The discussion begins with each speaker sharing her career journey - from early contributor roles to leadership positions - and the pivotal moments that shaped her path. Panelists will reflect on advocating for themselves and others in male-dominated environments, building influence with confidence, and navigating setbacks and criticism along the way.The conversation then shifts to their leadership roles with WISE AZ, highlighting the unique power of sports as a connector for community, mentorship, and opportunity for women. Speakers will also address the importance of giving back without burning out, offering practical insights on balancing service, leadership, and demanding careers.

Speakers: 
Marissa Mwangi WISE AZ)
Executive Director/President of WISE AZ and the CEO of Warehouse 215. 





Yolanda Mendez (WISE AZ)
Yolanda Mendez, MBA, SPHR, is the Vice President of Human Resources at Desert Services, where she leads strategic people initiatives that foster a positive, high-performing workplace aligned with the organization’s mission and core values. She provides leadership across all areas of human resources, including employee engagement, recruitment, onboarding, retention, and leadership development, ensuring the organization attracts, develops, and retains talent whose skills and values support long-term success.

Throughout her career, Yolanda has worked across multiple industries, including sports, finance, events, advertising, sports housing, and startups. This diverse experience has shaped her approach to leadership, culture building, and workforce strategy, enabling her to bring innovative, people-centered solutions to organizations navigating growth and change. Her experience in the sports industry further strengthened her expertise in high-performance team environments, employee engagement, and leadership development.

Yolanda has received numerous recognitions for her leadership and contributions. She is a Past President and Founding Member of WISE Arizona, a NACE Event Award winner, and a recipient of a Wellness Award for her innovative employee wellness initiatives. She has also been honored as a WISE Arizona Women of Inspiration honoree.


Gina Thoebes (WISE AZ)
Gina Phelps Thoebes, PhD, ACC, is the Vice President, Organizational Performance for the Arizona Cardinals Football Club, where she leads all internal talent management initiatives and serves as an internal leadership coach and consultant. Gina is an experienced Executive, Leadership, and Team coach and an experienced OD consultant and offers these services through her company Stella Polaris Executive Development. Prior to joining the Arizona Cardinals, Gina was an Organizational Development Consultant and applied researcher at Cleveland Clinic, as well as a Vice President at Macy’s Department Stores. Gina is on the Board of Directors for WISE Arizona, is a member of the Society of Industrial Organizational Psychologists, and the Arizona Chapter of the International Coach Federation.