Commissioner. Cathy is no stranger to leading through crisis and navigating challenges -as she spent 33 years at Deloitte, including 4 years as CEO. During this conversation, Cathy shares how important it is to do small things of symbolic value to build trust as a new leader. In fact, it was the trust that Cathy intentionally built from day one as Commissioner that allowed her to quickly and successfully negotiate a groundbreaking Collective Bargaining Agreement; and then execute an entire WNBA season in the “wubble”. Cathy dives into the wubble life, and also talk about how WNBA plyers used their platform to drive social justice issues during a time when our country was plagued by racial unrest. And of course, we can’t talk to Cathy without discussing the orange hoodie movement – a marketing strategy that became a symbol of more than just women’s basketball! Cathy is a woman who ascended to the highest levels of leadership – but she never chased a title or position - she instead aspired to LEAD. I think that’s such an important point for us to remember. Not everyone can be a CEO, she says, but everyone can be a leader! Cathy and Patti discuss all of this and SO MUCH more in this passion-packed conversation – you don’t want to it miss! We hope you enjoy our conversation, and remember, we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS. 

Episode 101: Cathy Engelbert

Welcome to the 100TH EPISODE of the Women Leaders Podcast!  Since 2017, powerhouse women from all corners of the collegiate athletics industry and beyond have shared their career and leadership journey with us on the Women Leaders Podcast. With over 122,000 all-time downloads in just four years and an average of 4,000 downloads per month, these conversations have provided timely and impactful insights to our listeners by covering relevant and relatable topics for women leaders at all levels - (like being THE FIRST or THE ONLY, managing up, navigating transitions, being a mom in athletics, building and sustaining organizational culture, and so much more). Today, for our 100th podcast episode we are talking with the 2021 Women Leaders Executive Committee: Sandy Barbour, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at the Pennsylvania State University, Heather Lyke, Director of Athletics at the University of Pittsburgh and Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). All three of these women leaders have shared their personal career story as a previous guest on the Women Leaders podcast - for the 100th episode they are back and here to engage in a different conversation. These three will be YOUR truth tellers for all things career advancement- sharing their personal learnings, observations and best advice on career strategy so that you can position yourself for the job you want and advance into higher levels of leadership. Listen in to hear what Heather Lyke sees at the “greatest gift” you can bring to your athletics department, Sandy Barbour tells us why she hires who she hires and Jacqie McWilliams talks about the critical skills of managing up AND down to lead at the highest level. And most importantly - all three leaders tell us why women should be opting in, NOT out right now in our industry and how to own and elevate your leadership presence! Watch or listen in to get a front row seat of my conversation with three of the best women leaders in the business! Yes, that’s right - you can WATCH the 100th podcast! We’ve recorded the video and posted it to the Leadership Hub video library so you can get a behind the scenes look at the Women Leaders Podcast. Be sure to check it out and remember, we are women leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 100: Sandy Barbour, Heather Lyke & Jacqie McWilliams

In this podcast, Patti Phillips is joined by Valerie Cleary, director of athletics at Portland State University Val has somewhat of an underdog story that reminds young women that a career in sports is possible! A small, farm town girl from Northern California who never aspired to be an athletic director - Val used her undergrad experiences as a tour guide, orientation leader and sorority sister to find her passion for higher education, which led to a Masters in Counseling and Student Development, a degree she uses every single day. While Val has spent many years in higher education, she was only in athletics for 1 year before being asked to serve as the interim AD, which says a lot about her skillset and leadership abilities. She has since been hired into two different athletic director roles and is thriving. Find out she created her own “search firm” for hiring new coaches, developed her philosophy around what “fit” for a department really means, and how she makes sure everyone working under her has a voice in the process. Val also talks about how GIRL POWER is important in her life thanks to the “Big Sky (Conference) Strong Squad,” and why leading by example is so important- especially as we continue to care for our mental health in times of uncertainty. Managing up in athletics, she shares, is crucial to success - and Val is no stranger to this skill as she has navigated not one, but THREE presidential transitions in just three years. Being a quiet observer, communicating goals, learning your supervisor’s learning style and getting to know your boss’s support team are some of the tricks she has learned along the way. There are nuances to her style, though, that are brilliant. We hope you enjoy our conversation, and remember, we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 99: Valerie Cleary

In this podcast, Patti Phillips is joined by CEO and Founder of Brave Enterprises, a great friend of Women Leaders and former convention keynote, Crista Samaras Crista is a coach, entrepreneur, and power-packed, energetic pep talk master who has coached thousands of people to feel great about themselves and to accomplish things they never thought possible, And while her energy is infectious and not to be forgotten,, she is a brilliant teacher, practitioner, and believer in research and stats. There is endless substance behind her inspiring message., that will make you feel ready to CRUSH IT. Crista’s career journey is one of discovery, bold passion and relentless curiosity about this thing called life. She grew up in a family of 6 fellow lacrosse athletes who all competed at the collegiate level, and she talks openly about how her struggles as a Princeton student-athlete taught her the true definition of grit and why it is important to “know your controllables.” Both of these learnings now serve as core components of the curriculum she has created for Brave Enterprises, which mentors and molds leaders of all ages to BRAVE their FEAR. In our discussion, Crista bravely opens up about living with depression and the ways she manages it, like building her “circle of trust team” and coaching them on how to communicate with her when she is depressed. What Crista shares here is the kind of vulnerability and transparency that changes lives. She reminds us that sharing our experiences allows us to better support one another. Crista also talks about the difference between being BRAVE, and being fearless. And she shares some tools on how to do that, like understanding Motivation, Method, and Mindset, and remembering the BRAVE sandwich, which includes Purpose, Bravery, and Curiosity. She also gives tips on navigating uncertain times which includes understanding the difference between facts and feelings. Simple, but so very powerful! We hope you enjoy our conversation, and remember, we are Women Leaders! Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Episode 98: Crista Samaras

Join Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports, an organization that develops, connects and advances women leaders at all levels. Every episode Patti will talk with strong, resilient, inspired and passionate women whose career paths you will find inspirational and empowering.

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Women Leaders Podcast

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