You Get What You Give...WISE Words

To close out the National WISE/R Symposium on July 18th, our National President Kathleen Francis said, “You Get What You Give.”?These words left an impact on the crowd who invested in a day together ahead of the 2024 WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) All-Star Game in Phoenix at the second WISE — Women in Sports and Events Symposium-West hosted and sponsored by the Phoenix Mercury , WISE Arizona and the Warehouse215 team.

It was an invigorating and inspirational day as WISE members from all over the country convened in Phoenix to network, listen, and learn how to advance career and personal lives thanks to the top experts who engaged with our WISE members.? The sessions we participated in include the following:

• Executive Presence: The Physical Art of Great Communication presented by Chiara Motley of GK Training
• Finding Simplicity in a Sea of Data by Shelley Pisarra of Wasserman
• Making Your Plan to Thrive by Sharon Malone MD of Alloy Health and Caroline Clarke
• Speaking Up for Success by Lisa Dicker of Triad Consulting Group
• Summit with the WNBA Presidents hosted by ESPN 's Holly Rowe: Carley Knox of the Minnesota Lynx , Alycen McAuley of the Washington Mystics , and Alisha Valavanis of the Seattle Storm .

The highlights of the Symposium for me are as follows:

• Closing thoughts from the WNBA Presidents: Encouraging us to not waste time on anything we are not passionate about; always remember we are part of one big team and act in that mindset; that goals have to keep changing; always challenge yourself to be more competitive; be the pebble that creates the ripple; and plant the seed for others to grow.
• Speaking Up for Success: Power comes from influence. Frame your thinking about influence as an equation. Influence = persuasion/resistance.?Recognize and break down resistance from others in stages: does not meet my interest; do not feel heard; do not trust.

• Complimentary copy of Grown Woman Talk by Dr. Sharon Malone. Our health is priority #1.

• Executive Presence: Watching WISE Houston member La Kayla Hernandez volunteer to demonstrate techniques to improve the Physical Art of Great Communication with Legos in front of the entire ballroom with confidence and courage; and
• The Social Hour Hosted by WISE Arizona the night before the Symposium.

WISE creates a safe place for professional women in sports to share fears, successes, experiences, and challenges. For this, I am grateful that I was first introduced to the organization in DC in 1998 and had the honor to serve as the founding President of the Houston Chapter when we launched in 2016. WISE women inspire me daily-my mentors & mentees, Houston members, WISE Presidents from all 24 chapters, and our original founding members who met for lunch in NYC in 1993 and realized a shared vision that now continues to be our reality. The women who participated in the 2024 Symposium-West, both new and old WISE friends, reinforced all of the reasons why #WISEWorks.?

In closing, I leave you with this challenging thought from Chiara Motley of GK Training: “What is keeping you safe is putting you in danger.”? Take a new risk in life or in business and know that your WISE network has your back always!

?Check out the Video Highlight from WISE — Women in Sports and Events

#WISEWorks #GetWISER2024 #WISEMove

-Carrie Potter, WISE Houston Founding President & Current Board Member/Treasurer