NFL Makes History with Two Women Presidents Leading the Way
The upcoming game between the Carolina Panthers and the Las Vegas Raiders will be a significant moment for the NFL as it will feature two female team presidents going head-to-head for the first time in the league’s history. Kristi Coleman of the Panthers and Sandra Douglass Morgan of the Raiders represent a growing presence of women in prominent roles within the NFL. Both executives have made significant strides in their careers to reach their current positions, with Coleman having a finance background and being appointed as team president in February 2022, while Douglass Morgan was named Raiders president in July 2022 after a successful career in gaming, legal, and corporate sectors.
The NFL has been actively working to increase gender diversity within the league, with a record number of women now holding front office positions. There has also been a significant rise in the number of women coaching in the league, with 22 women currently in full-time coaching roles. The NFL’s annual Women’s Forum has been instrumental in providing opportunities for women at all levels of football, helping to grow and develop a pipeline of female talent within the sport.
As the NFL looks to expand the game through flag football programs, more women are finding ways to get involved in football at various levels. With over 700,000 participants in the NFL’s flag football program, there is a clear pathway for women to pursue opportunities in football, including playing in college. Both Coleman and Douglass Morgan credit their team owners for their unwavering support and encouragement in their respective roles, emphasizing the importance of being confident in one’s abilities and having a strong support system in place.
For women looking to break into male-dominated sports leagues, the advice from both executives is to focus on doing the job at hand well, continuously learning, and believing in oneself. Despite being in the minority as female team presidents in the NFL, Coleman and Douglass Morgan stress the importance of remaining resilient and surrounded by a supportive network to navigate any challenges that may arise in their roles.
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Emily Jensen, graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the UK in 2015 with a degree in Economics. She specializes in financial markets and international trade. After graduating, she worked as an analyst at an investment bank in London, where she developed expertise in global economic trends. She later transitioned into consulting, focusing on fintech ventures and providing insights into global economic developments. Emily is passionate about the intersection of finance and technology and aims to drive innovation in the financial sector.