Golden State Valkyries' Jess Smith, Ohemaa Nyanin talk leading the newest WNBA team

Before their first draft round on Dec. 6, Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith and General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin have been working around the clock to secure sponsorships, develop strategies and set goals as they navigate the internal and external operations that come with introducing a new sports team. Golden State won the bid last fall to expand its franchise, and the Valkyries, meaning “warrior women” in Norse mythology, was announced in May and will make their debut on the court in 2025. They’ll be the first new WNBA team since 2008.

In this episode of the Dean’s Speaker Series Podcast, Smith and Nyanin discuss the importance of learning from failure, representation in sports, and the future of the WNBA in conversation with Brittany Jacob and Becca Neteler, both MBA 25. This interview, co-sponsored by the Center for Social Sector Leadership, took place on Nov. 19 as part of the UC Berkeley Haas Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions.

About the Golden State Valkyries: https://valkyries.wnba.com/

About the Center for Social Sector Leadership: https://haas.berkeley.edu/cssl/

About the Dean's Speaker Series: https://haas.berkeley.edu/about/speaker-series/deans-speaker-series/

About the Haas School of Business: https://haas.berkeley.edu/