Greatest strength of women in baseball lies in their community

LAS VEGAS -- The annual Katy Feeney Leadership Luncheon took place at the MLB Fall Business Meetings on Tuesday, celebrating Feeney’s commitment to mentorship and leadership, and her dedication to the advancement of women in the game of baseball.

For the past seven years, Major League Baseball has hosted the Katharine Feeney Leadership Luncheon, to which each Major League club, the MLB office and MLB Network nominate a total of 32 female executives to attend.

Feeney was the senior vice president of scheduling and club relations, and she worked for Major League Baseball for 40 years. After her passing in 2016, the league created the luncheon as a part of the Katy Feeney Leadership program.

"This is always one of my favorite days of the year in baseball," said Billy Bean, MLB's senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, and special assistant to the Commissioner, via Zoom. "[Feeney's] memory and her legacy remind us that we must always be pushing for equity in the workplace."

The program focuses on creating career development and networking opportunities for the selectees to meet MLB’s most influential women.

The Major League Baseball Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team joined the Sports & Entertainment Impact Collective (SEIC) as a partner for the event this year. Together, they created a networking connection and a learning experience for the selectees around the league at the Katy Feeney Leadership Awards Luncheon.

Along with the discussions, Meghna Majmudar -- the head executive and leadership services from ReadySet -- provided workshops throughout the luncheon.

This year’s keynote speaker was Marlins president of business operations Caroline O'Connor, one of the two active women presidents in Major League Baseball. The other president, the Mariners’ Catie Griggs, was the keynote speaker at the 2022 luncheon.

In her address to the group on Tuesday, O’Connor spoke about how she had been unaware of the opportunities for women to work in sports.

"I didn't know sports careers existed," O'Connor said. "I think us getting together today, us spreading the word about careers in sports and just showing the potential -- but also the achievement of women in sports -- is so important."

O'Connor discussed her career path, from working at Morgan Stanley to working in Major League Baseball.

"I started my career first in computer science, but it developed into technology for finance companies," O'Connor said. "In 2017 when Bruce [Sherman] was acquiring the team, someone who I had worked with at Morgan Stanley previously called and said they needed a chief operating officer."

O'Connor credited the Marlins organization for being fair and inclusive in who they hire to their front office.

"I went to Miami six years ago and really found an environment that was a meritocracy, really committed to having the best person in every role," O'Connor said. "I was fortunate to rise through the ranks there to be the chief operating officer and earlier last year to be named president."

O'Connor emphasized her optimism surrounding the growth of women working in higher business positions -- not just in baseball but also in the community.

"In South Florida, we have a very diverse market of all different kinds of aspects,” O’Connor said. “Our mayor, of one of the largest counties in America, is a woman. The president of the largest college by enrollment in the United States, Miami-Dade College, is a woman. We sit in a culture that recognizes the value and importance of women."

To close out her address, O'Conner noted that the greatest strength of the women working in Major League Baseball is one another -- their community.

2023 Katy Feeney Leadership selectees

Angels: Alex Tinyo
Astros: Kristen Lundgren
Athletics: Colette Lucas-Conwell
Blue Jays: Jessica Wood
Braves: Dawn Truemper
Brewers: Sarah Olewinski
Cardinals: Ashleigh Middlebrook
Cubs: Morgan Bucciferro
D-backs: Meagan Hermosillo
Dodgers: Alex Tinyo
Giants: Clara Ho
Guardians: Ilana Mishkin
Mariners: Renee Gallegos
Marlins: Jessica Crosson
Mets: Laura South
Nationals: Wendy Bailey
Orioles: Emily Maranto
Padres: Ashley Hoffman
Phillies: Corinne Landrey
Pirates: Judy Hindes
Rangers: Erin McMurray
Rays: De Anna Sheffield Ward
Reds: Lisa Braun
Red Sox: Stacey Lamboni
Rockies: Kimberly Molina
Royals: Melissa Lambert
Tigers: Taylor Olson
Twins: Quin Handahl
White Sox: Julie Taylor
Yankees: Alexa Klein
MLB central office: Lindsey Ingraham
MLB Network: Lisa Smith