Baseball's Top Black Woman Ready To Partner With Minority Businesses
|
Posted By: Hija Chang on July 08, 2011 By Andrea Williams There are many young businessmen and women who dream of a high-powered job in professional sports. They hang out at stadiums and arenas fantasizing about taking their place in the front office of their favorite team and developing marketing plans or finalizing draft decisions. Though Wendy Lewis never had her own big league dreams, she has managed to build one of the most successful and long-standing careers in Major League Baseball. Lewis was employed by the Chicago Tribune when its owner, the Tribune Company, approached her about establishing a formal human resources department at the Chicago Cubs, its newly acquired sports property. With a background in HR and sales, execs saw Lewis as the ideal candidate – especially considering that the Cubs needed to be sold on the fact that they needed a human resources department at all. “It wasn’t a conscious decision to work for Major League Baseball,” Lewis said. “It turned out to be a solution for corporate. But it actually is more exciting, more challenging and more fulfilling than it was when I first got in.” After eight years in Chicago Lewis moved to New York to take a job in the commissioner’s office. Today, more than 17 years later, she is the highest-ranking African-American woman with the league. In her position as the senior vice president of diversity and strategic alliances, it is her primary responsibility to ensure that other minority businesspeople have the opportunity to leave their professional marks on the baseball diamond. “We essentially build and support economic impact models around diversity,” Lewis explained. “The strategy that we have is called DEIE – Diversity Economic Impact Engagement. We work with each one of the clubs, helping and supporting them as they create best practices that are unique for that club…that create economic impact around their diversity strategies.” One of Lewis’ most important roles is the oversight of MLB’s Diverse Business Partners Program. The initiative is the premier supplier diversity program in professional sports. And since its inception in 1998, MLB and its member teams have spent more than $800 million with minority- and women-owned businesses. “It really is an industry-wide initiative,” said Lewis. “It is throughout our business, and we’re working twelve months out of the year. That’s what makes us different.” More: http://atlantapost.com/2011/07/06/baseball... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Hija Chang
Management, See Moss Interactive Central State University class of 2021 Member Since January 2011 |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest HBCU Sports
 |
North Carolina A&T University Alumnus Shines in NFL Debut Games for the 2026 Season!🏈 **FROM THE HBCU TO MAKING NOISE IN THE NFL!** Keep an eye on Bhayshul Tuten of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before finishing his college career at Virginia Tech, Tuten spent two seasons at Nort ...more
Cata Rizzle • 367 Views • September 22nd, 2026 |
 |
Coppin State Takes Down UConn as Defense and Serving Power Four-Set VictorySTORRS, Conn., Sept. 19, 2026 — Coppin State dropped the opening set, then took control on UConn’s home court Friday night, defeating the Huskies 3–1 behind a defensive performance that repeatedly dis ...more
Randi Payton • 279 Views • September 19th, 2026 |
Popular HBCU Sports
 |
Sources: Deion Sanders Finalizing Deal to Become Head Coach of HBCU - Jackson State University!Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders is finalizing a deal with Jackson State University to become the school's next head coach, according to Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger. ...more
Roger Gates • 87,587 Views • September 18th, 2020 |
 |
HBCU North Carolina Central Now The Favorite to Land Lebron James Jr. Son of Superstar Lebron JamesDuke has long been considered a favorite to land LeBron James Jr., son of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and living NBA legend. In the wake of today’s monumental Makur Maker news, oddsmakers think t ...more
Roger Gates • 86,244 Views • July 20th, 2020 |
 |
Coach Deion Sanders & Jackson State Make Offer to Top High School Football Prospect and LSU Commit, Khamauri Rogers!Holmes County football coach Marcus Rogers had one main statement to make when his son Khamauri Rogers, the top junior in Mississippi, received an offer from Jackson State on Sept. 23.
"I don't kno ...more
Roger Gates • 70,677 Views • October 5th, 2020 |
 |
Deion Sanders Announces His Coaching Staff @ HBCU, Jackson State University!JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State head football Deion Sanders is excited to announce his inaugural coaching staff. The staff includes a unique blend of coaches at the NFL, intercollegiate, and prep level ...more
Roger Gates • 61,168 Views • December 7th, 2020 |
