As we close out 2024, we reflect on the remarkable strides our organization has made under the direction of President Meg Stevens. Women leaders in sports continued to experience inclusive growth as the largest convener and community for women leading and working in sports, while continuing with its mission – to develop, connect, advance, and champion ALL women working in sports.

One of the most exciting moments of the year took place October 13th-15th in Baltimore for the 2024 Women Leaders National Convention. This year’s convention brought together over 1,300 women and male champions from all sectors of sport and different levels, from rising stars to the top leaders in the industry. Keynote speakers included Molly Fletcher and Valorie Burton.  

The theme “in every room” resonated deeply with members. For 45 years, championing women leaders in sports has been a movement with power and influence. The movement is important because women don’t just deserve “a seat” at every leadership table. We belong in every room where decisions are being made. When women leaders are in the room, they have the ability to create positive change, drive business decisions, inspire future generations, and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable industry. 

“Women Leaders has met my needs at every step of my career, giving me continuing education and leadership skill development that put me in a position to try new things and enter new rooms, not to mention the courage I needed to use my voice in those rooms,” said President Meg Stevens. “No matter the logo, the division, the department or the level of sports, one thing unites all of us – we are women leaders!”

To commemorate the organization’s 45th anniversary, past presidents were honored at the “Lunch with Leaders and Legends” event on the convention’s final day. From its roots in North Carolina to a national office in Kansas City, and from name evolutions throughout the years, one thing has remained constant – the unwavering passion and commitment of the past leaders.  

One huge step forward for Women Leaders was the formation of the National Advisory Council. This group of influential leaders and executives in sports and business supports the organization’s mission through strategic advising, investing, and creating connections across all sectors of sport to elevate Women Leaders’ brand impact and awareness. The goals of the National Advisory Council include: advising the Women Leaders CEO and Board of Directors, expanding national brand relevance and influence, advancing women into positions of influence and leadership, and supporting the long-term sustainability of the organization.  

In addition to the convention, Women Leaders continued to enhance existing programming and created new membership offerings and events. We hosted 20 national events with over 3,600 attendees in total, with record-breaking attendance at the majority of events. Two new events included the USOPC Assembly and the VIP Summit at the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Women Leaders had a strong presence during NWSL Championship Weekend in Kansas City, as well as the College Football Playoff.  

The progress the organization has made in 2024 is just the beginning. Women Leaders in Sports has set ambitious goals for the years ahead, focusing on continuing to change the landscape of sports leadership, because women deserve to be IN EVERY ROOM that decisions are being made. 

2023-2024 – Women Leaders in Sports

Other notable successes for Women Leaders in 2024 included:  

• Increase in overall membership by 11.5%, resulting in the highest membership in organizational history with over 5,700 members and counting 
• Engaged over 1,255 individuals at the Women Leaders National Convention in Baltimore, MD with 28% coming from outside College Sports
• Four new champion partners joined a line-up of long-time partners that represent a 40 percent increase in champion partner investment this year
• Women Leaders and Syracuse University Falk College forge a unique and exclusive two-year partnership aligning to advance knowledge and enhance the professional acumen and management skills of sport administrators and executives.  Learn more here.
• Women Leaders social platforms reached over 48K accounts, with 4.2 million impressions 
• The ENGAGE Platform continued to deliver connection opportunities with 7799 overall interactions 
• Hosted 80 Circle Calls with more than 2704 participants 
• Allocated 125 scholarships to members through the Foundation Fund, 64% of which went to women of color 
• Women Leaders sent 749 member names to hirers for over 40 searches in 2024 using the Career Connect database 
• 42 women were hired into the AD/Commissioner roles with 8 of those being women of color 
• The Women Leaders Podcast had over 16K unique downloads in 2024

Meg Stevens, President, Arizona Athletic Grounds
Heather Lyke, Past-President
Gloria Nevarez, President-Elect, Mountain West Conference
Sarah Baumgartner, University of Texas
Keri Becker, Grand Valley State University
Janna Blais, Northwestern University (Ex Officio NCAA DI Board Appointee)
Renee Bostic, SUNY New Paltz  
Jennifer Fraser, NCAA (Ex Officio NCAA) 
Portia Hoeg, Centennial Conference
Lesley Irvine, Colorado College
Candace Campbell Jackson, Syracuse University 
Nina King, Duke University 
Danette Leighton, Women’s Sports Foundation (Ex Officio) 
Chrissi Rawak, University of Delaware 
Desiree Reed-Francois, University of Missouri
Diana Sabau, Utah State University 
Etienne Thomas, Winston Salem State University
Tracy Warren, Legal Counsel, Buchalter
Jennifer Williams, USA Basketball Foundation 

Meg Stevens joined Arizona Athletic Grounds in July 2024, following an eleven-year tenure at Averett University (AU). At AU, she served as Vice President and Director of Athletics and Campus Operations, leading the institution to remarkable athletic and academic achievements. Stevens significantly enhanced the student-athlete experience, spearheaded major capital improvements, and elevated the university’s regional and national profiles.

During her time at Averett, Stevens introduced the “3-2-1” philosophy, which aimed for all teams to achieve a 3.0 GPA, finish in the top two in their conference, and work together as “one team.” This philosophy fostered a culture change that spread across the entire university.

Before Averett, Stevens held multiple roles at Buffalo State, including Assistant Director of Athletics, Director of the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, and advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She also served as the Senior Woman Administrator and head lacrosse coach for 11 seasons. Under her leadership, Buffalo State’s women’s lacrosse program became a consistent contender, achieving a 109-65 (.626) record, six conference tournament appearances, a 2012 NCAA Tournament appearance, and a top 20 ranking. Stevens was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year twice and U.S. Lacrosse Regional Coach of the Year in 2004.

Stevens has also been active in leadership roles beyond her university positions. She served on the board of directors for Women Leaders in Sports, including a term as president from 2023-24, and on the board for the Boys and Girls Club of Danville. She is a strong advocate for women and minority leaders in sports.

A native of Delmar, N.Y., Stevens earned her bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure management with a minor in sports management from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree in student personnel administration from Buffalo State. As a student-athlete, she helped the Red Dragons’ lacrosse team win three conference championships and make three NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2024, Stevens was inducted into the Western New York Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame.