The NYC Metro Chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE), closed out Women’s History Month with its 16th annual “Power Play: Up Close With…” on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Civic Hall was filled with women eager to learn from four leaders working at the intersection of sports, technology and innovation. Together, they tackled a central question: where are the women in sports business, and what do they do?
This panel brought together women shaping how fans connect with sports, with a clear focus on innovation and technology, grounded in their individual career paths and experiences.
The program kicked off with introductions from the Program Panels Committee Chair, Erin McQuade Kennedy and the discussion was moderated by NYC Metro Chapter President, Van Adams, creator of the Power Play signature series. This year’s panel featured:
- Jennifer Dixon, Chief Information Officer, Genius Sports
- Sarah Horvitz, SVP & Head Counsel, Business and Technology, Major League Baseball
- Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner, Chief Commercial Officer, GameChanger
- Hannah Sorkin, Co-Founder & CEO, PlayMaker
At this sold-out event, attendees gained real-world insight into how technology is actively reshaping the business of sports.
Dixon spoke to the integration of business and technology, emphasizing her role in driving revenue across multiple functions, from procurement to cybersecurity. She highlighted the importance of understanding internal processes, selecting the right AI tools to support them and incorporating feedback from end users, while maintaining awareness of risk and best practices.
Horvitz focused on the critical role legal teams play in protecting data and managing risk in an evolving landscape shaped by streaming and social media. She underscored the importance of cross-functional relationships and positioning legal as a trusted advisor. As AI adoption grows, she noted the importance of structured policies, review processes and appropriate access to tools across departments.
At GameChanger, Kleinbaum Milner emphasized product adoption and the value of a non-linear career path. Drawing from a retail background, she highlighted the advantage of a generalist mindset and the importance of understanding user behavior and data trends to inform product development.
Sorkin shared how early career opportunities led to co-founding PlayMaker, including the decision to step away from a corporate role. She discussed identifying gaps in the market, staying close to the user and continuously iterating on the product. While AI and automation are part of PlayMaker’s strategy, she emphasized the importance of human oversight to ensure accuracy and quality.
Across the conversation, all four panelists demonstrated that careers at the intersection of sports and technology are rarely linear. During Q&A, they offered career insights that encouraged attendees to pursue varied experiences, build strong networks, understand organizational priorities and remain open to change.
The panel also reinforced the importance of authenticity, mentorship and taking calculated risks, while remaining adaptable in a constantly evolving industry.