2024 WISE Women of the Year Award Receipients Revealed

Women in Sports and Events, a leadership development organization for women in the business of sports, will honor four recipients with WISE Women of the Year awards during its 28th awards luncheon on March 19, 2024, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.

The 2024 recipients are Ayala Deutsch, executive vice president and deputy general counsel, NBA; Kate Johnson, director and head of global sports and entertainment marketing, Google; Michele Kajiwara, senior vice president, premium and events business, Crypto.com Arena and Peacock Theater; and Renee Chube Washington, chief operating officer, USA Track & Field. WISE members across North America had the opportunity to nominate women for their accomplishments and significant contributions to the business of sports. The honorees were selected by the organization’s National Board.

“WISE is thrilled to honor four women who personify what it means to be a leader in our industry,” said Kathleen Francis, national board chair and president of WISE. “Ayala Deutsch, Kate Johnson, Michele Kajiwara and Renee Chube Washington are not only paving the way, but they are also making a way for other women. We look forward to celebrating each of the honorees at our annual luncheon and the great work they do.”

Deutsch is responsible for managing commercial legal affairs and intellectual property matters for the NBA and its affiliated leagues. She joined the NBA in 1998 and was named to her current position in January 2016, after serving as senior vice president and deputy general counsel and senior vice president and chief intellectual property counsel.

Johnson is responsible for developing and executing Google’s approach to sports and entertainment marketing partnerships. Prior to joining Google, she served as vice president of global partnership marketing at Visa, where she oversaw the company’s global partnership portfolio. She serves as an IOC Commission member for marketing and digital media and is a former professional rower and Olympic medalist.

Kajiwara leads a team of executives in all areas of sales, service, analytics, database marketing, hospitality and event management, and serves as an executive leader of several AEG employee network groups including AEG’s Women’s Leadership Council, AEG Global Partnerships Inclusion Council, and AEG’s Asian and Pacific Islander employee network group.

Chube Washington joined USATF in June 2012 and manages the organization’s budget and national staff. Since being appointed chief operating officer, USATF has awarded six U.S. Olympic Team Trials, secured the World Athletics Indoor and Outdoor Championships on U.S. soil for the first time, participated in three Olympic Games and 10 World Championships.

In conjunction with the awards luncheon, the WISE/R Symposium will take place on March 18 in New York City.