The Baltimore Ravens don’t just want women to watch the game, they want to empower them to work in it.
That was the driving force behind the Ravens Purple Pro Collective, formerly Women’s Networking Symposium, a professional development event that brought together roughly 200 women for an evening of panels, breakout sessions, networking, headshots, and in-person access to sports industry professionals from the team’s staff.
“This is a big day of development,” said Bryan Corvera, the Ravens’ Advertising and Marketing Manager who helped organize the event. “We’re developing young women and trying to teach them the ins and outs of the sports industry.”
The event was purposefully scheduled during Women’s History Month and announced on National Girls and Women in Sports Day in February, as a statement as much as a strategy. The Ravens wanted to signal that the industry has room for women, and that their own organization reflects that internally.
“You look at our front office, there’s plenty of women that do big roles within our organization,” Corvera said. “We try to exemplify that internally and externally.”
But the Ravens weren’t just preaching inclusion. They built an event around it.
Beyond the Sideline
One of the event’s core messages was that working in sports doesn’t require a narrow path. Careers in partnerships, media, production, events, and administration all feed into what fans ultimately see on game day, and the Purple Pro Collective made a point of covering all of it.
Jakira Bomster-Jabs, who was one of the panelists in the breakout session Beyond the Logo: Building Meaningful Partnerships That Drive Results, walked attendees through the full lifecycle of a sponsorship deal, from the initial pitch to ongoing activation and relationship management.
For Bomster-Jabs, meaningful partnerships come down to three things: fan engagement, authenticity, and relevance. The best deals, she explained, don’t just put a logo on a wall. They align the sponsor with the Ravens brand in a way that resonates with fans.
Kelly Peloquin, Associate Athletic Director at UMBC, attended after relocating back to Baltimore from New York and saw the event as an opportunity to get more connected to the local sports community. As someone who transitioned from coaching into administration, she appreciated how the evening captured the full scope of what it takes to run a franchise.
“The beauty of this event is it touches on every aspect of a franchise such as the Ravens,” Peloquin said. “Whether you want to go into media, events, production or partnerships, I love how all of that is interwoven into the ultimate production of a game.”
Access Is the Point
For Adrianna Ebron, founder of Black Girls Love Football, the Purple Pro Collective was already familiar territory. This was her second year attending, and she came back for the same reason she came the first time: access.
“I jumped into sports from a fan’s perspective,” Ebron said. “By coming to events like this, I really get to learn from people who have been working in sports for 20 and 30 years and can provide me with feedback, ideas, and ways to grow.”
Her biggest takeaway from this year was the partnerships panel, which gave her a clearer picture of how organizations build and maintain the relationships that drive the business side of sports.
That theme of access, to people, to knowledge, and to honest conversation, is a theme that consistently came to the forefront. That tone also resonated with keynote speaker Kim Smith of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) who noted that events such as Purple Pro Collective were not as available when she was in school.
“It’s something that me, ten years ago coming out of college, would have loved to attend,” Smith said.
Smith, who works in athlete representation at CAA and collaborates closely with Ravens RB Derrick Henry, spoke on the main stage about the evolution of women in the industry. She noted that the women in the room weren’t just curious. They were prepared.
“I was super impressed by their questions. I think me ten years ago didn’t even know the questions to ask that they were asking.”
That preparation, she said, reflects how much the landscape has shifted and how much further it can go.
“I love the ways in which the numbers of women in sports are just increasing tenfold. Women offer different perspectives and vantage points and skills that make them valuable in the space.”
What They’re Taking With Them
Each speaker offered their own version of the same message. Preparation, relationships, and confidence matter more than a perfect resume.
Bomster-Jabs pointed to soft skills as an underrated asset. “Communication, listening, problem solving, those basic soft skills go a very long way when you work in sports because it’s a very fast-paced environment.”
Peloquin encouraged women to lead with intention. “Lead fearlessly and make sure that you’re bringing women up with you. Know that other women are looking to you for advice.”
Ebron emphasized the relationships that already exist before anyone walks through a door. “Think about what relationships you’ve already built before you even walk into the space, because you never know who in your circle can already open those doors for you.”
And Smith kept it simple.
“Ask questions. Be a sponge. Don’t be afraid to open your mouth. Know that you do belong and just put the work in. The right things will find you.”
The Ravens goal, Corvera said, was never just about filling seats at an event. It was about expanding what women believe is possible within the industry and making sure they leave better equipped than when they arrived.
“We want to inspire people that it’s not just for franchises and clubs. Every single arm within an organization is dealing with a vendor or a partner. There’s different ways to be in the sports industry.”
As opportunities for women in sports continue to grow, initiatives like the Ravens Purple Pro Collective are helping ensure that those entering the space are better prepared than those who came before them.
This is just one example of many ways the Ravens pour into the community.