The Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit, held at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans during Super Bowl LIX week, was a powerful gathering designed to empower young women in sports. With a focus on breaking barriers and creating new opportunities, the event featured trailblazing female leaders, interactive workshops, and inspiring success stories from young women who are already making history.

As more girls take the field—whether in sports or STEM—the need for mentorship, leadership development, and representation has never been greater. Play Like a Girl continues to create spaces where girls and young women are not only welcomed but celebrated.

A Legacy of Excellence: St. Mary’s Academy

Hosting this event at St. Mary’s Academy was particularly meaningful. The historically Black Catholic school has long been a beacon of academic excellence and empowerment for young women. Recently, two of its students, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, gained national recognition for presenting a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem using trigonometry—a feat that had eluded mathematicians for over 2,000 years.

Their success mirrors the spirit of innovation, determination, and excellence that Play Like a Girl seeks to cultivate. Whether in STEM or sports, young women like Calcea and Ne’Kiya prove that girls are ready to lead in any field.

A Star-Studded Lineup of Female Leaders

The 2025 Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit was filled with transformative insights and actionable takeaways from a stellar lineup of speakers who brought their expertise in sports, leadership, and personal development. Each session focused on breaking barriers and providing tools for the next generation of women to lead confidently in male-dominated industries. Here’s a look at the key speakers and the sessions they led:

Odessa “O.J.” Jenkins, tech executive and founder of the Women’s National Football Conference, kicked off the summit with an inspiring keynote that set the tone for the day. In her session, she shared her remarkable journey from the sidelines to the boardroom, emphasizing the challenges and triumphs she’s faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Jenkins, a trailblazer in football, spoke about how women can excel in leadership roles—both on and off the field. Her message was clear: women have the power to lead in sports and shape the future of football, especially with more women stepping into influential positions within the industry.

A panel discussion featured Sarah Bishop, Kristen Oh, and Cianna Outlaw, three women who are redefining the landscape of sports careers. The conversation focused on how women in sports are not only breaking through barriers but also shaping the future of the industry.

  • Sarah Bishop, Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing at the NFL, discussed the importance of creating inclusive cultures that welcome women and underrepresented groups into leadership roles.
  • Kristen Oh, Head of Sports Partnerships at Meta, explored how digital media and social platforms are providing new avenues for female athletes and executives to build personal brands and influence.
  • Cianna Outlaw, Senior Director of Athlete Branding at SportsTrust Advisors, highlighted how women in sports can leverage their platforms to build meaningful relationships and create lasting impact both on and off the field.

The panel’s diverse perspectives underscored the growing opportunities for women and girls in football, making it clear that the future of sports leadership is in good hands with women at the helm.

Following the opening plenary, students got the chance to go deeper in breakout sessions that provided an intimate setting for participants to engage directly with industry leaders and receive tailored advice. These sessions were led by women who have transformed challenges into opportunities and provided invaluable lessons for girls looking to follow in their footsteps.

Shattering Stereotypes and Thriving as a Disrupter

In her breakout session, Sarah Bishop and her colleague, Alyse Brehm, challenged students to shatter stereotypes and embrace disruption as a tool for success. She discussed how women can thrive in industries where they are often outnumbered, using their unique perspectives to lead change and innovate. Her session provided practical advice on how to build a career in a competitive space, offering pathways to a career in sports and tips for finding your voice in male-dominated environments.

Breaking Barriers in Football and Beyond

Keira Durrette, a dynamic leader with experience managing sports and entertainment partnerships, led a session on breaking barriers in football. She shared how women have overcome gender biases and challenges to be pioneers in the field, offering insights on resilience and the importance of networking and advocacy in achieving career success. Keira’s session inspired participants to challenge norms and create their own paths in sports and leadership.

Leading with Purpose: Creating Impact Through Authentic Leadership

Janay James, a passionate advocate for happiness and emotional well-being, encouraged students to lead with authenticity and integrity. Her breakout session focused on finding your purpose and using it to create impactful change in the world. Janay shared how leaders who lead from the heart build stronger teams and cultivate environments of trust, collaboration, and respect. She also emphasized the importance of mentorship in guiding future generations of women leaders.

How to Overcome Setbacks and Keep Moving Forward

Julia Lankford, Director of Operations & Sport for Good Atlanta for Laureus USA, led a session on overcoming setbacks. She shared her personal experiences of facing challenges and how she learned to bounce back stronger. Her session provided practical tools for resilience and mental toughness, offering strategies for turning obstacles into opportunities for growth.

Rising Strong: Harnessing Resilience to Face Challenges

In her breakout, Kristen Oh dove deeper into the theme of resilience and how it’s especially essential for young women pursuing careers in sports. Drawing from her experiences in both sports partnerships and corporate leadership, Kristen shared strategies for overcoming challenges and how to stay focused on long-term goals despite setbacks. She encouraged students to use their resilience as an asset, reminding them that each setback is a setup for a greater comeback.

Finding Mentors and Building Lifelong Connections

Cianna Outlaw closed out the breakout sessions with a powerful discussion on the importance of mentorship. She shared how building meaningful relationships in the sports industry has been integral to her career and offered strategies for seeking out mentors. Cianna encouraged attendees to seek mentors who not only support their academic and professional goals but also push them to grow personally. Her session helped participants understand the value of networking and lifelong connections in building a successful career.

Breaking Barriers: Redefining Leadership in Sports

As the NFL’s first Black female coach, Collette V. Smith brought invaluable insights into the redefinition of leadership in sports. Her session focused on the ways women can reshape the landscape of sports leadership, offering guidance on how to lead with empathy, authenticity, and vision. Collette’s journey was a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t defined by title but by impact and influence.

Through these dynamic sessions, the Leadership Summit created an environment of learning, empowerment, and visionary thinking. Each speaker offered real-world solutions for overcoming the barriers women face in sports and leadership, while also celebrating the progress that’s been made. The summit was a reminder that the future is female, and women are not just participating in sports—they’re leading the way.

The Power of Mentorship

One of the biggest takeaways from the summit was the importance of mentorship. Girls need to see women who look like them achieving success—whether on the field, in the lab, or in the boardroom. After a dynamic panel discussion and breakout sessions, the girls participated in the Little Words Project’s empowering bracelet-making exercise led by a host of guest mentors. 

This hands-on mentoring workshop focused on cultivating positive thinking and personal affirmations, encouraging the girls to create custom bracelets with words that resonated with their unique journeys. Each bracelet became a symbol of self-empowerment, a tangible reminder of their strength, resilience, and limitless potential. The activity seamlessly connected the themes discussed throughout the summit, reinforcing the idea that a positive mindset is just as crucial as skills and talent when pursuing greatness. Just as the mentors and speakers had shared their own paths to success, the girls left the session with a personal mantra, ready to take on new challenges—whether on the football field or in any other endeavor they choose to pursue.

A Lasting Impact: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders

The Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit left a lasting impression on all who attended, especially as the event ended with the presentation of the thirteenth Play Like a Girl Scholarship by our founder and CEO, Dr. Kim. This year’s recipient, a standout student from St. Mary’s Academy, was awarded the scholarship for her academic excellence and commitment to leadership. The recipient, Alyssa Ketchens, has shown remarkable passion for science and medicine and plans to pursue a major in biology premedicine at Xavier University of Louisiana, our founder and CEO’s beloved alma mater. Xavier is renowned for graduating the highest number of Black students and women into medical school, making it the perfect institution for Alyssa to further her ambitions. Her aspirations to become a doctor and make an impact in healthcare reflect the values of resilience and dedication instilled throughout the summit. This scholarship not only honors her academic achievements but also supports her journey to becoming a future leader who will shape the world of medicine. As a young woman poised to break barriers in both education and healthcare, Alyssa’s journey symbolizes the summit’s mission—empowering girls to pursue their dreams and transform their communities.

In an unforgettable moment, Jonathan Jones, NFL player for the New England Patriots and Play Like a Girl Ambassador, made a surprise visit to the summit. Jonathan shared his deep commitment to supporting and advocating for girls and women in sports, drawing inspiration from the many strong women who have shaped his life and career. He spoke passionately about the influence of female mentors, both in his personal and professional life, emphasizing how their guidance has been instrumental in his success. Jonathan also highlighted his love for STEM as a civilian pilot, demonstrating the power of combining athletics with other passions. His message resonated deeply with the girls, reinforcing the summit’s theme of breaking barriers and pursuing greatness across all fields.

The Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit was more than a one-day event—it was a catalyst for change.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Confidence is a game-changer: Whether in STEM, sports, or leadership, believing in oneself is the first step to success.
  2. Opportunities are expanding: From flag football scholarships to STEM internships, doors are opening for young women like never before.
  3. Mentorship is essential: Having female role models and allies can make all the difference in a girl’s journey.

By continuing to invest in programs like this summit, we ensure that girls across the country are empowered to lead, innovate, and succeed.

Join the Movement

Want to be part of this change? Here’s how you can help:

  • Become a mentor: Sign up to mentor and dedicate one hour to guiding a small group of girls in your community.
  • Support Play Like a Girl: Your donations help provide leadership programs and sports opportunities for young women.
  • Encourage a young athlete: If you know a girl interested in sports, introduce her to girl’s flag football or other empowering sports.

The Play Like a Girl Leadership Summit proved that when young women are given the tools to succeed, they can change the world. Let’s continue to create spaces where girls are not only welcomed but celebrated.