WNBA executive talks about success

Connie Hurlbut has always had a passion for sports -- she just never knew it would one day become her career. In the ground floor of Logan Hall yesterday, the Fox Leadership Program kicked off its fall 2000 series with Hurlbut, the director of basketball operations for the Women's National Basketball Association. The 1983 College graduate discussed her role in the WNBA and her career trajectory before a crowd of about 30 students. Hurlbut's presentation was the first in this year's Lessons in Leadership series, which promotes leadership initiatives for liberal arts students by bringing successful College alumni back to campus. During her half-hour talk, Hurlbut attributed much of her success to her love of athletics. At Penn, she was a member of the field hockey and lacrosse teams. She subsequently served on numerous NCAA committees and worked as associate director of the Ivy League before beginning her career at the WNBA two years ago. But Hurlbut's job isn't all fun and games. In her capacity, she oversees scheduling, officiating, medical policies and the draft. Although introducing herself as "not much of a polished professional speaker," Hurlbut clearly related her own leadership experiences to the students. She noted several key points to which any aspiring leader should adhere. "You need the ability to always see the big picture. Make decisions definitively but slowly, and create an opportunity as opposed to reacting to an opportunity," Hurlbut said. This vision, she claims, combined with an internship in the sports field, can equal success in athletic administration. That's not to say Hurlbut knew all along she wanted to spend her life as head of a pro basketball league. In fact, upon graduating with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, she was decidedly undecided on her professional path. "I had no idea careers like this existed," Hurlbut told the students. "I wanted to work in sports, but not on the court. Sports is recreation for most people. For me, it is politically challenging as well." As a Penn student, Hurlbut served as president of the Women's Athletic Association, where she worked closely with the administration. It was that intimacy with faculty that she now maintains instilled confidence within her. And her confidence has only increased since. Being a woman in the sports industry has not deterred her at all. Hurlbut said she has not ever faced discrimination based on her gender. "Sexism just doesn't exist that much anymore. It is a leader's responsibility to not let gender be a limitation," she said. Following the presentation, several students were selected to attend an informal dinner with Hurlbut at La Terrasse. These chosen few reserved a space by logging onto the Fox Leadership Web site, which is still accepting reservations for future speakers. Featured Penn alumni in the upcoming seminars will represent a wide range of career choices from business and law to theatrical and political careers. College senior and the program's Student Director Matthew Vamvakis aided in selecting this year's speakers. "It is always good to have a diversity of speakers representative of all aspects of what graduates of the College do with their lives," Vamvakis said.