Elise Ryan: New Executive Director for Her Next Play

Her Next Play, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of women leaders through sports, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Elise Ryan as our new Executive Director. With a rich background in community engagement and leadership, Elise is poised to lead Her Next Play into an exciting new phase.

Elise brings a wealth of business, community, and non-profit experience and a passion for advancing the mission of Her Next Play. She holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Oregon, where she was a student-athlete on the tennis team, and earned her master’s degree in marketing from Johns Hopkins University. Elise also serves as the mayor of Chanhassen, a testament to her dedication to public service and community engagement.

With Elise’s leadership, Her Next Play is well positioned to continue its journey of empowering young women to reach their fullest potential. As we look forward to the next five years, we are excited about the positive impact we can make in the lives of girls and women in Minnesota, and across the nation.

“I am deeply honored to work with the great team at Her Next Play as we support the growth of women leaders in the sports arena and beyond,” said Elise Ryan. “Through the invaluable lessons learned in sports, we aim to shape confident, resilient, and empowered next generation women leaders.”

Her Next Play invites supporters, partners, and champions of women’s leadership to join us in welcoming Elise Ryan as our new Executive Director. Together, we will continue to break down barriers and create opportunities for the next generation of women leaders.

About Her Next Play

Her Next Play’s programs are designed to encourage girls to stay engaged in sports, nurture their leadership abilities through athletics, and facilitate the seamless transition of athletes into successful careers. 52% of women in c-suite positions played sports at the college level, and 92% of women executives played sports. We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership by leveraging the invaluable lessons learned on the field, court, and track.