The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena have graduated the third cohort of their She LEADS women's leadership program. About 50 women crossed a stage inside the Georgia Aquarium, each receiving a certificate marking the end of the program, WABE reported on June 29, 2026.
She LEADS brings in early-career women from typically male-dominated industries in Atlanta for mentorship and professional development, with the goal of building a pipeline of women ready to move into leadership roles.
Six months of mentoring, and some golf
The six-month program covers more than job skills. Participants received one-on-one mentoring, attended a financial wellness workshop and learned ways to take care of their mental health. They also picked up new skills outside their comfort zones, including golf, and went to a Hawks game together.
At the ceremony, many graduates shared personal letters they had written to themselves and talked about how much their mentor relationships had meant to them. WABE described the room shifting between gleeful laughter and tearful reflections on personal growth.
Graduates and mentors
One graduate, Taylor Bohannon Shea, works as a senior manager of marketing analytics for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. She told WABE she hopes to lead that department one day, after showing the leadership skills she built during the program.
Janna Pruiett went through She LEADS as a mentee last year and returned this year as a mentor. She told WABE that climbing the executive ladder can be especially tough for women, and that having organizations that support women is encouraging. Pruiett says everything the program offered helped her land a promotion, and that it pushed her to step outside her comfort zone and go after what interests her without letting fear hold her back.
Heading into year four
Dr. Morgan Jones, the She LEADS vice president of learning innovation, talent and belonging, told WABE that women continue to be under-represented in the boardroom, and that the program is designed to create a pipeline that puts more women in leadership roles where they can make a difference in their organizations and the wider community. She said She LEADS is excited to head into its fourth year with the upcoming cohort.
For downtown, it is a reminder that the arena does more than host games and concerts. The Hawks and the arena team are investing in people building careers in the city, and this year's graduation took place at another downtown landmark next to Centennial Olympic Park.
Source: WABE, June 29, 2026.
