Why Not Me, Why not She, Why Not Us?
Session Summary:
In the lifelong search to discover and uncover the paths to our best selves, Donna Orender had the revelation that two simple words can unlock just what is possible in our personal and professional lives by reframing our outlooks. In recounting her life and business experiences as a former Commissioner of the WNBA, navigating an economic marketplace, influencing investment and allocation of resources that saw women and women's sports as lesser.
As a "solo" female leading global business growth for the PGA TOUR and a mom of young twin sons, a balancing act that is not always evenly tilted, she took a step back to reframe the way she looked at work and business and see a pattern of choices and opportunities that were guided by an outlook of abundance and positivity.
Her talk, filled with the experiences of being on the front lines of culture and commerce, will take you on a journey that we are all traveling, providing insights and lessons along the way. These include:
· Community - the role that community plays in offering support and creating opportunity
· Mindsets—What mindset shapes your outlook on life? Is it open, closed, frightened, or daring? We will learn two new words that frame a mindset that opens doors and windows to what is possible in front of us.
· Dealing with challenges — How do we deal with the challenges of working in a world that speaks to us about who is worth more and who is worth less? We will identify that messaging and ways to productively address it to help clear a path of moving forward.
· Decision making — If we take the time to reflect on the decisions we have made along the way, we can usually see a pattern of action that has either propelled us forward or perhaps held us back. What has your decision-making process revealed, and what can we glean from that exploration process?
· Elevating each other — Who has the power, and how do you deploy it in service of your best selves? Understanding the power to work within and from the personal and the collective, such as what we are experiencing by coming together as WIC members, will reveal a series of lessons about supporting and elevating each other.
This Session is Sponsored By:
Wego Chemical Group
Donna Orender
Donna Orender learned early on that the games played on the courts and in the fields were a vital learning and proving ground for life’s opportunities. Recognized as a leader of growth and innovation in several high-profile companies, her ability to pivot as a former professional basketball athlete has served her well. Her passionate pursuit of working on behalf of women and girls is a result of her journey as a professional athlete, a corporate executive, a leader of an iconic women’s business, the WNBA, a board member and founder of Generation W. She has been recognized as one of the top 10 Most Powerful Women in sports and one of Newsweek`s100 most Influential people in the business of sports and is a best-selling author with her 2018 release of Wowsdom! the girl’s guide to the Positive and the Possible.
In 2011 Donna launched Generation W, www.genwnow.com, a dynamic platform of education, inspiration and connection for women and girls, in the service of building community. It has changed the trajectory of thousands of lives who have become part of this inclusive and energetic community. Leveraging intergenerational connectivity and mentorship, Generation W and Generation WOW have positively impacted skills and opportunities while broadening perspectives on women’s equality and equity.
Donna served 6 years as the President of the WNBA, during which time she solidified its base and led double digit growth in all key business metrics. Prior to the WNBA, Donna spent 17 years at the PGA TOUR serving in the Office of the Commissioner. She developed a global and domestic media business leading global production, programming, distribution and digital businesses for the TOUR. As the CEO of Orender Unlimited she works with companies on strategic and growth initiatives.
She currently serves on the board of the SPAC Goal Acquisition Corporation as well as on the privately held World Surf League Board and Cre8tor, an Israeli based health and wellness manufacturing company.
Her community board work includes the V Foundation for Cancer Research, Co-Chair of the UJA Sports for Youth Initiative, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, the executive committee of the Jacksonville Chamber, Maccabi USA and a founding member of the board of Women in America. She has also been a Global Ambassador for Vital Voices, a Hall of Fame collegiate and professional athlete and a recipient of the March of Dimes Sports Leadership Award. She enjoys speaking on leadership, change and gender equity. She is a mom of twin sons and two step children.