Early bird discount available now – save $50
Discounted community tickets available for educators, coaches, and youth development professionals
What if our children could see that true excellence and unimaginable results come from a fierce shared commitment to inclusion and belonging?
At a time when young people are told they must compete, and protect their success at all costs, Girls Leadership is lifting up a different story: when we build together, support one another, and lead with inclusion, we don’t just win — we create what hasn’t existed before.
On May 4, we will honor three extraordinary leaders behind the historic success of the Golden State Valkyries:
Together, they will share how they built a winning team culture rooted in collaboration, courage, and social impact — and introduce us to the people who first encouraged them to step into the power of their voice.
This will be a celebration for all ages filled with music, play, and community — an experience where guests can feel what becomes possible when we show up in our authentic truth.
Monday, May 4, 2026
6:00–9:00 PM
Bloc15
252 2nd St, Oakland
Attire: Festive, Playful & Fun
Youth are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Interested in becoming an event sponsor? Find more details here or email frances@girlsleadership.org
MC
Meena Harris
Founder & CEO, Phenomenal Media; FIlm and Theater Producer
ENTERTAINMENT
DJ Trixamillion
SPONSORS
Power
Courage
EVENT COMMITTEE
Amira Dallafior
David Schleifer-Lee
Sheela Krothapalli
Tanya Mayo
Devon McAllister Rothwell
Pauny Rezai
MEET OUR HONOREES
Ohemaa Nyanin
Ohemaa Nyanin began her first season as General Manager of the Golden State Valkyries ahead of the team’s inaugural 2025 campaign Nyanin, who has over 11 years of experience in professional sports, oversees all Valkyries basketball operations and reports to Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO, Joe Lacob.
In Golden State’s inaugural year, the Valkyries tallied 23 regular season wins, a WNBA single-season record by an expansion team, and also became the first-ever expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. The historic first season also featured many awards, with head coach Natalie Nakase being named the 2025 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year, the Associated Press Coach of the Year, and the league’s Coach of the Month in June. Guard Veronica Burton earned 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player honors, forward Kayla Thornton was selected as a WNBA All-Star, and forward Janelle Salaün was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Nyanin joined the Valkyries from the New York Liberty, where she spent five years in a variety of capacities, most recently as the team’s assistant general manager. As assistant general manager, Nyanin served as the primary liaison between the basketball and business operations teams, assisting with the free agency, trade, salary cap management, and extension of the roster. Her previous roles with the Liberty include director of basketball operations (2020-22) and manager of basketball operations (2019-20). During her five seasons with the Liberty, the team notched three WNBA Playoffs appearances, including a trip to the 2023 WNBA Finals as the second-overall seed.
Since 2016, Nyanin has served as FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier Technical Delegate and Manager. Throughout her tenure, she’s held numerous roles, including the event lead of the 2024 Women’s Pre- Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Brazil, Co-Technical Commissioner of the 2022 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and the Official FIBA Representative at FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifier Games around the world.
Prior to her time with the Liberty, Nyanin spent five years as USA Basketball’s assistant director of the women’s national team where she led youth national teams to international competitions, managing delegation logistics and serving as a translator in Spanish-speaking countries.
Born in Maryland to parents from Ghana, Ghanaian American Nyanin grew up spending time in five different countries: Philippines, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Chile and the United States. She graduated from American University with a Master of Science in justice and public policy in 2011, after earning her Bachelor of Arts in international relations and foreign language and communications in 2009. She competed for American University’s women’s basketball team during her time on campus.
Jess Smith
Jess Smith began her first season as President of the Golden State Valkyries ahead of the team’s inaugural 2025 season. Smith, who has over 18 years of experience in professional sports, oversees all WNBA business operations and reports directly to Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer, Brandon Schneider.
Under Smith’s leadership, the Valkyries have built a winning culture on and off the court. During their inaugural season, the Valkyries set all-time WNBA records for both average attendance (18,064) and total attendance (397,408), selling out all 22 regular-season home games. Golden State set the record for most wins by a first-year WNBA expansion team (23), and became the first expansion franchise to reach the WNBA postseason during its inaugural season.
Smith also helped build out a robust roster of founding partners, including CarMax, JP Morgan Chase, Kaiser Permanente, OLLY, PG&E, Sephora, United Airlines and Waymo. Smith also oversaw the team’s local broadcast partnership with CBS Bay Area, which introduced creative programming and community engagement activations that gave fans unprecedented access throughout the season. The partnership extended the Valkyries’ reach to more than four million fans across Northern California.
Following the Valkyries’ inaugural season, Smith was honored with the WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award for her exceptional leadership in driving meaningful business transformation.
Smith joined the Valkyries from Angel City Football Club, where she served as Head of Revenue from 2020-24. In that role, she oversaw partnerships, ticketing, commerce, operations, data and analytics, broadcast and strategic alliances. Smith, who has a passion for creating revenue streams with intent, revolutionized the sports industry partnership approach with Angel City’s model, where 10% of sponsorship revenues are invested into local community initiatives focusing on equity, essentials, and education. Smith was responsible for launching the ‘Fan Fueled Player Fund,’ where players receive 1% of net ticketing proceeds for advertising ticket sales with their names and likeness. Under her leadership, Angel City renewed over 90% of the team’s season ticket members heading into the 2024 NWSL season.
Prior to her time at Angel City, Smith served as Vice President, Sponsorship at the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) from 2017-20, where she secured the largest academy-specific jersey partnership in MLS history. Before joining the Earthquakes, Smith worked for the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) from 2015-16. Smith also spent time working for the Oakland Athletics (MLB) from 2008-15 in roles within ticketing and sponsorship.
Smith was named to the 2023 Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list and the 2023 Leaders in Sport Under 40 class. In addition in 2024 she was named a Sports Business Journal Power Player in Women’s Sports for her outstanding contributions to the game and beyond and was recognized as SBJ’s Best Hire of the Year. Smith holds her B.A. in Journalism from State University of New York and received her M.S.A. from Ohio University. She and her husband Scott are proud parents to two young daughters, Kipton and Vaughn.
Yvette Radford
As the Regional Vice President for External and Community Affairs at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, Yvette is accountable for the organization’s Community Relations Program, Regional Government Relations, and $1.78 billion Community Benefit/Community Health portfolio.
In this capacity, Yvette’ leads Kaiser Permanente’s community-based efforts to address health inequities by improving the conditions of health in underserved communities. This includes addressing some of the most pressing needs facing Northern California communities including: COVID-19 response and recovery, the affordable housing and homelessness crisis, health and behavioral health care access, building a diverse health care workforce, and expanding economic opportunity for all.
She also co-leads Kaiser Permanente’s national community health equity initiative to leverage the organization’s resources, partnerships, and influence to help end discriminatory institutional systems and public policies that perpetuate racial inequities. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Yvette spent many years working for the California State Legislature.
Yvette represents Kaiser Permanente on several boards and commissions. Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the California Volunteers Commission in 2014, where she was re-appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Yvette is also a member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Foundation, one of the country’s largest community foundations, and the Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat Learn Play Foundation. She also serves on the board of California Women Lead and is an advisory committee member on Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Gun Violence Research and Education.
MEET OUR MC
Meena Harris
Meena Harris is the founder & CEO of Phenomenal Media, the Tony Award®-winning content and entertainment company that elevates the stories of underrepresented women. Also a lawyer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of five children’s books, Meena is a respected industry leader and influential voice for women’s equity.
Meena is also a film and theatre producer. She co-produced the critically acclaimed Broadway shows John Proctor Is The Villain, Suffs, and A Strange Loop, which won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Musical. Meena is an executive producer for Tribeca Festival winner The Graduates and women’s sports documentary Maya and The Wave.
Meena’s legal expertise is in the areas of cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital consumer protection. She’s also held leadership positions in early-stage startups as an operator, advisor, and investor, including at top tech companies like Meta, Uber, and Slack.
Meena is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, and currently resides in the Bay Area with her husband and two daughters.
MEET OUR ENTERTAINMENT
DJ Trixamillion
Trixamillion is a local Bay Area-based DJ who has been working professionally for 7 years in the industry. She has been booked in numerous bars, clubs, and music venues in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose playing multi-genre parties and event themed parties geared towards R&B, Hip-hop, Hyphy, Afrobeats, Pop, Dance, House, and the rare remixes and edits. Staying loyal to her roots, she has even been booked for popular parties like Cuffin’ All Thangs R&B party, R&B and Ribs, and taking the festival stage at OutsideLands. Trixamillion upholds a professional and authentic standard of the art of turntablism.
