Laurel Richie had never been to a WNBA game and isn’t a big sports fan, but a couple months ago the WNBA hired Laurel, who was a marketing executive for 20 years at Ogilvy & Mather before becoming chief marketing executive for the Girl Scouts of the USA to be their new president. Here’s the story in brief of how the 52-year old Dartmouth graduate got the gig:
It stemmed from a February speaking engagement she had with the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, where she was the keynote speaker. Laurel had been with the Girl Scouts for just three years, helping market the universally loved cookies and unaware that WNBA president Donna Orender had resigned in December. Seattle Storm president and CEO Karen Bryant listened to Laurel’s speech and instantly knew she had to submit her name to be among those considered to replace Orender.
“I loved her story,” Bryant told the Seattle Times. “She has a commanding presence, and she has a really unique combination of confidence and humility. Bryant didn’t tell Laurel she recommended her, but when the WNBA called, it somehow seemed right. This job would be about promoting women, something she already was doing with the Girl Scouts and something that has been a constant theme throughout her life.
Laurel will be the third president in the WNBA’s 15 year history.
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