Yvette Radford, Regional VP Kaiser / Ohemaa Nyanin, GM GS Valkyries / Jess Smith, President, GS Valkyries
Dear WISE Community,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Women of Inspiration event on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Sephora Performance Center with the Golden State Valkyries, presented by Kaiser Permanente.
We were honored to hear from our incredible speakers– Jess Smith, Yvette Radford, and this year’s Woman of Inspiration Award recipient, Ohemaa Nyanin– who shared their leadership journeys and lessons for aspiring leaders. Ohemaa encouraged us to pause and reflect on the opportunities we take and the intentions behind them: “When you take whatever opportunity, you said yes. You’re an active participant in doing the job you’re doing… Just pause and figure out why you said yes. And when that door closes, redefine the closed door.”
Jess, President of the Golden State Valkyries, spoke about the importance of connection and purpose in her work, sharing, “What inspires me is really intaking everyone’s energy that they put into this… It’s not just about selling a ticket or a partnership.”
Yvette, Regional Vice President for External and Community Affairs at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, shared that leadership requires both humility and courage: “Leadership is both a privilege and accountability. Be authentic, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or take risks. You can learn from risk.”
It was truly special honoring Ohemaa Nyanin, General Manager of the Golden State Valkyries, as this year’s Women of Inspiration Award recipient. Her impact, commitment to our community, and dedication to uplifting others embody the spirit of this award. As Jess shared during the presentation, “Ohemaa can see to the core of a human so quickly and ensures authenticity and purpose are at the heart of everything we do.”
With thanks and gratitude,
WISE SF Bay Area Board - 2025
Check out some photos from the event: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19ev-Ez4tHLB9z_kkXLRGk4ZTnV5mmYcD