Alabama Athletics and Phifer Wire Host BRAG! Event
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama Athletics Department recently hosted a dynamic, high-energy program for its female student-athletes through its Life Skills program. Led by nationally renowned speaker Peggy Klaus and sponsored by Phifer Wire, the event was held in Coleman Coliseum and included more than 175 Crimson Tide student-athletes and 90 female leaders from West Alabama community.
Klaus' "BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It" program is an experiential, high-impact workshop that teaches women how to self-promote with executive presence, which she describes as "that compelling combination of confidence, warmth and strength -- without making you sound like a walking billboard."
"It was very empowering to have a women-specific speaker who taught us that we don't need permission to have self-esteem and take pride in our achievements, whatever they may be -- which happens to be a popular issue among young women," women's basketball freshman Trista Magee said.
The interactive program gave hands-on experience in an area that the women in attendance -- highly successful women at the top of their respective fields -- sometimes miss out on.
"The whole atmosphere at the BRAG! event was filled with energy and excitement," cross country freshman Ebie Douglas said. "I really enjoyed being able to interact with all the women leaders and hear about all their accomplishments. The BRAG! event helped me improve my confidence and made me more comfortable in talking about myself in front of a large crowd."
The Crimson Tide student-athletes weren't the only ones to be benefit from the BRAG! seminar.
"I was asked to attend the BRAG! event as a mentor," Lisa Riley, vice president of LiftFund, said. "My expectation was that I would share my experiences in corporate America with some female athletes. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I would be surrounded by so many brilliant young women. The strength of these women electrified the room."
The benefit of such seminars has been highlighted by recent studies that show self-promotion is no longer a choice but a necessity essential to the careers and financial advancements of women.
"I am so proud of the University for hosting this event to educate these women -- our future doctors, teachers, engineers, CEOs and successful business leaders -- on how to market themselves to future employers," Katie Hancock, a financial advisor with The WHMZ Group and a former Tide basketball player, said.
"As a former student-athlete at the Capstone, I believe this is the most important tool Alabama can offer. It goes without saying that we have the most talented coaches, staff, and athletes as well as the best facilities and academic offerings in the nation. But The University of Alabama has just taken our athletics program to the next level with Peggy's workshop and the mentors in the community that attended it. The saying is true -- most of us do go pro in something other than sports. The program is preparing our student-athletes to be better beyond the field."
The University of Alabama Athletics Department's Life Skills program is tasked with providing Crimson Tide student-athletes opportunities for growth through personal development and service opportunities. The ongoing goal of the UA Life Skills program is to empower Crimson Tide student-athletes to be difference makers and people of positive influence as they pursue success at Alabama and beyond.
