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Connaughton Speaker Series

INVESTMENT & IMPACT:

The Business of Women's Sports

Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Shumway Hall
Breeden Commerce Grounds

The momentum behind women’s sports has never been stronger, and the business world is taking notice. From record-breaking media rights deals and innovative sponsorship models to venture-backed leagues and athlete-led brands, women’s sports represent one of the most dynamic growth opportunities in today’s investment landscape. 

Join us for an engaging conversation with industry leaders and investors who are fueling this evolution. We’ll explore how capital, creativity, and community are converging to drive both financial return and social impact in women’s sports—empowering athletes, reshaping fan engagement, and redefining what it means to invest with purpose. 

This event is underwritten by the Connaughton Commerce for the Common Good initiative.

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Agenda at a Glance

Welcome Remarks

Amanda Cowen, Interim John A. Griffin Dean, McIntire School of Commerce 

Opening Remarks: Why Women’s Sports, Why Now? 

Scott Pioli, Former NFL Executive—Special Advisor to Virginia Athletics

Fireside Chat with John and Stephanie Connaughton: The Business and Purpose of Investing in Women’s Sports 

Moderated by Scott Pioli 

Panel: The NWSL as a Case Study: Building the Future of Women’s Sports

Moderated by Cecil White (McIntire ‘15), Senior Agent & Executive, Strategic Partnerships & Ventures, WME Basketball

Panelists

Jeff Agoos (McIntire ‘91), President & General Manager, Portland Thorns FC

Lori Lindsey (A&S ‘03), Soccer Analyst & Commentator

Emily Sonnett (A&S '15), Professional Soccer Player, Gotham FC

Closing Conversation: Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

Meet the Speakers

Jeff Agoos (McIntire '91)
SPEAKER
Jeff Agoos (McIntire '91)
President & General Manager, Portland Thorns FC

Jeff Agoos is President and General Manager of Portland Thorns FC, one of the National Women's Soccer League's flagship franchises, a role he has held since 2025. As the club's senior sporting executive, Agoos oversees every facet of the Thorns' soccer operation...

John Connaughton (McIntire '87)
SPEAKER
John Connaughton (McIntire '87)
Chair, Bain Capital

John Connaughton is Chair of Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm with more than $225 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and 25 offices across four continents. The firm focuses on a range of asset classes including private equity, credit, venture capital, public equity, and real estate...

Stephanie Connaughton
SPEAKER
Stephanie Connaughton
Founding Owner, Boston Legacy Football Club

At age 3, Stephanie Connaughton announced to her dad that she wanted to grow up to be Speedy Duncan, the electrifying punt returner for Washington’s NFL team. He was, quite simply, the fastest human she had ever seen. A career in American football would elude her, but professional football...

Amanda Cowen
SPEAKER
Amanda Cowen
Interim John A. Griffin Dean, McIntire School of Commerce

Amanda P. Cowen currently serves as the Interim John A. Griffin Dean of the McIntire School of Commerce. Her research interests center on corporate governance and strategic leadership. She aims to develop socially informed theories that help to explain...

Lori Lindsey (A&S '03)
SPEAKER
Lori Lindsey (A&S '03)
Soccer Analyst and Commentator

Lori Lindsey is a Match Analyst for MLS on Apple TV and one of the most respected voices in soccer broadcasting. She also serves as a Lead Analyst for the NWSL on Prime Video and CBS Sports and contributes to major broadcasts across ESPN, FOX Sports, and NBC. Lindsey has covered some of the sport’s biggest events...

Scott Pioli
SPEAKER
Scott Pioli
Former NFL Executive—Special Advisor to Virginia Athletics

Scott Pioli is a nationally respected former NFL executive whose 30-plus year career includes five Super Bowl appearances, three Super Bowl championships, four AFC Championships, one NFC Championship, and nine Division titles. Pioli has consistently proven himself a top-tier...

Emily Sonnett (A&S '15)
SPEAKER
Emily Sonnett (A&S '15)
Professional Soccer Player, Gotham FC

From 2012 to 2015, Emily Sonnett was a cornerstone of Virginia’s back line, starting 89 of her 97 appearances and helping the Cavaliers reach two College Cups while contributing 11 goals and nine assists. She earned three All-ACC honors during her career and set a UVA single-season record...

Cecil White III (McIntire '15)
SPEAKER
Cecil White III (McIntire '15)
Senior Agent & Executive, Strategic Partnerships & Ventures, WME Basketball

Cecil White III is Senior Agent & Executive, Strategic Partnerships & Ventures at WME Basketball, where he works across endorsements, media, talent ventures, and business development. Throughout his career, Cecil has worked with many of the most prominent athletes and personalities...

This event is open to all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act and the University of Virginia’s nondiscrimination policy. To learn more, visit UVA’s Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity.

Background

About the Connaughton Speaker Series

In recent years, John and Stephanie Connaughton made an investment in the McIntire School, with a vision for shaping the greater learning community’s understanding of the ideal, “Commerce for the Common Good.” Recognizing the relevance of commerce as an exchange central to global business and society, the initiative aims to prepare and empower students for employing McIntire’s world-class business education to address a wide range of pressing societal issues.

The inaugural Connaughton Speaker Series event took place on April 28, 2023, on the historic Grounds of the University of Virginia. The conversation featured John Connaughton, UVA President Jim Ryan, former McIntire Dean Nicole Thorne Jenkins, and a panel that included some of John Connaughton’s most esteemed professional collaborators. Together, the group explored how Connaughton’s trusted network is helping him serve at the forefront of Commerce for the Common Good through his work as Co-Managing Partner of Bain Capital and as an exemplary contributor to economic and philanthropic endeavors that embody Bain’s Core ESG Commitments. 

The second edition of the Speaker Series, “Changemakers: A Founders Conversation,” brought together four McIntire alumni entrepreneurs on April 26, 2024, to share their journeys, challenges, and perspectives on building purpose-driven businesses. Featuring keynote speaker Nancy Twine and founders Bradford Manning, Chat Razdan, and Ashley Young, the event discussed how entrepreneurial vision can drive meaningful business and social impact.

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Having spent our professional careers in the private sector, we believe that business can and must be a constructive force in addressing the enormous issues facing our society and our economy.

John Connaughton

(McIntire '87)