BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University is proud to announce its inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit on Friday, March 7. The summit, themed “Joining One Another on the Journey,” will bring together Canisius alumnae, students, faculty, staff and friends to celebrate women’s leadership while fostering personal and professional growth in the next generation of leaders. Headlining the Women’s Leadership Summit will be Keia Clarke ’03, chief executive officer of the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
“The timing of this inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit during Women’s History Month is both intentional and significant,” says Canisius Vice President for Advancement Dianna Civello. “It reflects Canisius University’s commitment to not only celebrate the leadership and achievements of women but actively build pathways for their future success through meaningful connections and collaborations.”
Keynote speaker Keia Clarke is a former Canisius women’s basketball player-turned-sports industry powerhouse who has risen to become one of professional basketball’s most influential executives. In a groundbreaking appointment as CEO of the New York Liberty in 2020, she made history as both the first CEO in the team’s 25-year history and the only Black CEO in the WNBA at the time.
In her role, Clarke oversees all business operations and strategic planning for one of the WNBA’s founding franchises. Under her leadership, the New York Liberty moved from a smaller venue in Westchester County to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, significantly expanding the team’s reach to attract a wider and more diverse audience from Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Clarke also secured a groundbreaking television partnership with the YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country. Both moves led to unprecedented growth in business operations and fan engagement for the New York Liberty.
Clarke’s innovative leadership has garnered numerous accolades including recognition on AdWeek’s Most Powerful Women in Sports list, Craine’s New York Business’ Notable Woman in the Business of Sports, and Sports Illustrated’ s Unrelenting list.
Clarke holds a marketing degree from Canisius University and a master’s degree in sports business from New York University. She is a 2022 graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
In addition to Clarke’s keynote address, a panel discussion titled “Junctures on the Journey” will examine the unique challenges and triumphs that women encounter throughout their careers and address how they can overcome obstacles while remaining resilient leaders. The summit will also feature breakout sessions fostering personal and professional growth through programming centered around health and wellness, motivation and empowerment, personal finances and philanthropy, and networks and partnerships. The full lineup of panel participants and presenters can be viewed here.
The Women’s Leadership Summit takes place from 12:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. on Friday, March 7 and will be followed by a relationship-building reception from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., in the Stranczek Commons of Science Hall.
Due to an overwhelming response, the inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit has quickly reached capacity. To be placed on a waitlist for tickets, please contact AnneMarie Haumesser, EdD, assistant vice president for advancement, at @email.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
