Danielle Donehew – Executive Director, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Artwork

In the Arena: Conversations of a Lifetime

What makes leaders tick? In the Arena podcast delves into the inner workings and personal dynamics of leadership. We’ll shine a light on the life-shaping experiences and perspectives of leaders who have navigated adversity and moved their organizations and themselves forward. Defining moments, lessons learned, and points of inspiration provide a roadmap for these conversations of a lifetime. The podcast title In the Arena has historical roots. In 1910, a year after leaving the presidency, Teddy Roosevelt gave a rousing address in Paris in which he chastised cynics and grenade-throwing critics who lambasted leaders as they worked valiantly to improve the human condition. Over time TR’s “The Man in the Arena” became indelibly linked to the nobility and struggles of leadership. In the Arena host Brad Rieger is the chief executive officer at Cooper-Smith, a full-service marketing and advertising agency headquartered in Toledo, OH with a satellite office in Stamford, CT. Prior to working in the private sector, Brad enjoyed a meaningful 31-year career in education serving in the roles of teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. He is a student of the complexities and nuances of leadership and admires the strivers, trailblazers, and influencers who lead with conviction, courage, and resilience. Host/Executive Producer; Brad Rieger, Audio Engineer/Production Coordinator; Kerry Schwable, Social Coordinator; Tim McCarthy, Graphic Designers: Stephen Shankster/Jeremy Thomas. Content made possible by Cooper-Smith Advertising LLC 2023

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In the Arena: Conversations of a Lifetime

Danielle Donehew – Executive Director, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

February 08, 2023 • Brad Rieger • Season 3 • Episode 36

Danielle leads a dedicated WBCA team that is focused on supporting/promoting women’s basketball coaches/players and growing women’s basketball across the country. She oversees WBCA’s programs and services, budget, marketing, and personnel. Danielle works closely with the NCAA, USA Basketball, WNBA, Women’s Basketball HOF, and Women’s Sports Foundation.

Her path of success started early. A four-sport athlete at a suburban Atlanta high school, she was a major contributor on a basketball team that won two state championships. At the end of her senior year, Danielle was named Georgia’s High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She went on to have distinguished academic and basketball careers at Georgia Tech, earning another top scholar-athlete award prior to graduation. The seven years she spent on staff with iconic Hall of Fame basketball coach Pat Summit was life-changing. Senior level roles with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and Big East and American Atlantic Conferences provided Danielle with a wealth of leadership experiences that prepared her for the WBCA executive director opportunity that came her way in 2014.

Host/Executive Producer; Brad Rieger, Audio Engineer/Production Coordinator; Kerry Schwable, Social Coordinator; Tim McCarthy, Graphic Designers: Stephen Shankster/Jeremy Thomas. Content made possible by Cooper-Smith Advertising LLC 2023