The Women of Washington Redskins on Wednesday played host to the team's first-ever panel event highlighting the role of women in sports.
The event, "Living Positively Through Sports and Philanthropy," featured three female executives from both Coca-Cola and the Washington Redskins speaking candidly about the ever-changing role of women in sports industry, as well as how brands can align to make a difference in their communities.
Panelists in Wednesday's event included Dori Silverman, area vice president of field execution at Coca-Cola; Jane Rodgers, executive director of the Redskins Charitable Foundation; and Nancy Hubacher, vice president of sales and marketing with the Redskins. Larry Michael, the Voice of the Redskins, hosted the panel discussion.
Silverman said she's seen opportunities for women increase dramatically over the past two decades, particularly with a large company like Cola-Cola.
"I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with so many different women," Silverman told the attendees. "As a company, we have so many women in leadership roles. And it's not they were selected because they were women – they're selected because they're that good."
Rodgers – whose Redskins Charitable Foundation strives to make an impact on youth, particularly in the areas of education, community outreach and health and wellness – said she's had various stops along the way in her career path in which she's making sure she didn't miss the "important things" in life.
"It was always that give and take," Rodgers said. "It allowed me to do some things that I didn't even necessarily dream of, but as I got older, my dreams started to grow and I thought, 'I can make these things happen.'"
Hubacher, meanwhile, said it's always important to feel welcome in the organization in which you work – something, she said, has never been a problem in her 15 years with the Redskins.
Staying competitive with her male co-workers, Hubacher said, motivates her to do her best work each and every day.
"I don't think of it as, 'Wow, I'm a female that can stand on their ground or keep my ground against them' – I want to beat them," she said. "As a team, we want to get to the same place, but I've been very fortunate that I'm in an organization like the Washington Redskins, that I've always been proud of my entire life, that has been so welcoming to me."
The event was open to all WOW members and included a minimum $10 donation for attendance, the proceeds of which directly supporting charitable programs aimed at making a positive and measureable impact on youth development in local communities.
At the conclusion of the panel discussion, guests had the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with the speakers, and a dinner and networking reception followed in the Redskins Dining Room.
Alisha Greenberg was one of the WOW members in attendance Wednesday evening, and said she was happy to see an event like "Living Positively Through Sports and Philanthropy" addressing such important issues.
"I think it's fantastic," Greenberg said. "I think it's great to see interest in it, and for the Redskins to be leading that makes a lot of sense. It's great for conversation."
To sign up for future FREE Women of Washington Redskins events, be sure to check out the WOW website.
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