Breaking Barriers

<p>Why book Sarah Thomas?</p><p>Sarah Thomas knows what it takes to break barriers, challenge expectations, and succeed when the pressure is on. As an active NFL official entering the 2026 season, she brings audiences inside her groundbreaking career with a rare, current perspective on performing at the highest level when every decision counts.</p><p>An engaging storyteller with a natural sense of humor, Sarah brings her experiences to life with candid behind-the-scenes stories from football’s biggest stages.

<p>Maria Contreras-Sweet is an expert in economic growth, job creation, corporate governance (ESG) and competitiveness.</p><p>Internationally acclaimed for her insights on growth, innovation, and corporate governance, or Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), Contreras-Sweet serves on multiple boards of directors, including infrastructure firm Sempra Energy, TriNet, Regional Management Corp., and Zions Bancorporation.

<p>Becky Hammon reflects on her inspiring journey to deliver perspective on effective teambuilding, nurturing a ‘can-do’ attitude, and the power of strong support systems as the foundations of organizational and team success. </p><p>After an outstanding college and professional basketball career, including two Olympic appearances, Becky made history in 2014 when she became the first woman to coach full-time in the NBA when the San Antonio Spurs brought her into a leadership role as an assistant coach.

<p>History-making NASA astronaut and the extraordinary subject of the feature documentary, <em>Spacewoman</em>, Eileen Collins reveals encouraging perspective and insight on the leadership skills needed to break barriers and become a successful pioneer in your field.</p><p>One of America’s most admired women, Col. Collins became the first female to pilot a U.S. spacecraft with the Discovery shuttle flight in 1995, and the first female commander on the 1999 Columbia shuttle flight. In 2005, NASA tapped Col.

<p>Hailed as the “female Jerry Maguire” by CNN, Molly Fletcher rose to become one of the first female sports agents in a highly competitive industry. </p><p>During her nearly two-decade career, she represented more than 300 of sports' biggest names, including Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, PGA TOUR golfer Matt Kuchar, broadcaster Erin Andrews and championship-winning coaches Tom Izzo and Doc Rivers.</p><p>Today, Molly is one of the most booked female speakers in the world, helping leaders and organizations unlock sustainable high performance.

<p>Fearless leadership is the key to your team’s ability to reach peak performance – that’s the fundamental truth taught by Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot. Drawing from her experiences making naval aviation history in the high-pressure environment of a U.S.

<p>One of the best female goalkeepers of all time, Hall of Famer and ESPY Award-winner Briana Scurry shares stories from her trailblazing journey, empowering audiences to strive for excellence and stay resilient, no matter the obstacles.</p><p>Briana Scurry is widely recognized as one of the world’s most talented and influential goalkeepers. Scurry’s 173 international appearances as one of the first African American and openly gay professional athletes championed equality and diversified professional soccer.

<p>From the cockpit to the boardroom, Shannon Huffman Polson shares stories of grit and leadership to help others overcome fear, break through uncertainty, and reach their full potential.</p><p>Shannon is a woman of many firsts. Among those high points: She is one of the first women to fly Apache combat helicopters in the U.S.

<p>Ibtihaj Muhammad is an entrepreneur, activist, speaker and Olympic medalist in fencing. A 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 5-time Senior World medalist and World Champion, in 2016, Ibtihaj became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab. </p><p>Ibtihaj was a 3-time All American at Duke University where she graduated with a dual major in International Relations and African Studies.

<p>Dr. Jen Welter draws from her trailblazing journey to deliver memorable insight on the far-reaching benefits of being an authentic leader, focusing on one’s goals, and cultivating a champion’s mindset. </p>