Laura joins the Possible NOW Podcast with Christian Muche to discuss why women’s sports isn’t charity—it’s business. Drawing on her career identifying white space and turning it into opportunity, Laura unpacks the myths keeping advertisers on the sidelines, how athletes are redefining ownership through their own media platforms, and why the next billion-dollar growth story in sports will be led by women.

02:08 Laura's Early Love for Sports
04:17 The Transferable Skills from Sports to Leadership
08:34 The Business Case for Women's Sports
17:08 The Impact of Media and Athlete Platforms
25:11 Innovative Sponsorship Models
31:35 Future Visions and Partnerships
37:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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For nearly 20 years, Karina LeBlanc was known for defending Canada’s net. Now she’s defending the future of women’s sports as EVP of Strategic Growth at RAJ Sports, where she’s helping lead both the Portland Thorns and the new WNBA expansion team, the Portland Fire—which also happens to be Portlands original WNBA team. She joins Laura to talk about playing the long game—creating generational impact, measuring success beyond wins, and why Portland might just be the global epicenter of women’s sports.

03:15 The Impact of Sports on Personal Growth
05:53 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Failure
12:09 Transitioning to Executive Roles
25:50 The Unique Appeal of Women's Sports
27:42 The Power of Representation and Role Models
31:10 Innovative Partnerships and Community Impact
34:52 The Epicenter of Women's Sports: Portland's Vision
42:09 Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations

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Joining Editor in Chief of Marie Claire Nikki Ogunnaike, Laura traces her journey from college athlete to successful partner at Giant Spoon, and how she founded Deep Blue to drive commercial investment in women’s sports. They explore the critical role sports play in achieving career leadership, the impactful intersection of advertising with women's sports, and the innovative strides being made to elevate women's sports through creative investments and new business models.

01:55 Laura's Journey: From Soccer to Advertising
03:03 The Impact of Sports on Corporate Careers
05:15 Early Career in Digital Media
06:54 Building Giant Spoon and Entrepreneurial Insights
15:01 Deep Blue's Mission and Market Challenges
17:12 Partnering with Sue Bird and Strategic Vision
19:21 The Economic and Social Impact of Women's Sports
23:22 Future Vision for Deep Blue and Women's Sports
35:25 Lightning Round: Money, Style, and Power

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