This session dives into the remarkable stories of women working at the intersection of sports and technology. We’ll be joined by special guest Marilou McFarlane from Women in Sports Technology (WiST) to learn from the insights of leading industry experts shaping the future of the world of sports. Participants will gain valuable knowledge and hear the experiences, challenges, and successes of women navigating the evolving landscape of sports technology.
Meet our special guest: Marilou McFarlane
With 15+ years in the sports tech industry, Marilou McFarlane is a visionary startup leader and social entrepreneur, specializing in building expansive growth, building high performance teams and driving impact. She has led the work that is changing the sports tech industry by working with iconic brands and businesses and startups alike. With the experience of leading numerous venture-backed startups to success, she is a passionate advocate, advisor and mentor to sports tech leaders, founders and women eager to enter the industry.
Marilou is the CEO + founder of Women in Sports Tech (WiST), a non-profit organization offering proven strategies and programs for businesses in the $42B sports tech industry to diversify talent pipelines and create more inclusive cultures. WiST provides tangible value for employers and women, from the classroom to the board room. To date, WiST has provided over 100 summer internship experiences to college, grad and PhD students through their flagship WiST Fellowship program, and built an active community of over 100,000 executives and students in the exploding sports tech industry. WiST works with more than 30 corporate partners, including Nike, GameChanger, the NBA, IBM Sports, Stats Perform, Comcast NBCU, Hoka, Catapult and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
A former University of North Carolina Division 1 cross-country athlete and a 3:06 marathon runner, she is the proud mother of two daughters who were UNC soccer team captains and played professionally in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and in Europe. She lives with her husband and dog, Pearl, in Mill Valley, California.
Meet the panelists:
Kalia Hogg is a former collegiate, professional, and Australian youth soccer player who is now pursuing a career in AI engineering. A recipient of the 2022 Fulbright Futures Scholarship, she is currently undertaking her Master of Computer Science in Artificial Intelligence at Duke University. This summer, she was awarded a Women in Sports Tech fellowship and joined the team at IBM Sports & Entertainment to develop the first ever AI Commentary model for tennis, launched for Wimbledon 2023. Kahlia is particularly passionate about the nexus of Sports Tech and AI-driven social impact, and aspires to engineer AI solutions that drive growth and innovation in women’s sports and sustainable sports tech.
Olivia Proctor grew up in St. Louis, Mo., before attending Harvard College (‘23), where she graduated cum laude with honors in Social Studies. Her senior honors thesis was, “Knocking on Death’s Door: Social Impacts of Fatal No-Knock Warrants on Targeted Families in St. Louis,” in which she shared the stories of two families that were impacted by fatal no-knock raids. She also wrote for the Undergraduate Law Review and was a four-year member of the Varsity Women’s Lacrosse team. Being a lifelong athlete, working in the sports industry was an extremely exciting avenue for her first job. After participating in the Women in Sports Tech Fellowship and working with Next League her junior year summer, Olivia accepted a full-time position with the company upon graduation. Olivia is currently working from New York City as a Strategy Analyst with Next League and assists clients on developing business strategies for their digital properties.
Meet our Moderator: Terina-Jasmine (TJ) Alladin
Terina-Jasmine (TJ) Alladin has been a Consultant with NCWIT for over 7 years. In 2022, she wanted to break into the sports industry and obtained an MBA in Sports Management from Universidad Europea in Madrid. There, she had the opportunity to work with Real Madrid FC on digital transformation and fan engagement projects. From there, TJ spent one year working with the Business Development and Marketing Partnerships Team at NBA Africa’s Basketball Africa League in Senegal, where she managed partner accounts and supported new business. TJ leverages her skills in data science and research to support sports businesses.
About Women in Sports Tech (WiST)
WiST is a nonprofit organization that empowers transformative growth opportunities for women and employers, from the classroom to the boardroom at the intersection of sports, technology and innovation. Learn more and get involved online: womeninsportstech.org/get-involved
About the new CS+ webinar series
Computing + Passion = Careers of the Future
Join us for an inspiring web series that explores the exciting fusion of computer science and other areas of interest (CS+). Hear students, educators, researchers, and professionals talk about their work in areas such as art, music, medicine, and other fields and how computer science is embedded in what they do.
Whether you’re a current student curious about future possibilities, a recent graduate seeking career inspiration, or an aspiring professional looking for guidance, these webinars are designed to empower you with knowledge, guidance, and a sense of belonging in these innovative fields.