WISE Twin Cities Breaking into Sports Panel
Date: Tuesday, september 19, 2023
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Lindahl avademic center, university of minnesota
Address: 516 15th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
WISE Twin Cities had a great time connecting with our members and some new faces as we gathered at the University of Minnesota. We were fortunate to hear from a panel that featured successful women who cover a variety of roles in the sports industry. Dialogue surrounded topics like:
- Myths versus the realities of working in the sports industry
- How to connect with mentors and what you bring to the table as a mentee
- Impactful skills and philosophies to develop in early on in your career to stand out
We are thankful to our very own, Savanna Townsend for taking on a double role as she guided the conversation while participating int he panel and provided her insight! We were thrilled that guests stayed behind after the panel to discuss the topics at hand and to build connections with one another.
Timeline
- 5:00 pm - Check-In and Networking
- 5:30 pm - Panel Discussion Begins
- 6:30 pm - Panel Discussion Ends
- 7:00 pm - Event Ends
About Our Panelists
Savanna Townsend - Human Resource Generalist, Premier Sport Psychology
While Savanna's day-to-day work varies greatly, she supports all team members in any way she can. From facilitating the onboarding and assimilation of all Premier employees, to administering assessments, Savanna takes care of all things HR-related.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Business from Iowa State University, Savanna began her career in marketing, first as an intern for SportsEngine, and then as the Marketing and Promotions Director for Destination Sturgeon Bay, where she coordinated city-wide special events, created digital marketing material, and served as a customer-support lead. She subsequently returned to her roots in athletics and obtained an internship with Leadership U, assisting in student-athlete development at the University of Minnesota. She transitioned to Premier Sport Psychology in 2020, continuing her work in student-athlete advocacy by supporting projects directly related to the personal and professional growth of student-athlete populations. Since joining the Premier team, Savanna has completed her master’s degree in Human Resource Development, earned an Adult Education Graduate certificate from the University of Minnesota, and became a Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resource Management.
Christy Grady - EVP Business Development, Sportsdigita
Christy has an extensive background in the sports industry having formerly served in both sales and leadership roles with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the Seattle Seahawks, and Seattle Sounders F.C. In her current role as the EVP, Business Development at Sportsdigita, Christy has a strong track record selling across multiple properties and leagues while working to develop new sales and activation assets from her robust industry experience. She has expanded her skillset by working with partners in the enterprise and B2B space providing strategic thought leadership for maximizing the value DIGIDECK provides for sales + marketing needs both externally and internally.
Angela Harder - Director of Talent Acquisition, Minnesota Timberwolves
Angela Harder is the Director of Talent Acquisition for the Minnesota Timberwolves organization, including the MN Lynx and Iowa Wolves franchises. She oversees all recruiting for Business Operations and advises for Basketball Operations. Angela is passionate first about people and second about process and experience. She has built her career over the last two decades in tech start-ups, corporate turnarounds, and entrepreneurial agencies. While she often finds herself specializing in executive recruiting and recruitment process, her real passion is for broader talent management and the lifecycle of employees.
Angela has an MBA from Concordia University in Saint Paul, MN, and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University. She would say however, that working as a Talent Management consultant for small to mid-sized business is really what helped her develop her perspective for helping people thrive within organizations. From finding to helping to retain talent, she loves the journey from initial conversation to first annual review.
Annika Mal - Amateur Scouting Coordinator, Minnesota Twins
Annika Mau is the Coordinator of Amateur Scouting with the Minnesota Twins. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, in 2020 with a B.S. in kinesiology, she began her career at the Twins as a Baseball Operations Fellow and was promoted to her current role in 2021. She currently serves as the primary liaison between Twins’ domestic amateur scouts and front office staff, offering general administrative support, coordinating/executing the amateur draft, and other scouting operations. She also has a role in the hiring and oversight of the department’s annual fellowship program. In addition to her work, Annika serves as one of the tri-chairs of the Twins Women’s Initiative Network, the club’s female-focused business resource group, and is on the associate board of Girls on the Run Minnesota. Annika is passionate about creating more pathways for women in sports, a drive that was boosted through her involvement with the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, located at the University of Minnesota, where she worked from 2017-2020.
Alyssa Erdman - Guest Experience Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
Alyssa Erdman is the Guest Experience Coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas (MN) with a B.A. in Communications and Journalism and later the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a M.S. in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration, Alyssa began her professional career as the Guest Experience Associate with the team, where she assisted with game operations, data analysis, and management of game day staff. Alyssa’s passion for service and creating memorable experiences began at a young age with her passion for Disney-standard service, and she was excited to find an opportunity where she could combine her love for sports and for service in her role. Her mission each day of work is to elevate the experience of every fan that comes in touch with the Vikings brand and optimally train and create a positive employee experience for Vikings game day staff.
About WISE Twin Cities
Founded in 2017, WISE Twin Cities carries out the WISE mission by facilitating meaningful connections among local industry professionals and offering programming, events and valuable networking opportunities in the area throughout the year. Our signature programs include WISE Power Play, Women of Inspiration, and Speed Mentoring Roundtables. We partner closely with WISE National to deliver industry wide thought leadership and sports and events industry connections beyond our Minnesota and region borders.