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Mia Hamm

After 17 years, two World Championships, two Olympic Gold Medals, and near unparalleled success as a marketing icon, Mia Hamm retired from professional soccer in 2004 as not only the best women’s soccer player in history but also as one of the most important and recognizable female figures in the history of sport. Hailed by ESPN as the greatest female athlete of the past 40 years, Mia was the youngest woman to ever appear in a match for the US Senior Squad at just 15 years old in 1987, and during her illustrious career playing for the national team shattered a litany of American records, most notably those for international goals (158) and assists (144).

In the years since her dominant run on the global stage as a player, Mia has continued to serve as an inspiration to young girls looking to rise to the pinnacle of the sporting world. Indeed, she has maintained an active presence within the soccer community and has served as an outspoken advocate for Title IX and gender equality across sporting lines, all the while cementing her status as the face of not merely a sport but rather of an entire generation of female athletes through her Foundation. Mia is also a part owner of the MLS’ Los Angeles Football Club and the expansion franchise, Angel FC of the NWSL.

Moderator: Patti Phillips CEO, Women Leaders in College Sports and Founder of the Women Leaders Performance Institute

Patti is a sports executive, speaker, and industry leader on women’s career advancement. She has worked in the sports industry in various capacities for over 30 years, including as a collegiate volleyball and basketball coach, stints at the NCAA and Kansas City Sports Commission, and for the last 12 years at Women Leaders in College Sports. She has dedicated her career to coaching, mentoring, andinspiring women at all levels, in all industries.

As the CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports—the nation’s premier leadership organization that develops, connects, and advances women working in collegiate athletics— she uses keen insights she’s gathered from her relationships with search firms, industry leaders, and university presidents to coach women and help them grow at every stage of their careers. Under Phillips’ direction, the associationputs on transformational leadership experiences and programs that serve as a catalyst for career growth and advancement for the women involved. In her time as CEO, the association has seen triple-digit growth in membership, has grown the National Convention attendance by 250% and expanded its membership to include men and women from professional sports leagues and corporations.

Phillips also founded and leads the Women Leaders Performance Institute, a leadership development program for all business industries, designed through the lens of sports. The Performance Institute ignites and cultivates the potential in individuals, leaders, and teams through customized coaching and training to achieve peak performance.