The 2025 Take the Lead Career Summit at Fenway Park took place on September 22, 2025, in the iconic 521 Overlook Room. The event brought together industry leaders and aspiring professionals for an evening of career insight, networking, and growth-focused dialogue. This year’s summit continued its tradition of fostering meaningful conversations around diversity and inclusion in the sports industry, with a particular emphasis on empowering students from diverse backgrounds as they pursue careers in sports and entertainment.

‍The Summit Experience
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‍The evening kicked off with a welcome from Bekah Salwasser, Executive Director of the Red Sox Foundation and Executive Vice President of Social Impact for the Boston Red Sox, who underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in building more inclusive workplaces. Following her remarks, Josh Davidson, the 2024–25 Take the Lead Fellow and event organizer, introduced the theme of this year’s summit, Growth Through Access, emphasizing the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity presented. He then introduced the front office panel featuring leaders from New England’s professional sports teams.

‍Front Office Panel Discussion
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‍The first major session featured a Front Office Panel Discussion, moderated by Josh Davidson, which included a dynamic group of leaders:
‍Kate Hynes – Fan Engagement Coordinator, Kraft Sports & Entertainment
Eileen O'Malley – Marketing Director, Boston Common Golf
Audrey McMillan – Marketing Coordinator, Boston Bruins
Daveson Perez – Manager of Baseball Communications & Media Relations, Boston Red Sox
Kirby Fenton – Account Executive, Boston Legacy FC
Faith Worrell – Manager of Media & Community Relations, Boston Fleet

Panelists reflected on their individual career paths and offered meaningful guidance on breaking into and thriving within the sports industry. The conversation explored the impact of mentorship, strategies for fostering inclusive work environments, and the evolving approach to innovative initiatives across sports organizations. Attendees also gained practical insight into leveraging networking opportunities, building cross-departmental relationships, and navigating the challenges of promoting inclusivity.

‍Fireside Chat, Networking, & More
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The highlight of the evening was an inspiring fireside chat with Jennifer Todd, Senior Vice President of Partner Strategy, Development, Events, and Youth Basketball for the Celtics, and Kash Cannon, Senior Director of Community Programs for the Celtics. The session was moderated by Marcell Bhangoo, Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Alumni Relations for the Red Sox. The discussion explored their career journeys and paths to becoming leaders and changemakers within this iconic organization. Both speakers highlighted the challenges and triumphs they experienced along the way, particularly as women of color, emphasizing the importance of fostering inclusive spaces and the role sports can play as a platform for social change. Their personal stories and professional insights resonated with the audience, leaving attendees with a strong sense of purpose and intention.

‍Conclusion

Following the inspiring fireside chat, Josh initiated an open networking session that encouraged attendees to recognize the importance of building connections not only with executive leaders but also with their peers. To incentivize participation, Josh introduced a pin collection system in which participants received a Red Sox pin for networking, along with an entry into a raffle. Raffle prizes included a Drake Maye–signed football, a Ceddanne Rafaela–signed jersey, and a Celtics team–signed basketball, among others. The evening also featured opportunities for professional headshots and trophy photos, creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere for students and professionals to mingle, share experiences, and form meaningful connections.

The 2025 Take the Lead Career Summit was a resounding success, offering attendees actionable insights, valuable networking opportunities, and an inspiring look at the future of diversity in sports. As the event concluded, participants left with renewed motivation to pursue their passions and play an active role in fostering a welcoming environment within the sports industry.