Power Luncheon: A Conversation with Jessica Poole and Jennifer Ridgeway

TeamWomen Power Luncheons are a place for women in leadership roles to connect, network, and be inspired by other influential female leaders in our community.

Kim Insley, a 30-year KARE 11 Morning News Anchor, now Strategic Communications Consultant and proud TeamWomen member, leads you in a captivating conversation with Sports Executive Jessica Poole and Jennifer Ridgeway. Get ready to gain invaluable insights into the vital role of women leaders in today’s dynamic world of women’s sports. From exploring the rich history of women’s sports leadership to diving into the essential business metrics driving the industry forward, this event promises to leave you informed and inspired.

Jessica Poole has been an industry leader in athletics for over 20 years. She believes that sports can change the world and has enjoyed seeing the opportunities created and lives changed when people have the opportunity to participate in sports. While the bulk of her career has been spent in a college setting, Poole has spent time working in professional tennis and soccer. Poole was recently the only woman of color running a professional or amateur sports team in the greater Minneapolis area at Minnesota Aurora FC.

Prior to taking on her role at Minnesota Aurora, Poole served as the Deputy Athletic Director at Chicago State University and also served as Interim Director of Athletics. Poole provided leadership, vision, strategy, direction and management over professional and support staff with oversight of business operations, human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), facilities, events, campus engagement, and capital engagement.  Poole also led in the oversight and management of policy development and strategic planning.

Poole also served as Senior Associate AD for External Operations at Florida Atlantic University where she oversaw FAU’s communications, marketing and corporate sponsorship areas while serving as a member of the athletics leadership team.

A communications specialist by nature, Poole served in athletic communications capacities in athletic departments in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) at Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, in the Big Ten at Michigan and also in the Ivy League at Dartmouth College.

Poole is active on the Board of College Sports Communicators (CSC), where she recently completed service as Board Chair and was the first Black woman to hold the position. She is also a member of the Black College Sports Information Directors and serves as a member of the executive team while also serving on the NCAA’s Women’s Basketball Final Four Media Coordination Committee.

She is also mom to her son William and enjoys spending time with friends and family. As an Ann Arbor, Michigan native, you can also always catch her cheering on her beloved Michigan Wolverines.

Bachelors of Journalism. University of Missouri-Columbia
Women Leaders in College Sports Institute of Administrative Advancement (2013)
College Sports Communicators Executive Board of Directors Chair (2022-23)
Memberships include: College Sports Communicators, Women Leaders in College Sports, WISE

Jennifer Ridgeway joined the Timberwolves & Lynx as VP of Social Responsibility and Executive Director of the Fastbreak Foundation in 2018. During her tenure, she earned several promotions including EVP, Chief of Staff, and most recently, Chief Impact Officer. Through her efforts, the Timberwolves & Lynx were named the first host mentoring site in MN for the Global Sports Mentoring Program, an initiative in partnership with espnW and the U.S. State Department. The program selects emerging female leaders from around the world for mentorship in the U.S. alongside top American female executives leading in sports and business. Additionally, Ridgeway expanded the franchise’s global presence, securing the Minnesota Timberwolves for the NBA Global Games 2023.

Ridgeway is responsible for the creation of the organization’s robust “Pack the Vote” platform, providing nonpartisan voter resources for elections. Under her leadership, she positioned the organization as a key supporter of Restore the Vote efforts in Minnesota. Additionally, she was instrumental in the organization’s partnership with the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition to support more than 50,000 Minnesotans who were formerly incarcerated or on parole, the right to register and cast their vote. This work earned the organization the prestigious 2023-24 NBA Inclusion Leadership Award.

In 2024, Ridgeway was appointed Chair of the NBA Foundation’s Team Steering Committee, leading a select group of Social Responsibility and Impact leaders across the nation to provide thought leadership, best practice sharing and strategy recommendations to the NBAF team and Board of Directors.

Ridgeway serves on the Board for Meet Minneapolis, is a leader on its Diversity and Multicultural Committee and most recently was appointed to its Board Development Committee. Additionally, she leads an integral role for the Timberwolves and Lynx Women in Sports Leadership Council. Ridgeway currently serves as a Mentor for the CSM Sport & Entertainment Mentoring Challenge, in partnership with the nationally recognized Sports Business Journal and was named a 2024 Women In Business honoree by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal.

Kim Insley is a strategic communications expert leading her own public relations business focusing on brand awareness and brand growth. Her prior work includes leading the public relations program for the U.S. and parts of EMEA at ecommerce company Digital River, and promotions for the City of Minneapolis’ convention and tourism bureau.

Kim is also known for her 30+ year career in broadcast journalism, which includes Upper Midwest Emmy awards for her reporting and anchor work.

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