Diane Crossey Becomes Mentor for Women in Sports and Events (WISE)

Diane Crossey, professor of Sport Management at Rice University, has joined forces with the

Women in Sports and Events (WISE) chapter in Houston as a mentor to young women looking to join the sport and event management industry. Crossey will be one of the professional members of the Mentoring Committee within the organization, providing mentoring opportunities between various female members of the industry.

“When I began my career at the Boston Garden in 1995, there were no local organizations like WISE in Boston,” Crossey said. “Unfortunately, many of my co-workers and friends in the industry sometimes struggled to fit in to the traditionally male culture. I will be working on the Mentoring Committee to match up women who are new to the industry with executives currently working in the industry. We will coordinate events and functions to discuss mentoring and then ensure that the mentoring relationships are progressing and working for both parties.”

Founded in 1993, WISE build a foundation on the mission to create and support programs that enhance the success and growth of women in business of sports and events. While the sport industry is very wide and diverse, WISE looks to connect women within the industry, as well as mentor young women who are just starting out, or look to join the sports industry.

“Quite often, what sets a candidate apart from others is the network she has and the number of people who are willing to recommend her,” Crossey said. “Being a part of an organization like WISE gives a young woman the contacts she needs and gives her more credibility within the industry. This is a very large industry but also a very close-knit industry, and it is more important than ever to develop a network within it. The relationships you have can be the difference between getting an interview or being put back onto a very large stack of resumes.”

Being involved with WISE can greatly benefit females entering the workforce. There are educational opportunities throughout the year with speakers and industry leaders that will address topics like, how to network in a business setting when you are the only woman in the room, how to negotiate a salary, etc.

The Women in Sports and Events organization is constantly looking to improve opportunities to women within the sport industry. Through the influence of WISE, Roger Goodell recommended that NFL teams expand the “Rooney Rule” to include women in consideration for senior management positions as well as minority candidates.

Ty Carter, a junior from Houston, Texas, is majoring in Sport Management, and minoring in Business. Cole Hunt, a junior from El Campo, Texas, is majoring in Sport Management