Golden State Valkyries’ Jess Smith, Ohemaa Nyanin talk leading the newest WNBA team

Before their first draft round on Dec. 6, Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith and General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin have been working around the clock to secure sponsorships, develop strategies and set goals as they navigate the internal and external operations that come with introducing a new sports team. Golden State won the bid last fall to expand its franchise, and the Valkyries, meaning “warrior women” in Norse mythology, was announced in May and will make their debut on the court in 2025. They’ll be the first new WNBA team since 2008.

In this episode of the Dean’s Speaker Series Podcast, Smith and Nyanin discuss the importance of learning from failure, representation in sports, and the future of the WNBA in conversation with Brittany Jacob and Becca Neteler, both MBA 25. This interview, co-sponsored by the Center for Social Sector Leadership, took place on Nov. 19 as part of the UC Berkeley Haas Dean’s Speaker Series. Bringing in a diverse mix of preeminent business leaders, the Dean’s Speaker Series provides the Haas community with perspectives on effective leadership and opportunities for thought-provoking discussions.

• Read more about the Golden State Valkyries.
• Read more about the Center for Social Sector Leadership.
• Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series and upcoming speakers.
• Read more about the Haas School of Business. 

The UC Berkeley Dean's Speaker Series podcast is a production of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This production is made possible by our: 

• Haas Events team: Sarah Bottger, Carrie Hults, Meg Fellner
• Podcast production team: Jordan Joseffer, Laura Counts, Stella Kotik
• Dean’s Speaker Series Student Board: Ashley Wong, Budi Sosrodjojo, David Bravo, Fernanda Ortolan, Luis Sante, Olivia Halas-Dias, Punit Vyas
• Interim Dean Jennifer Chatman 
• Berkeley AV Production Team