EDMONTON, Alta. (August 19, 2020) – Canada Basketball, in partnership with the City of Edmonton and Alberta Basketball Association, will be hosting Empowering Women to Lead in 2020, an online panel discussion that features leaders from both the basketball and business communities.

Empowering Women to Lead in 2020 will be held on Wednesday, August 26 at 12 noon MT.  Registration is free and interested attendees can click here to RSVP.

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This series was created to not only promote the importance of women in leadership positions, but to inspire other young women to pursue and achieve their dreams.  It is also a chance for influential leaders within our communities to give back and make a difference in the lives of others.  Attendees will have the invaluable opportunity of engaging directly with panelists to share best practices, how best to capitalize on strengths, and ways of converting challenges into opportunities.

Now entering its second year, as a result of COVID-19, this year’s Women in Sport panel will be held virtually after a successful debut in 2019, which saw two sessions, featuring eight Team Canada players and coaches, speak to over 110 students at Jasper Place High School and Ross Sheppard High School.

Empowering Women to Lead in 2020 will be hosted by Global News Edmonton’s Quinn Phillips and features four panelists, including:

Miranda Ayim – Defining Success in Uncertainty

A two-time Olympian and co-captain of Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team, Miranda Ayim is the heart and soul of Team Canada.  With over 15 years’ experience and 180 games representing Canada, Ayim is a true leader, both on and off-the-court.  When she isn’t playing basketball, Ayim is a certified wellness coach, public speaker and writer, who constantly inspires those around her.

Sheena Way – Leadership in Today’s Business Climate

A member of Oilers Entertainment Group’s Executive team, Sheena Way is Vice President, Live Entertainment at Rogers Place, North America’s leading sports and entertainment development. With a deep history and knowledge of the entertainment industry, Way's expertise in development and negotiation brings world class events to Edmonton’s ICE District.  She began her career as one of the first female agents with Canada’s largest talent agency Feldman & Associates and today continues to bring extraordinary events to Edmonton ICE District, including a 9-show Garth Brooks run, Edmonton’s 1st UFC bout and a Cirque run through Christmas.

Bryce Tully – Resilience in 2020

As the Mental Performance Consultant with Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team, Bryce Tully is driven by his desire to help athletes achieve their dreams.  Tully has his Masters of Science in Sport Psychology from Dalhousie University and been with Team Canada since 2016.  He currently serves as a member of the sport science staff at the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic and is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Mental Health Task Force.

Kayla Alexander – Power of Sports

Currently playing with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, Kayla Alexander most recently represented Canada at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgium where Canada successfully advanced to their third consecutive Olympic Games. A member of Team Canada for six years, Alexander not only motivates the next generation of players through her performance but her artwork as well.  She is also the author and illustrator The Magic of Basketball, a children’s book which follows her journey with the sport of basketball and the many gifts it has given her along the way.

Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team is proud to call the City of Edmonton home and regularly hosts training camp, exhibition games and international FIBA tournaments at both the Saville Community Sports Centre and the Edmonton EXPO Centre.  Since 2013 when the partnership began, Team Canada has risen a program-best fourth in the FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE and has successfully qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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