Event to Feature Leading Women from Meta, NFL, and Laureus USA
Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit, a national mentoring nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls through sports, is excited to announce the return of its Leadership Summit on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in conjunction with Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Following the success of previous summits, the event will once again bring together over 250 students and faculty at St. Mary’s Academy, offering them a unique opportunity to engage with leading women from across sports, business, and entertainment.
The summit will feature an extraordinary lineup of speakers, including Cianna Outlaw, Senior Director of Athlete Branding at SportsTrust Advisors, Collette V. Smith, the NFL’s first Black female coach, and Kristen Oh, the head of sports partnerships at Meta. Other standout contributors include Keira Durrett, former NFL agent now at Carolina Panthers Bryce Young’s foundation; Sarah Bishop, a veteran in sports communications and marketing at the NFL; Jazzy McBee, an Atlanta-based sports journalist and media personality; Julia Lankford, director of operations at Laureus USA; and Janay James, an entrepreneur and wellness coach, who will share her expertise on empowering girls to achieve success through emotional and spiritual well-being. Moderating this powerhouse of talent is Ashley S. Green, a radical educator with extensive experience in sports management and community engagement.
Headlining the event is Odessa “O.J.” Jenkins, former Atlanta Falcons player and Founder and CEO of the Women’s National Football Conference. Jenkins will deliver the keynote address, sharing her trailblazing journey from athlete to executive while inspiring attendees to embrace leadership roles both on and off the field.
“The Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit is a powerful opportunity to inspire young women, providing them with the tools and connections they need to succeed,” said Dr. Kimberly Clay, CEO of Play Like a Girl. “Returning to the host city of Super Bowl LIX, this year’s summit highlights the limitless possibilities for girls in sports, offering them tangible opportunities to make a lasting impact in their communities.”
The summit’s agenda includes panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions, focusing on topics such as building confidence, overcoming challenges, choosing a career, and leveraging mentorship for personal and professional growth. Students will also participate in small-group mentoring huddles, gaining actionable advice and encouragement from inspiring women role models from across the sports industry who are living examples of success in traditionally male-dominated fields. These women will share their journeys and help students develop leadership skills that extend beyond the playing field.
A highlight of the event will be the announcement of a scholarship for one deserving student at St. Mary’s Academy to attend Xavier University of Louisiana to pursue a degree in STEM, reinforcing Play Like a Girl’s commitment to breaking barriers and creating pathways for young women in sports and STEM careers.
With its focus on empowering young women, fostering confidence, and building a strong community of mentors, the Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit promises to be an unforgettable experience for the next generation of leaders.
For more information on the Leadership Summit or to sign up to mentor, please visit iplaylikeagirl.org/volunteer.
About Play Like a Girl
Play Like a Girl!® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers young girls by providing mentorship and sports programming with a special focus on bridging the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through its programs, Play Like a Girl works to equip young women with the confidence and skills needed to thrive, both on and off the field.
