Michael Strahan, Super Bowl Champion, Presents Women of the Year Award to Constance Schwartz-Morini, CEO of SMAC Entertainment.
NEW ORLEANS – Women Raise the Game (WRTG), a multimedia creative and community platform, powered by The 360 Agency, hosted “Champions” an intimate brunch the weekend of the Super Bowl at Le Meridien Hotel in New Orleans on Friday, February 7th. The invitation-only event was an inspiring day of conversation and community with women at the top of their game in sports and those striving to get there.
Women Raise the Game’s mission is to support, elevate, and celebrate new mainstream women. The event opened with remarks from the MC Holly Robinson Peete – Philanthropist, Actress, and wife of California Sports Hall of Famer Rodney Peete. It also included introductions from WRTG Founders Tish Galindo and Tamala Barksdale.
The Champions experience honored several women with awards for their contributions to the sports industry including: Ashley Smith, Visionary of the Year; Sabrina Greenlee, Advocate of the Year; and Constance Schwartz-Morini, Woman of the Year.
The Woman of the Year award was introduced by last year’s honoree Zaileen Janmohamed (Bay Area Host Committee), who shared a few words about what the honor had meant to her and how Santa Clara looks forward to hosting the Super Bowl in 2026, before introducing special guest Michael Strahan. Strahan, who is business partners with Constance Schwartz-Morini at SMAC Entertainment, then took the stage to share his words of inspiration and gratitude for her contributions to sports before presenting her with the award.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized as Woman of the Year by Women Raise The Game. The mission resonates deeply with my own journey. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that success is never achieved alone—it’s built through meaningful connections, shared opportunities, and a commitment to collaboration. WRTG is creating a space where ambitious women can connect, support one another, and turn their boldest ambitions into reality. I’m proud to be part of a community that values the power of relationships and collective success,” said Constance Schwartz-Morini, SMAC Entertainment.
The brunch also included a fireside chat which featured moderator Kamal Bhandal, who leads Global Brand, Consumer & Americas Marketing for the Invisalign brand at Align Technology; highlighting panelist Diana Flores, Captain and Quarterback of Mexico’s World Champion National Flag Football team and a Global Ambassador for the NFL and IFAF.
In addition, the event featured a panel “No Limits, Expanding the Opportunities” moderated by WRTG Founder, Tish Galindo, and included Marissa Solis, SVP Global Brand & Consumer Marketing (NFL); and Talia Thompson, Filmmaker (Pacific Roots: Our Football Legacy.)
The “Business of Sports” panel was moderated by WRTG Founder, Tamala Barksdale, and included Sarah Bishop, Vice President, Global Brand and Consumer Marketing (NFL); Jennifer King, Assistant RB Coach at Chicago Bears (NFL); and Christina Chang, Partner at Nixon Peabody, Entertainment and Sports & Stadiums division.
Both panels allowed participants to share their personal career journeys and advice with attendees, as well as the call to action to “send the elevator down” to uplift the next generation of female leaders in sports.
“In partnership with the NFL, it is our honor to host the Women Raise the Game Super Bowl event for the second year. It is so important to celebrate and connect women in sports. This event shines a spotlight on the contributions of women off the field during Big Game Weekend,” said Tish Galindo, Founder of Women Raise the Game.
The afternoon was filled with inspiring conversations and entertainment provided by DJ Iesha Irene and the Second Line Brass Band of New Orleans. The event was supported by partnersThe NFL, Nixon Peabody, SMAC Entertainment, Invisalign, and media partners Yahoo! and Fierce by NGL Mitú.
For more information and to stay up to date on future events, visit https://womenraisethegame.com/