There’s a moment when a girl realizes she’s capable of more than she imagined—when she sees herself not just as a student or an athlete, but as a future engineer, coach, designer, or leader.
Middle school girls in Seattle had that moment at Tech Touchdown.
Hosted by Play Like a Girl in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Seattle Seahawks, this one-of-a-kind flag football field day gave girls the chance to explore careers at the intersection of sport and technology in the most unforgettable way: hands-on, high-energy, and filled with real role models who look like them and believe in their potential.
It Starts with Seeing What’s Possible
The morning began with a powerful welcome from Julia White, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at AWS. With nearly three decades of leadership in the tech industry, including roles at Microsoft and SAP, Julia brought both gravitas and warmth to the moment. She spoke directly to the girls about the importance of believing in themselves, embracing curiosity, and imagining a future where they belong in every field and every boardroom.
Her inspiring words set the stage for a dynamic career panel moderated by our founder Dr. Kimberly Clay, showcasing the wide range of career paths available to women working at the intersection of STEM and sports. Representing both AWS and the Seattle Seahawks, the panelists illustrated that there’s no single path to leadership—only possibilities waiting to be explored.
Shelby Williams, Head of Integrated Sports Marketing at AWS, built her career by blending creativity with technical acumen. She now leads AWS’s global sports partnerships with major leagues like the NFL, Formula 1, and PGA TOUR, designing marketing campaigns that showcase cloud-powered innovation. “I get to tell the story of how technology transforms sports,” Shelby said. “And I love that I didn’t have to choose between the two. I made space for both.”
Karen Wilkins-Mickey, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Seattle Seahawks, brought a different perspective. With a background in communications and decades of experience leading DEI strategy at companies like Alaska Airlines and Microsoft, Karen spoke about purpose-driven leadership. “You don’t have to change who you are to lead,” she told the girls. She reminded us all about the importance of just believing that we belong and how that belief can help others see that they do too.
Sandra Smith, Security Industry Specialist at AWS, shared a journey that crossed countries and disciplines. From student-athlete to scuba diver to tech program manager, Sandra built a career in cybersecurity by following her curiosity and saying yes to big challenges. “Sports taught me about limits and how to push past them,” she said when sharing her career journey across the world to her current stop in Seattle.
Becca Erenbaum, Senior Football Research Analyst for the Seahawks, offered a glimpse into the math behind the game. With degrees in mathematics, statistics, and sports management from Duke and Columbia, Becca creates models that guide the team’s scouting, drafting, and free agency strategy. “Math isn’t just numbers,” she explained. “It’s how I help the Seahawks make smarter decisions and find the next great athlete.”
What made the panel so impactful wasn’t just the range of industries represented. It was the authenticity of the women’s stories and the unique paths they took to get where they are. The girls saw that their future careers can be as unique as they are. Some panelists started in sports and found their way to STEM; others started in STEM and discovered their love for sports. But all of them had one message in common:
“You don’t have to choose just one thing. If you love sports and tech, do both.”
In that moment, something shifted. The girls weren’t just hearing advice; they were witnessing what’s possible. Each woman’s story opened a new door, inviting the girls to imagine a future that reflects their passions and potential.
Tech Gets Real—and So Do Her Dreams
Before they laced up their shoes or lined up for drills, the girls rotated through three immersive STEM stations that showed just how deeply tech and football are connected.
At the bologram station, they stepped into a scene straight out of the future, interacting with a life-sized 3D hologram of a Seahawks player. AWS engineers explained how augmented reality and motion capture are changing the way players train, coaches plan, and fans experience the game. “I didn’t know you could code football,” one girl said with wide eyes. “That’s cool!”
Next, at the My Cause My Cleats station, girls got creative. They designed cleats that told stories about causes they cared about, just like their NFL heroes do every season:
- Jonathan Jones, cornerback for the Washington Commanders, supported Play Like a Girl during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons while with the New England Patriots. He collaborated with the organization to design custom cleats inspired by his daughter, Skylar. His cleats were featured in a national NFL ad campaign that aired during all Week 13 games in 2023 and were later auctioned to raise funds for our mission to empower young girls in STEM.
- Greg Newsome II, cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, chose Play Like a Girl as his cause in 2022, helping raise awareness for our focus on using sports to open doors to STEM careers. Poona Ford, defensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, also honored Play Like a Girl that same season, designing cleats that reflected his dedication to empowering women and girls.
- In 2023, Timmy Horne, defensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, continued that momentum by spotlighting girls’ participation in flag football and confidence-building through STEM and sport.
- The following year, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, linebacker for the New York Jets, wore cleats for Play Like a Girl in 2024 to promote greater inclusion of girls in sports and technology. Roschon Johnson, running back for the Chicago Bears, also selected Play Like a Girl that season, aiming to inspire the next generation of women leaders in STEM and sports.
These players’ involvement not only raised awareness but also contributed to fundraising efforts through the auctioning of their custom cleats. Girls at the design station sketched similar symbols for mental health, animal rescue, gender equity, and more, while learning how graphic design, branding, and digital tools come together to turn ideas into action. “Mine says ‘Girls Run the World,’” said Ayla, 13. “Because we do.”
The third stop brought movement and metrics together. In the passing demo, girls threw footballs fitted with sensors, then saw their velocity and accuracy analyzed in real time on a digital dashboard.
Advice She’ll Never Forget
After the tech stations came the most meaningful moment of the day: a lunch-time mentoring session that brought the girls face to face with real women (and men!) working in sport and tech.
This flash mentoring session featured inspiring professionals from both the Seahawks and AWS who shared their career journeys and answered one powerful question:
What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?
“Don’t shrink yourself,” said one AWS engineer. “There’s space for you even if no one else looks like you yet.”
And perhaps the most actionable advice came from a Seahawks teammate: “Ask questions. Be the girl who raises her hand.”
Confidence in Motion
Then it was time to hit the turf, and for many of the girls, it was their first time playing flag football. With the enthusiastic guidance of the team from RCX Sports, the girls jumped into a dynamic rotation of drills that pushed them outside their comfort zones while building the kind of skills that matter far beyond the game.
They practiced reading the field and anticipating movement, learning how to adjust their approach in real time—a lesson in strategy and quick decision-making. Some worked on footwork and agility, developing balance, body control, and explosive movement that demanded focus and coordination. Others honed their passing accuracy, building muscle memory and learning how mechanics and mindset combine to achieve a goal.
Even the most hesitant participants were encouraged to speak up, lead their peers, and collaborate under pressure, gaining communication skills and confidence that grew with every rep. The energy was high, and so was the support. Coaches and mentors celebrated effort as much as execution, creating a space where girls could feel strong, capable, and seen.
“I’m not a football person,” one girl said at first, holding back on the sidelines. But by the end of the session, she was calling plays and leading her group with a smile. “I didn’t think I’d like this part,” she said breathlessly, “but I didn’t want to stop.”
That’s the power of a well-designed, inclusive space: it invites girls to discover what they’re capable of—on the field and far beyond it.
The Power of Showing Up
What made Tech Touchdown extraordinary wasn’t just the drills or the data. It was the people. The Seahawks and AWS teams didn’t just sponsor the event. They showed up. In huddles, in breakout groups, and on the sidelines, they poured into these girls with encouragement, curiosity, and respect.
“This is what it looks like when a community steps up to invest in girls,” said Dr. Kim. “When we bring together mentorship, hands-on learning, and role models who reflect our girls’ potential, we don’t just spark interest—we create pathways.”
A Future All Hers
Tech Touchdown is part of a growing national series of Play Like a Girl Field Days hosted in partnership with NFL teams like the Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Rams. These experiences are designed to disrupt the career gap by introducing girls to two industries where women remain underrepresented. Each event is tailored to the local community but rooted in the same vision: a world where every girl knows she belongs in any field.
But the journey doesn’t end when the drills are over. Every girl who attended was invited to join Play Like a Girl’s national mentoring community, where they’ll continue to explore STEM careers, develop leadership skills, and receive ongoing support as they grow into the changemakers they’re meant to be.
Because when girls see what’s possible, they don’t just play the game—they change it.
Never miss an update!
Stay in the loop by subscribing to our email list.