The Real Work of Going First
Leadership. Resilience. Courage.
Helping women lead confidently when they're the only one in the room.
What I Do
🎤 Speaking
🌍 Global Community
🌍 Global Community
Keynotes and workshops that challenge, inspire, and equip.
Signature Talks & Presentations:
- Trailblazing Isn’t Glamorous – The Real Work of Going First
- Mentoring Female Coaches for Athletic Administration Roles
- Creating & Claiming Space for Women in High School Sports
- The Strength of Diversity: Uniting Voices in Sports Leadership
- From Isolation to Influence: Real Support for Women in Sports
🌍 Global Community
🌍 Global Community
🌍 Global Community
Founder of GCWHSS, a network built to support women in high school sports.
Join the Movement
You shouldn’t have to lead alone.
The Global Community of Women in High School Sports exists so women in athletic leadership don’t have to do this work in isolation. We offer mentorship, tools, inspiration, and a powerful sisterhood across the country.
Click the button below to learn more or become a member.
Why Work with me
I’ve walked the path—and built new ones.
Jen Brooks is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator with over 30 years of experience as the Athletic Director at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis, Missouri. She has spent her career redefining what leadership looks like in high school sports, especially for women.
Her accolades speak to her impact: Missouri Athletic Director of the Year. NFHS Citation Award winner. One of St. Louis Business Journal’s Top 25 Most Influential Women in Business. And the prestigious NIAAA Bruce Whitehead Distinguished Service Award. But titles only tell part of the story.
Jen is also the founder and CEO of the Global Community of Women in High School Sports—a growing network created so women don’t have to lead alone. Through this platform, she’s interviewed legends like Muffet McGraw and Julie Foudy, led master classes for hundreds of women, and built space where women in athletic leadership are seen, supported, and celebrated.
She serves as the MIAAA Mentor Coordinator, supporting over 150 new athletic directors across Missouri each year. She knows how lonely this work can be—and how powerful it is to be seen by someone who truly understands it.
Whether she’s mentoring the next generation, consulting with school leaders, or stepping onto a keynote stage, Jen brings her whole self to the work: experience, grit, vision, humor, and heart.
She’s also a mom. A Vespa rider. A bourbon lover. A firstborn. A woman who didn’t wait for permission—she built the room, pulled up a chair, and started handing out invitations.
