The Vikings have been a major factor in the increasing number of women who are pursuing and thriving in football careers.
The Vikings sponsored the first-ever Women’s Football Operations Summit on Monday. Nearly forty women or non-binary people who are passionate about working on the football side of an NFL team and have an interest in the sports industry were virtually welcomed.
“To further diversify football roles in the NFL, the League and the clubs are aligned,” NFL Senior Director of Football Development Sam Rapoport told Vikings.com. “Rick Spielman and the Vikings have committed to hiring women in Football Operations positions for years.”
“The Vikings have taken a proactive approach to open the door a little wider for women who have a strong desire to work in football,” Rapoport said. “This summit, led by [Vikings Director of Inclusion and Employee Investment] Anne Doepner and [Vikings People & Culture Associate] Mallorie Sanders, undoubtedly made us better as a League.”
To kick off the ceremony, Doepner gave the group of women a warm welcome.
“I would like to extend a warm greeting to everyone present. We are really happy to have you here,” Doepner remarked. “Representation and communicating some possibilities to you all of what your future could hold is really important to us, and we want to play an active part in inspiring you.”
Andrew Miller, the Chief Operating Officer of the Vikings, and Spielman both delivered comments at the half-day conference.
“What a distinctive platform this is. You’re going to get an inside look into the Minnesota Vikings and what makes us so [unique] in addition to the NFL,” Spielman added, encouraging attendees to take notes and pose thoughtful questions all along the programme. “Very rarely do you get an opportunity to get this type of access to a lot of the people you’re going to have today – so make sure that you definitely take advantage of that.”
Spielman and Miller both mentioned how much of a focus the organisation had on culture.
“That is our first focus in football operations. The most important need for everyone we recruit or bring on as an associate is that they must align with our culture, according to Spielman. “I know myself and my staff will be able to educate them in the respective areas to get them up to the speed it takes to work at this level – as long as the people that we do bring in are self-starters – but you have to be a culture fit.”
Spielman gave the women in the group guidance on everything from networking and job experience to the value of editing resumes.
Three panels of panellists from the Vikings organisation also spoke to the participants. Gabe Henderson of Vikings Entertainment Network moderated the first and second sessions, while Tatum Everett of VEN moderated the third.
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