Photo by: Ben Solomon / ESPN Images
Scarlet Knights For Life: espnW Summit NYC
Jun 10 | General
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – As part of Scarlet Knights For Life experiential learning trips, a group of student-athletes had the opportunity to take part in espnW Summit NYC last month in Brooklyn.
It was a day of conversation and inspiration, all focused on driving change and impact in the women and sports space. They brought together thought-leaders, professional athletes and agents of change across sports and entertainment for an experience that left attendees inspired and ready to take action.
Judy Amano (women's golf), Charlee Crawford (women's track & field), Fallon DeWitt (women's rowing), Tara Garvey (women's volleyball), Grace Hagemaster (women's swimming & diving), Reilly McGlinn (women's soccer), Madilyn Varnum (women's swimming & diving) represented Rutgers and offered reflections following a busy day of networking, panels and more.
JUDY AMANO
"It was a very special event, and honestly, one I will talk about for ages. Getting to ESPN is one of my dream career paths right now, so being in a room with people who are living that dream was truly incredible. What made it even better was how approachable everyone was. There was no barrier between 'me' and 'them.' Everyone was there to connect, which made it easy for me to introduce myself, share my story as a student-athlete and ask about their jobs. I got to ask about the behind-the-scenes reality of their roles and whether that path is truly what I'm looking for. It was also meaningful to be a student-athlete at this event. That part of my identity feels unique in this field, and we even got a shoutout during the panel. I also loved meeting so many successful women across the industry, from Olympic gold medalists to the people working in locker rooms and behind the broadcast. It reminded me that there are so many ways to contribute to sports media, and every single one of them matters. Moving forward, I am taking with me the confidence to approach anyone in this industry. This event showed me that the people I admire on TV are just as eager to talk, listen and help as I am to learn."
CHARLEE CRAWFORD
"This summit taught me a lot about women's sports and what is happening in that industry right now. It was so inspiring hearing stories from world-class athletes and women who are passionate about their careers in the sports industry. The most interesting panel to me was the one hosted by Michelle Beisner-Buck that featured sports broadcasters/analysts. Connecting with these women allowed me to gain further insight into the industry and was a great opportunity to network and put myself out there. Overall, the entire experience made me more excited and confident about my future as a sports broadcaster."
FALLON DeWITT
"The espnW Summit was an amazing experience that allowed me to learn and make connections specifically with people who are already in the industry I want to work in. I always consider it rare to be in a place where everyone has the same enthusiasm and passion about a certain topic, and this summit was one of those places. I walked away feeling energized and excited as well as knowing that this is truly the career path I want to pursue."
TARA GARVEY
"The espnW Summit was an incredibly empowering experience, and I am grateful to the able to attend through Rutgers Athletics. Being surrounded by so many successful women in sports, media, business and leadership was both inspiring and motivating. Throughout the day, I found myself reflecting on not only the conversations being had, but also the importance of creating spaces where women are truly seen, heard and considered, and truly feeling like a part of me was heard. One idea that especially stuck with me was the discussion surrounding the 'artificial ceiling' placed on women. During the Purpose-Built: Facilities for Women's Sports panel, the speakers discussed how many spaces in sports were originally designed without women in mind, and how women are often forced to adapt, to make do and just to accept their environments that were simply never built for them. And how that is limiting to possible potential. And what stood out to me was how simple some of the solutions sounded, yet how difficult they have been to achieve. It made me realize how women's needs, ideas and innovations are often overlooked simply because those spaces were not originally created with them in mind. Another aspect of the summit that really impacted me was the raw authenticity of the conversations. Many of the speakers openly discussed topics and stories that may make others uncomfortable, especially conversations that women have often been expected to stay quiet about, but so real to us women. It did not feel performative or like a public relations event meant for validation. Instead, it felt genuine, honest and community driven. The environment allowed women to speak freely about their experiences while also creating a space where others could relate, grow and feel empowered."
GRACE HAGEMASTER
"The espnW Summit was an incredible experience where I got to develop my networking and professional skills. The Summit allowed me to connect and learn from women leaders in the sports and entertainment industry and learn about their careers and experiences. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to learn from women in places of power and see them in action."
REILLY McGLINN
"The espnW Summit was an incredible experience and one that gave me a lot of insight into the future of women's sports, especially from the business and financial side of the industry. One of the biggest things I took away from the day was how much investment and strategic planning is going into the continued growth of women's sports. I really enjoyed the panel discussing purpose-built facilities for women's sports because it showed how organizations are thinking long-term about infrastructure, media growth and creating sustainable opportunities for female athletes. I also really enjoyed hearing Breanna Stewart discuss her role as Vice President of the WNBAPA. Hearing her speak about leadership, player advocacy and the financial future of a professional league was extremely impactful. Another thing I will take moving forward was hearing from so many female executives and aspiring women working at ESPN and throughout the sports industry. Their experiences and advice reinforced the importance of networking, building relationships and staying open to different career opportunities within sports and business. Overall, the Summit was a very motivating experience, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend and learn from so many accomplished professionals."
MADILYN VARNUM
"I think that my biggest takeaway from attending the espnW Summit was realizing how dramatically the women's sports industry is growing, particularly at a professional level. Getting to hear from and networking with so many professionals opened my eyes to the vast opportunities that working in and around women's sports have to offer, and how those opportunities have shifted into roles that offer a truly sustainable career path. I loved being in a space that was oriented towards women, and the truly welcoming and uplifting environment that was created was really special to see. I was able to make some very valuable connections, and I am actually setting up a couple of calls over the next few weeks. Attending the Summit has made me very interested in exploring ways that I could potentially pursue a career within women's sports, as it has always been something I've been very passionate about but was never sure whether that would be a career possibility for me in any capacity."
With a mission to support Rutgers student-athletes with hands-on learning experiences, Scarlet Knights For Life continues to provide unique learning opportunities that lead to success.
It was a day of conversation and inspiration, all focused on driving change and impact in the women and sports space. They brought together thought-leaders, professional athletes and agents of change across sports and entertainment for an experience that left attendees inspired and ready to take action.
Judy Amano (women's golf), Charlee Crawford (women's track & field), Fallon DeWitt (women's rowing), Tara Garvey (women's volleyball), Grace Hagemaster (women's swimming & diving), Reilly McGlinn (women's soccer), Madilyn Varnum (women's swimming & diving) represented Rutgers and offered reflections following a busy day of networking, panels and more.
JUDY AMANO
"It was a very special event, and honestly, one I will talk about for ages. Getting to ESPN is one of my dream career paths right now, so being in a room with people who are living that dream was truly incredible. What made it even better was how approachable everyone was. There was no barrier between 'me' and 'them.' Everyone was there to connect, which made it easy for me to introduce myself, share my story as a student-athlete and ask about their jobs. I got to ask about the behind-the-scenes reality of their roles and whether that path is truly what I'm looking for. It was also meaningful to be a student-athlete at this event. That part of my identity feels unique in this field, and we even got a shoutout during the panel. I also loved meeting so many successful women across the industry, from Olympic gold medalists to the people working in locker rooms and behind the broadcast. It reminded me that there are so many ways to contribute to sports media, and every single one of them matters. Moving forward, I am taking with me the confidence to approach anyone in this industry. This event showed me that the people I admire on TV are just as eager to talk, listen and help as I am to learn."
CHARLEE CRAWFORD
"This summit taught me a lot about women's sports and what is happening in that industry right now. It was so inspiring hearing stories from world-class athletes and women who are passionate about their careers in the sports industry. The most interesting panel to me was the one hosted by Michelle Beisner-Buck that featured sports broadcasters/analysts. Connecting with these women allowed me to gain further insight into the industry and was a great opportunity to network and put myself out there. Overall, the entire experience made me more excited and confident about my future as a sports broadcaster."
FALLON DeWITT
"The espnW Summit was an amazing experience that allowed me to learn and make connections specifically with people who are already in the industry I want to work in. I always consider it rare to be in a place where everyone has the same enthusiasm and passion about a certain topic, and this summit was one of those places. I walked away feeling energized and excited as well as knowing that this is truly the career path I want to pursue."
TARA GARVEY
"The espnW Summit was an incredibly empowering experience, and I am grateful to the able to attend through Rutgers Athletics. Being surrounded by so many successful women in sports, media, business and leadership was both inspiring and motivating. Throughout the day, I found myself reflecting on not only the conversations being had, but also the importance of creating spaces where women are truly seen, heard and considered, and truly feeling like a part of me was heard. One idea that especially stuck with me was the discussion surrounding the 'artificial ceiling' placed on women. During the Purpose-Built: Facilities for Women's Sports panel, the speakers discussed how many spaces in sports were originally designed without women in mind, and how women are often forced to adapt, to make do and just to accept their environments that were simply never built for them. And how that is limiting to possible potential. And what stood out to me was how simple some of the solutions sounded, yet how difficult they have been to achieve. It made me realize how women's needs, ideas and innovations are often overlooked simply because those spaces were not originally created with them in mind. Another aspect of the summit that really impacted me was the raw authenticity of the conversations. Many of the speakers openly discussed topics and stories that may make others uncomfortable, especially conversations that women have often been expected to stay quiet about, but so real to us women. It did not feel performative or like a public relations event meant for validation. Instead, it felt genuine, honest and community driven. The environment allowed women to speak freely about their experiences while also creating a space where others could relate, grow and feel empowered."
GRACE HAGEMASTER
"The espnW Summit was an incredible experience where I got to develop my networking and professional skills. The Summit allowed me to connect and learn from women leaders in the sports and entertainment industry and learn about their careers and experiences. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to learn from women in places of power and see them in action."
REILLY McGLINN
"The espnW Summit was an incredible experience and one that gave me a lot of insight into the future of women's sports, especially from the business and financial side of the industry. One of the biggest things I took away from the day was how much investment and strategic planning is going into the continued growth of women's sports. I really enjoyed the panel discussing purpose-built facilities for women's sports because it showed how organizations are thinking long-term about infrastructure, media growth and creating sustainable opportunities for female athletes. I also really enjoyed hearing Breanna Stewart discuss her role as Vice President of the WNBAPA. Hearing her speak about leadership, player advocacy and the financial future of a professional league was extremely impactful. Another thing I will take moving forward was hearing from so many female executives and aspiring women working at ESPN and throughout the sports industry. Their experiences and advice reinforced the importance of networking, building relationships and staying open to different career opportunities within sports and business. Overall, the Summit was a very motivating experience, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend and learn from so many accomplished professionals."
MADILYN VARNUM
"I think that my biggest takeaway from attending the espnW Summit was realizing how dramatically the women's sports industry is growing, particularly at a professional level. Getting to hear from and networking with so many professionals opened my eyes to the vast opportunities that working in and around women's sports have to offer, and how those opportunities have shifted into roles that offer a truly sustainable career path. I loved being in a space that was oriented towards women, and the truly welcoming and uplifting environment that was created was really special to see. I was able to make some very valuable connections, and I am actually setting up a couple of calls over the next few weeks. Attending the Summit has made me very interested in exploring ways that I could potentially pursue a career within women's sports, as it has always been something I've been very passionate about but was never sure whether that would be a career possibility for me in any capacity."
With a mission to support Rutgers student-athletes with hands-on learning experiences, Scarlet Knights For Life continues to provide unique learning opportunities that lead to success.
Wednesday, May 27
Thursday, May 21
Wednesday, May 20
Saturday, May 16
