For the fifth consecutive year, espnW will bring together the top athletes and leaders in women’s sports at its annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit presented by Toyota, October 8-10, in Dana Point, Calif. The theme of the 2014 Summit is “Making an Impact,” focusing on the influence athletes and business leaders have on the women’s sports landscape examined through open conversations, compelling presentations and expert panels. Throughout the multi-day event, ideas are turned into action items, aimed at driving greater opportunities for women in sports.
This year’s Summit speakers include some of the most accomplished people in the sports world – International Olympic Committee member Anita DeFrantz, Equinox President Sarah Robb O’Hagan, Women’s Tennis Association CEO Stacey Allaster and LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan – as well as some of the biggest stars in women’s sports: Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, WNBA starsBrittney Griner and Elena Delle Donne, Little League World Series sensation Mo’ne Davis, fitness expert Gabrielle Reece and U.S. Paralympian Amy Purdy. ESPN President John Skipper, ESPN Executive Vice President and CFO Christine Driessen and espnW Vice President Laura Gentile will also have featured roles.
Among the ESPN personalities joining the Summit will be espnW’s Kate Fagan, Julie Foudy, Jane McManus and Sarah Spain, as well as NBA Countdown host Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm SportsNation host Michelle Beadle, Numbers Never Lie host Jemele Hill, reporter Jeremy Schaap and more.
“This year’s Summit focus builds upon the momentum and energy created over the last four years and showcases some of the most inspiring people in sports today,” said Gentile. “espnW has once again assembled thought leaders, respected executives in the industry and change agents, who will contribute their passion and ideas to create even greater opportunities for women in sports.”
One of the keynote speakers for the 2014 Summit is Melanne Verveer, a Founding Partner of Seneca Point Global and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University. Prior to being appointed to her Ambassadorship by President Barack Obama, Verveer served as the Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, which she co-founded with Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2001. During the Clinton Administration, Ambassador Verveer served as Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Chief of Staff to the First Lady Hillary Clinton. Among her duties was overseeing Mrs. Clinton’s global initiatives on women’s rights. Verveer’s speech will be on The Advancement of Women and Girls around the World.
Another unique aspect of the espnW Summit is that attendees have the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports activities throughout the conference, including morning meditation with Bleiler, yoga, standup paddleboarding, workouts led by fitness expert Todd Durkin, runs with the New York Road Runners and IronStrength sessions led by Dr. Jordan Metzl.
Other Summit agenda highlights include:
- Achieving Excellence athlete panel with Amy Purdy and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne;
- Growing a Global Tour: LPGA Challenges and Opportunitieskeynote address and Q & A withMichael Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA;
- “Office Hours” – for the first time, breakout, one-on-one sessions with top industry executives that will offer attendees insights from some of the most knowledgeable veterans in the business;
- A panel discussion on Breaking Barriers in Women’s Sportswith espnW writerKate Fagan, the Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner, University of Massachusetts Associate Professor of Sports Management Nefertiti Walker, Wasserman Media Group Director of Women’s Sports Lindsday Kagawa and moderated by ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap.
Additional participants and details will be announced closer to the Summit.
The conference will be held for the second consecutive year at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. For more information about the espnW: Women + Sports Summit and to see the complete agenda visitwww.espnWsummit.com or follow on Twitter with @espnW and #espnWsummit.