Wednesday, February 5th is the 34th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, dedicated to honoring the achievements of women in sports, and the Blue Wahoos are celebrating being led by a front office in which women are well-represented.
Both the Vice President of Operations and the Chief Financial Officer, two of the most influential voices in the organization, are women. In total, five departments are headed by women. Two – both Finance and Human Resources – are staffed entirely by women.
“My priority is promoting good people. My intention isn’t to promote or hire men or women specifically,” Wahoos’ CFO Amber McClure shared on her all-female department.
In recent years, Minor League Baseball has focused efforts on encouraging teams to increase gender diversity in hiring. The Women in Baseball Leadership Committee was founded in 2008 and numerous programs emphasizing professional development and mentorship have grown out of their efforts. Among these programs is the Women in Baseball LIFT (Leaders Inspiring Future Talent) Mentorship Program, which pairs women new to the industry with mentors with years of experience in Minor League Baseball. Two women with the Wahoos are honored to be LIFT mentors: Merchandise manager Anna Striano and Vice President of Operations Donna Kirby.
“This is my fifth year in Minor League Baseball, and I would say it’s just an inspiring time to be a woman in sports,” Striano said. “I noticed a major increase in the number of women at the Winter Meetings in 2019 just compared to the year before.”
On her experience with the Wahoos, she added, “Just about every woman in the front office has been recognized for their contributions to the organization. We feel like our work is actually being valued, and that’s empowering.”
One of the younger front office leaders is group sales manager Bailie Tate.
“There are so many women in management positions here that it feels like we’ve at least achieved equality within the organization,” said Tate, who began her career with the Wahoos as an intern in 2017 and has earned multiple promotions to now lead the department. “Every year I’ve worked here I’ve been promoted, and I’ve never felt like the standard was different for me.”
Throughout the day on Wednesday, the Wahoos will be honoring these women and others whose strengths and diverse perspectives make the organization successful. You can follow along and get to know these valued team members on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.