MVP Sport Mentors at Morgan Stanley: Être's Post-Game Wrap-Up
One day before International Women's Day 2025, thirty-five girls ages eight to eighteen stormed the boardroom at Morgan Stanley HQ with their hands already raised. Knowing they were about to hear from women changing the game in sports, they were brimming with questions and geared up to talk about goals. All kinds.
L to R: Sandra L. Richardson, Carleigh Mahoney, Atoya Burleson, Pepper Persley
How did this event first come about?
One of Être's Board members, thirteen-year-old Pepper Persley, suggested a Women x Girls in Sports event to me at our last TED-Ed event in New York City. "We should," she said thoughtfully, "have a big event where girls could meet women in sports and ask questions in person." As Pepper is an accomplished sports broadcast journalist, having reported for ESPN, Major League Baseball (MLB), WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) and more even before she hit her teens, she was clearly the person to moderate such an event.
And with a deep bench of MVPs in their Sports & Entertainment group, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management was exactly the right arena. Articulated by the core values emblazoned on the wall as girls exited the elevator - Do the Right Thing, Put Clients First, Lead with Exceptional Ideas, Commit to Diversity and Inclusion, Give Back - Morgan Stanley has a clear interest in empowering the next generation...and it shows.
Click here for a video recap.
Whose voices were on the panels?
Caroline Gundeck introduced the day, noting the importance of Women's History Month and the leadership exemplified by the women at Morgan Stanley. Welcoming each of the girls and urging them to raise their hands as often as they liked, the first panel quickly took the stage.
Pepper Persley moderated the first panel, featuring Morgan Stanley's Global Head of Sports & Entertainment Sandra L. Richards, Morgan Stanley finance analyst and NCAA lacrosse all-star Carleigh Mahoney, and track and field collegiate Hall of Famer, entrepreneur and sports podcast host Atoya Burleson.
When Pepper headed back to school I moderated the second panel, spotlighting younger athletes with extraordinary mentor stories. Think seven-year-old soccer player Emma who has zoomed with her hero Trinity Rodman, eight-year-old swimmer Maddi whose Olympic moment with Katie Ledecky went viral, and eleven-year-old squash phenom Annabelle who speaks regularly with Olivia Weaver.
What other athletes got involved?
Unable to attend but offering hard-won wisdom and encouragement via video, athletes in the audience heard directly from role models like:
Abbey Willcox, Australian Olympic freestyle skier and World Cup medalist
Ashlynn Jolicoeur, eight-year-old Canadian baseball player with MLB eyes on her
Blake Bolden, American ice hockey player, NHL scout, and the first Black player in the NWHL
Jen Welter, the first female coach in the NFL, 2x Gold Team USA and entrepreneur
What did girls in attendance think?
One Club Être cohort from Union County, New Jersey reported: "This was an incredible opportunity to meet female athletes like ourselves, coming from all ages and sports. We loved talking and listening to all of the speakers, and being at Morgan Stanley was a dream come true!"
Another group of NYC girls added: "It was awesome to hear about women who work in sports even after they're done being athletes! So many executives played sports in high school and college - and now they do other amazing things...still on teams!"
What did the panelists think?
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management announced they were "proud to celebrate Women’s History Month at Morgan Stanley with events honoring the accomplishments of inspiring women around the globe...[when] Caroline Gundeck hosted a conversation last week focused on the careers, challenges, and triumphs of women athletes. We heard from young leaders Emma (7), Maddi (8) and Annabelle (11) from Être Girls and its founder Illana Raia, Head of Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment Sandra L. Richards and former collegiate athlete and entrepreneur Atoya Burleson, all interviewed by impressive young sports journalist Pepper Persley."
Caroline Gundeck echoed the firm's delight, noting that "[t]his event was about connection, learning and empowerment. Together, we bridged the worlds of sports and finance, reinforcing the values of perseverance, leadership and resilience. What an inspiring panel and meaningful collaboration to empower our next generation of women in finance."
Sandra L. Richards added more joy with this post: "On the eve of International Women’s Day, Morgan Stanley hosted Être Girls for a conversation about Women & Girls in Sports. Many thanks to Caroline Gundeck and Carleigh Mahoney for the invite to this amazing experience. Major kudos to Illana Raia and her team for their impactful mentorship programs and all they do to support girls across the country. Participating in a panel moderated by Pepper Persley with Atoya Burleson and Carleigh was so much fun! We shared insights and lessons learned on how our early sports experiences shaped us today. I was super impressed with the young girls in attendance. These rising stars are breaking barriers and leading the way. Their determination is truly inspiring!"
And Atoya Burleson exclaimed on Instagram: "What an incredible experience celebrating International Women’s Day yesterday with @etregirls and @morgan.stanley! I had the honor of being a panelist alongside @sandralrichards, @carleighmahoney, and the amazing moderator @pepperpersley. The questions from the young female athletes in the room were thought-provoking, and the conversation was so impactful! It was a pleasure to meet inspiring young athletes like @emma.plays.soccer, @maddi_swimsforcandy, and Annabelle amongst many others! To all the young women out there, keep asking questions, raising the bar, and pursuing your purpose! The future is bright with you leading the way!"
The future is indeed bright with firms like Morgan Stanley leaping at the opportunity to invite the next gen into conversations that matter. These are the firms girls gravitate towards, knowing on a deeper level that they belong in those seats. That they will be handed the mic when they raise their hands and invited up onto panels to raise their voices.
That mentors like these will raise, not lower, their standards.
With fields, pools, courts and rinks full of gratitude to the women at Morgan Stanley and the athletes who participated - you are truly MVP mentors and it means the world to girls.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three things not to miss as Être heads towards a game-changing spring: our newly-launched YouTube channel capturing mentor moments like these (subscribe to be featured as an epic mentor), our latest BFF partnership with Hello Sunshine and Être's 2025 TED-Ed series launching this week!
