W.E. ARE NEXT
Fueling the Next Generation of
Women Executives in Sports
This Is More Than a Leadership Experience
IT’S A MOVEMENT
You’re not here to play small. You’re here to unlock your full potential, break down barriers, and lead boldly in the world of sports.
W.E. ARE NEXT is not just a cohort of future women executives—it’s a call to action. A collective of trailblazing women who know that leadership isn’t about fitting into old systems. It’s about building new ones. Together, we are rewriting HERstory with intention, courage, and clarity.
This is where confidence meets competence.
Where impact is measured not just by performance, but by presence.
Where iron sharpens iron—and bold ambition is both welcomed and celebrated.
We are here to redefine what’s possible.
To create community that fuels growth.
To transform the future of sports by investing in the women leading it—YOU.
This is your invitation to step into something bigger than a role or a title. This is your opportunity to maximize your own potential. This is your moment to rise—with purpose, power, and a sisterhood that has your back.
Let’s redefine what leadership looks like—together.
Applications close June 19
This Is W.E. ARE NEXT
More than an idea—it’s already in motion.
From the Women Inside It.
100 Women | 5 Years |
One Bold Legacy
We’re Building a Movement. Are YOU In?
W.E. ARE NEXT is fueling the rise of 100 Women Executives in sports by 2030. This isn’t just a target—it’s a pipeline for decades to come. We’re building a legacy that starts in Indianapolis and reverberates throughout the sports industry.
For over 40 years, Indy has been the city that crowns champions. Now, we’re shifting the spotlight to the women who lead those champions behind the scenes—the ones driving vision, building teams, shaping culture, and creating impact that lasts long after the final buzzer.
In partnership with Indiana Sports Corp’s bold 2050 vision, we’re investing in the women who make championships possible. This is more than a milestone—it’s a movement to fuel leadership in sports and spark the innovation needed to shape the next generation of champions.
Applications close June 19
What Powers This Experience
Grounded in Science. Designed for Impact.
Grounded in neuroscience, organizational and behavioral science—and strengthened by proven leadership frameworks—this experience equips you to lead meaningful change with clarity, confidence, and strategic strength.
Through applied learning, coaching, and facilitation, you’ll build the readiness to navigate real-world challenges and lead what’s next.
Your Ignition Starts in Indy
Where Champions are Crowned—and Created
Indianapolis has a legacy of sporting greatness. Now, we’re rewriting the playbook to champion the women shaping what’s next. Here, you’ll fuel your leadership in a city that believes in elevating bold vision and courageous voices. This is where legacy begins.
Inside the W.E. ARE NEXT Journey
Lead With Power, Purpose, and Clarity
W.E. ARE NEXT is a transformational leadership journey designed to unlock what’s already in you—and fuel what’s coming next. Together, we strengthen your foundation, amplify your influence, and equip you to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
The journey begins with you—and expands into how you lead with and through others.
Grounded in a proven leadership arc, this experience evolves with each cohort. We start by deepening how you lead yourself, then expand into how you lead others and navigate the systems around you.
Across eight immersive sessions, we move between the internal and interpersonal dimensions of leadership—creating space for deeper self-awareness, stronger relationships, and meaningful impact.
While each cohort helps shape the journey based on the challenges, opportunities, and ambitions in the room, the foundation remains clear: you first, then how you lead others and systems.
This is not a one-size-fits-all experience. It’s dynamic, high-impact, and designed to meet you where you are—while moving you forward with intention.
This is your space to think boldly, lead courageously, and grow beyond what you thought was possible.
The Experience Arc
Each session builds on the last—while remaining responsive to the needs of the cohort. Across eight sessions, you can expect to explore:
Leading Yourself
Deepening self-awareness, energy, and leadership presenceLeading Others
Strengthening influence, communication, and trustLeading Within Systems
Navigating organizations, relationships, and complexityLeading for Impact
Driving strategy, innovation, and measurable resultsIntegration + Application
Turning insight into action and sustaining growth
Session Dates & Key Moments
KICKOFF EXPERIENCE
Aug 19–20, 2025
Day 1: 1:00–5:00 PM + Cocktail Hour + Dinner | 5:00–8:00 PM
Day 2: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
MONTHLY SESSIONS
Sep 22, Oct 22, Nov 19, Dec 16, Jan 14, Feb 11
8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Includes a curated evening experience in September.
CLOSING + GRADUATION
Mar 11, 2026
8:00 AM–5:00 PM + Cocktail Hour + Dinner | 5:00–8:00 PM
Meet the Gladiators
Trailblazing Women Leading the Way—in Indiana and Beyond
The W.E. ARE NEXT experience is grounded in the real stories, wisdom, and lived leadership of women who’ve led at the highest levels of sports and business. We call them Gladiators—because they’ve stepped into the arena, stood in the fire, and lead from what they’ve earned.
Rooted in Indiana, these trailblazers are shaping what leadership looks like across the industry. Their insights anchor this journey—and their example fuels what’s possible for every woman who follows.
JoAn Scott
Vice President of Men’s Basketball,
NCAA
Julie Roe Lach
Immediate Past Chair of Indiana Sports Corp & Executive Vice President,
Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Mel Raines
Chief Executive Officer,
Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Jasmine Park
Vice President of People,
Culture & Inclusion,
Indianapolis Colts
Eve Keller
Owner,
The Sports Bra Indianapolis
Judith Thomas
President & CEO,
Indy Arts Council
Allison Melangton
Senior Vice President,
Penske Entertainment
The Investment
Fuel Leadership.
Amplify Impact.
This experience is an investment—it’s a catalyst. The investment in W.E. ARE NEXT is a commitment to accelerating leadership, expanding influence, and fueling legacy in sports for decades to come.
We’re bringing over $25,000 of high-impact value, from master-level coaching to immersive sessions designed for cross-industry access. That kind of ROI doesn’t just make business sense—it makes legacy sense.
Investment is supported through a combination of organizational sponsorship and individual commitment. Details will be shared during the application process.
If you’re exploring sponsorship or organizational support, we’d love to connect.
Are you ready to invest in your leadership—and become part of this legacy?
The investment for this experience is $5,000.
If you’re interested in a scholarship opportunity, please note that in your application.
Are you ready to invest in your leadership—and become part of this legacy?
What’s Included:
All leadership session experiences
All materials, resources, and assessments
Customized coaching
Dynamic facilitation
Kickoff and graduation celebrations
Connection to a lifetime leadership community
Note: Travel and lodging not included
A Leadership Legacy Starts Here
Want a closer look?
See what it means to step into W.E. ARE NEXT—and the impact you create.
Are You Next?
This is YOUR moment.
Ready to lead boldly, break barriers, and shape the future of sports leadership? Apply to join W.E. ARE NEXT Cohort 2.
A partnership to
UNLEASH YOUR IMPACT
We are committed to women leaders in sports.
We are committed to you. Period.
Because unlocking your wildest ambitions, dismantling boundaries, and rewriting the HERstory of sports is what this industry needs.
You are a difference-maker. And so are we. Together, we will change the game—for everyone.
We can’t wait for you to step into this bold movement—and into the collective shaping what’s next.
This is where you step into what’s next.
Applications close June 19
Founding Partners
Julie Roe Lach
Immediate Past Chair of Indiana Sports Corp & Executive Vice President,
Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Sarah Myer
Chief of Staff & Strategy, Indiana Sports Corp
JoAn Scott
Vice President of Men’s Basketball, NCAA
Melissa Thompson
President of WISE Indianapolis &
Vice President of Bids & External Affairs, Indiana Sports Corp
Sheri Fella
Founder & CEO
Bloombase
