The Gatton College of Business and Economics, in collaboration with LeadHer, a Gatton student club, proudly commemorates Black History Month with "Pioneering the Path: Celebrating Black Excellence in Hockey." Explore the remarkable contributions of Black individuals to hockey and embark on a journey through history that shapes our future. 

Honoring the Path Lighters

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Documentary Screening, B&E 311

Join us with director and filmmaker Kwame Mason and his film Soul on Ice: Past, Present and Future (2015) as he explores Black hockey players' contributions at all hockey levels, from the minor leagues to the majors. The film focuses on the history of Black athletes in hockey and the impact and influence that has led to more youth and their families giving the sport a try while navigating the hurdles of race.

After the film's impactful release, Kwame continues to work as an invited speaker across North America, educating, creating, and engaging in dialogue around the importance of Black athletes in hockey and reshaping the hockey culture. Kwame's passion for hockey, advocacy, and storytelling has allowed him to tell more stories and partake in more DEI initiatives to advocate for and support young BIPOC athletes in the hockey community to find success. Working with the NHL, Kwame's mission continues to center around advocacy and normalizing BIPOC faces in the sport. He also focuses on advocating and highlighting equity-deserving youth across North America.

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Luncheon, Keynote and Award Presentation, Woodward Hall, B&E 307

We are proud to present keynote and renowned speaker Kimberly Davis, Senior Executive Vice President at National Hockey League (NHL). She will present and be awarded with the Path Lighter Award, recognizing her help to lighting a path for others and making sure that NHL's 'Hockey is For Everyone.' Kim is the first black woman in a C-suite position in the NHL. 

Kimberly Davis is a trailblazer and change agent, positively disrupting the financial industry and vast world of sports over her illustrious 30+ year career. Well-regarded as a resilient and visionary leader, Davis brings change to life through sound strategic planning and solid organizational development. She is an inspirational storyteller, an architect of coalitions, and a culture builder with a style that empowers others and believes that successful business contributes to healthy, vibrant communities. Driven by data and a passion for progress, she has consistently provided structure and glide paths for organizations to realize their potential for sustainable business growth.

Currently, as Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League – the premier professional ice hockey league in the world – Davis has set the League on a new course to attract, retain, and develop fans with a specific focus on multicultural audiences. Reporting to Commissioner Gary Bettman, she is positively influencing and impacting the decisions of 32 NHL Club owners and executives relating to culture, youth participation, and social impact to improve access and availability of the sport and grow the League's business for the long term.

Previously, as Senior Managing Director, Teneo Consulting Worldwide, Davis led the firm’s leadership development and corporate responsibility practice, where she advised Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, and cultural icons, including Billie Jean King. She urged the tennis legend on the creation of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative – a partnership with CEOs to advance gender diversity and pay equity. Before Teneo, Davis enjoyed more than two decades at JPMorgan Chase, where she most recently served as Managing Director of Global Corporate Social Responsibility, President of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Ms. Davis has been recognized by Hockey News’ “2020 Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in the Sport," Essence Magazine's "Woke" - 2019 Change Agents, Adweek's "30 Most Powerful Women in Sports,” Sports Business Journal’s “GameChangers,” and Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Women in Corporate America." She has received other notable recognitions, including Savoy Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” and showcased in Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People in Business." In 2012, she was profiled by First Lady Michelle Obama in Essence magazine’s “28 Most Influential Black Women in America.”

Kim currently serves on the boards of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Communities in Schools (National) and Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). She is a former Trustee of Spelman College and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Kenan Institute. Davis earned a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and has completed the Aspen Institute’s Executive Leadership Program and the Stanford University Executive E-learning Program.