When Kathleen Francis was named the national board chair of Women in Sports and Events (WISE) in 2011, taking over from founder Sue Rodin, she became only the second leader in the 26-year history of the influential industry organization. In that role she oversees 21 national chapters of WISE, which offers networking events, social meetups, mentoring programs, scholarships, and leadership training, among other resources to ensure that women in the many precincts of the sports business world connect with one another and thrive in their professional ecosystems. Before joining WISE, Francis worked in marketing for Major League Baseball, and she was managing director of the United States Tennis Association.