Women Leaders in Sports Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 180: Dr. Monique Carroll Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

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 joined by Dr. Monique Carroll, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Chicago State University.

Monique calls herself a builder - and after listening to this conversation, you'll understand why. She first applied for the role at Chicago State years before ultimately getting the job, because she saw the opportunity to build something special.

Now, she's doing exactly that - transforming the culture, growing her team, joining a new conference and helping bring Division I football to Chicago's South Side for the first time! But what really stands out is the confidence Monique has developed to lead through change while staying completely true to who she is.

We talk about betting on yourself, finding opportunity in uncomfortable moments, and why women need to stop chasing perfection... There are so many great takeaways in this one. Keep listening for more from Monique - and remember, We Are Women Leaders!

Episode 179: Betty Tran-Rennon Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

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 joined by Betty Tran-Rennon, President of FEVO, a leading live events commerce platform that's transforming how sports and entertainment organizations connect fans to live experiences.

Betty's career is fascinating and spans entertainment, media, and sports technology, where she's built a reputation for bold innovation and leading with authenticity. In this episode, Betty opens up about the defining moments that taught her the resilience she needs now as a leader, including overcoming the challenges of gang involvement in her youth and navigating divorce. She also highlights the value of transparency and why honest feedback is essential to building high-performing teams.

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

Episode 178: Nadia Rawlinson Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

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 joined by Nadia Rawlinson, Co-Owner and Operating Chairman of the Chicago Sky.

As the WNBA prepares to spotlight Chicago during All-Star Weekend, we're excited to sit down with one of the leaders helping drive that momentum. Nadia has built an extraordinary career spanning technology, media, entertainment, and financial services, with leadership roles at companies including Slack, Google, Live Nation, and American Express. A Stanford graduate and Harvard MBA, she also serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards while leading business operations, strategy, and government relations for the Chicago Sky.

What makes Nadia especially compelling is her ability to speak the language of business while candidly sharing what it really takes to lead at the highest levels. In this episode, Nadia shares her unconventional journey into sports ownership, lessons on building high-performing cultures, and why great leaders prioritize action over perfection.

Keep listening for more leadership insights from Nadia. And join us both in Chicago this October for the Women Leaders in Sports National Convention! We Are Women Leaders.

Episode 177: Julie Roe Lach Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

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 joined by Julie Roe Lach, E-V-P of External Relations and Community Engagement at Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

Julie is a practicing attorney, an entrepreneur, and has held executive leadership roles at the NCAA, Indy Sports Corp and most recently at the Horizon League where she was commissioner for the last 14 years.

She recently made the pivot to professional sports, and in our conversation, Julie shares why career pivots don't always come from a master plan, how volunteering and relationship-building opened unexpected doors, and why strong leadership starts with alignment, communication, and authenticity.

She also offers powerful insight into navigating change, building trust across teams, and the people skills today's leaders need most.

Let's get started - and remember, We Are Women Leaders.

Episode 176: Pam Kramer May 07, 2026

Show notes

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

As Kansas City prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Pam Kramer, CEO of KC-2026, is leading the charge. With six matches and hundreds of thousands of visitors expected, she shares what it takes to lead at this scale – offering us a behind-the-scenes look at the strategy, coordination, and vision required.

Pam brings deep experience in sports, sponsorship, and major event execution to this massive role.

From global execution to authentic leadership, this conversation is packed with insight you won't want to miss. We also dive into the power of relationships and what it takes to lead under pressure.

Keep listening for more takeaways from Pam - and remember, We Are Women Leaders!

Episode 175: Sherri Privitera Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

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 joined by an incredible leader and innovator - Sherri Privitera, Senior Principal at Populous and a driving force behind the future of women's sports design.

With nearly 30 years in the industry, Sherri is one of the few women to reach the senior principal level - and recently made a bold pivot from leading collegiate projects to helping shape the growth of women's professional sports.

In our conversation, you can feel her passion for women's facility design, and how she's creating real change – designing facilities without compromise. She is prioritizing athlete performance, women's health, women's privacy, and the evolving women's sports fan.

She also reminds us that their work goes far beyond architecture - as collaborators, storytellers, and listeners shaping the full experience.

Let's get started - and remember, We Are Women Leaders!

Episode 174: Nina King Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

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 joined by an extraordinary leader - Nina King, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Duke University and the incoming Board President of Women Leaders in Sports.

As the first female AD in Duke history, Nina has expanded what leadership looks like at one of the most storied programs in college athletics. After 13 years at Duke - including serving as Chief of Staff to the former AD Kevin White - her performance and preparation positioned her to step into the role when he retired.

In this episode, we frame her journey through our five leadership pillars: Mindset, Presence, Performance, Influence, and Career Strategy.

You'll hear how she's honored tradition while building her own vision for Duke's future - navigating major coaching transitions and leading with steadiness in an industry where, as she says, "uncertainty isn't a season - it's the way of life."

Let's get started - and remember, We Are Women Leaders.

Episode 173: A Walk in Her Shoes - Women of Color Conversation Presented by adidas Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Women Leaders Podcast! I'm your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.

Have we got a special treat for you! This episode takes us back to our 2025 National Convention - which is the ULTIMATE convening of people working and leading in sports.

If you couldn't join us in person or want to relive the inspiration, all convention session recordings are now available inside the Leadership Hub on our members-only virtual platform – ENGAGE.

Before we dive in, make sure to subscribe and review the Women Leaders Podcast wherever you listen. Your support helps us share more stories of women leaders making an impact on the sports industry!

Episode 172: Own It - Leading Boldly in the Business of Sports Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Women Leaders Podcast! I'm your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.

Have we got a special treat for you! This episode takes us back to our 2025 National Convention - which is the ULTIMATE convening of people working and leading in sports.

If you couldn't join us in person or want to relive the inspiration, all convention session recordings are now available inside the Leadership Hub on our members-only virtual platform – ENGAGE.

Before we dive in, make sure to subscribe and review the Women Leaders Podcast wherever you listen. Your support helps us share more stories of women leaders making an impact on the sports industry!

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

Episode 171: A Conversation with President Baker at our 2025 National Convention Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Women Leaders Podcast! I'm your host, Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports.

Have we got a special treat for you! This episode takes us back to our 2025 National Convention - which is the ULTIMATE convening of people working and leading in sports.

If you couldn't join us in person or want to relive the inspiration, all convention session recordings are now available inside the Leadership Hub on our members-only virtual platform – ENGAGE.

Before we dive in, make sure to subscribe and review the Women Leaders Podcast wherever you listen. Your support helps us share more stories of women leaders making an impact on the sports industry!

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Women Leaders in Sports Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected