Images of Us Sports
Providing a Unique, Educational, Cultural & Athletic Experience for Girls and Women.
Blog/News Article
(October 4, 2005)
by Bernell Hooker
Margaret will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the WNBA’s Chicago expansion team, The Chicago Sky. She brings to this role 21 years of extensive leadership experience in business development, operations, management and marketing for high-profile brands and business units of Fortune 500 companies.
Age:
48
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky expansion team.
Previous Job:
Led two $500MM business units for PepsiCo as President of Juice Drinks (Tropicana shelf-stable) and President of Ready-to- Eat Cereals (including LIFE, Cap’n Crunch, and Quaker Oats Squares brand).
First Job:
Norfolk Academy College Preparatory School in Virginia, as a Physical Education Teacher and Head Coach for two varsity teams, Basketball and Lacrosse at age 22.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Richmond and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Virginia.
Resides:
Chicago, Illinois
Grew up:
Alexandria, Virginia
Person most admired:
My Mom
Favorite movie:
I don’t have many favorites but I recently saw Two Brothers and Something’s Got to Give
Favorite musician:
I’m a big fan of Carole King
Favorite book:
Life of Pi
I left Milwaukee on an hour and a half road trip to Chicago to interview Margaret Stender, the woman behind the WNBA Chicago Sky expansion team. IOU Sports want its readers to understand what goes on behind the scenes of sports and understand the business of sports. We believe young girls as well as women should grasp the business of sports and look to these women as role models. Our goal is to give you insight on different careers in sports as a player, coach, athletic trainer, agent, and yes, a President and CEO of a WNBA team.
To do this, we talk to women who are in the business of sports and hope that our web community follow what they are doing and accomplishing in the various careers that they’ve chosen, that’s chose them or who’ve just been blessed to be at the right place at the right time. (Sounds familiar?)
Margaret will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the WNBA’s Chicago expansion team, The Chicago Sky. She brings to this role 21 years of extensive leadership experience in business development, operations, management and marketing for high-profile brands and business units of Fortune 500 companies.
In addition to her corporate experience, from 1974-1978 Margaret was a Division I collegiate basketball player at the University of Richmond, where she was elected co-captain for three-years and was a part of HERSTORY…here’s how!
- President Richard Nixon signs Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972, stating that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal assistance."
- March 19, 1972 The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) holds its first women's collegiate basketball championship.
- 1973 First year of scholarships for women in The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).
- Sign of Times… in 1974, Margaret was awarded a $mall amount toward her last two years of play at Richmond as a sign/symbol of progress; not so much as a recruiting vehicle because she was already very invested in the school. In 1976, University of Richmond began athletic scholarships for women.
- The AIAW ceased operations in June 1982 and the NCAA took over this function from the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).
I had to throw that in there. You see, Margaret has seen women’s sports at its peak and then, not see it at all. She lost touch of the game. It wasn’t visible.
Margaret needed a change. She left the high profile Presidency of a major fortune 500 company to follow her educator’s roots of giving back. She wanted to work with children and women, but didn’t know in what capacity. Margaret even thought about being the head of a school; she wanted to learn the city and get involved in education. She wanted to be grounded in Chicago.
Michael Alter, Chairman and Principal Owner of the Chicago Sky (not knowing Margaret or her ties with Quaker Oats /Gatorade) questioned a former colleague of hers about filling the position of President and CEO of the team. That former colleague stated they knew the right person and…the rest is HERSTORY!
What is your biggest challenge as President and CEO of the Chicago Sky?
Keeping the management team focused and keeping things simple. We have a zillion things to do from ordering uniforms, finding housing for the players, what type of entertainment we’re going to have, finding an announcer, selling tickets, developing marketing partnerships and figuring out what the mascot is going to be (lol). Looking in from the outside, you wouldn’t think about those things, but I have to prioritize on what has to get done from the very strategic and important to the smallest detail. I can’t do it by myself; it takes a great team to make things happen, big or small and the Chicago Sky has great people in place.
What’s the biggest career risk you’ve taken?
Going to Business School; it was out of my comfort zone. It’s not that it was more of a risk but I didn’t know where it was going to lead me; it was very foreign to me – uncharted territory!
What’s the first word that comes to mind to the following?
Share - Giving
Educate - Empower
Empower - Accomplishment
What advise would you give women wanting to get into this industry?
Develop your skills and think about how it applies to this industry. What do you uniquely bring to the table and what differentiate you from others. I get many emails from people wanting to work for the Chicago Sky. They say how excited they are about the league and how they love the game. I love their passion and I’m happy that they send me their information; however, this is a business. Do you have the skills, knowledge, and requirements as a coach, trainer, operations manager, etc? I want to know why I should hire you.
Get ready to soar with the Sky.
Led by General Manager and Head Coach Dave Cowens, the Sky is eager to show their high-energy spirit and commitment to Chicago. The team's inaugural season starts in May 2006.
As the most recent addition to this exciting professional sports league, the Sky is dedicated to building a true team, one united in both purpose and spirit. On the Court, the sky will inspire all with sound fundamental skills and innovative play, making it fun for every basketball fan to enjoy.
Off the court, as professional athletes, the Chicago Sky will undoubtedly seem bigger than life. Yet with an open and approachable style, the Sky will seek to connect with fans throughout Chicago and beyond.
The Sky will begin play with the 2006 season at the UIC Pavilion, located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. The team will be the league's 14th franchise and will play in the Eastern Conference. Season tickets for the Sky's inaugural season are on sale at 877-329-WNBA (9622).
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