About Ashleigh: Ashleigh Newbold joined Indiana Sports Corp in January 2017 and now serves as Vice President of Engagement, where she leads strategies that connect people to purpose and passion. She oversees engagement efforts that attract, inspire, and mobilize stakeholders, volunteers, and community partners—ensuring every major event leaves Indiana stronger, more connected, and prouder than before. Beyond her professional role, Ashleigh is deeply invested in Indianapolis and its future leaders. She serves as a board member for IndyHub and Chief of Staff for WISE (Women in Sports & Events) Indy, and is a member of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series Class 48. In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was nominated for the United Way of Central Indiana’s ELEVATE Nonprofit Employee of the Year Award in 2023, named to IBJ Media’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2025, and selected as a 2026 Junior Achievement of Central Indiana Best & Brightest Finalist.
The next session was Emotional Intelligence: Building awareness and advocacy for yourself and your team in January. In May, the final session, Ask Like a Leader, will focus on transforming conversations to build credibility, empowerment, and buy-in.
The Professional Development Series, as well as our Indiana Chapter of Women in Lottery Leadership, are open to all employees to participate.
About Dr. Anna Stumpf: Anna is an organizational coach and leadership strategist who helps professional services firms develop the next generation of confident, collaborative leaders. Her professional background is in higher education as an educator and professor, as well as corporate human resources. More information about Dr. Stumpf https://www.collectiveenergycoach.com/.
For more information about the Hoosier Lottery CSR program, contact Samantha Cross at [email protected].
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The engaging WiLL panel discussion, moderated by Rebecca Paul, featured three prominent leaders from the lottery community. They each shared their professional history, their journey to achieving a leadership role in the lottery industry, and advice for the next generation of women leaders.
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Rebecca Paul, President & CEO, Tennessee Education Lottery Corp.; Founder & Chair of WiLL; Immediate Past-President of the World Lottery Association (WLA)
Michelle Gillcrist, Director, Ohio Lottery
Courtney Arbour, Executive Director of TDLR (Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation) and Texas Lottery
Wendy Montgomery, SVP, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability, Brightstar Lottery
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Attendees to the conference were welcomed to attend this session for valuable networking opportunities with peers and colleagues, followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring three prominent leaders from the lottery community, sharing their experiences, insights, and perspectives on leadership, growth, and the future of our industry.
Panel Discussion Participants:
Harjinder Shergill-Chima
Director at California Lottery
Sharon Strong
Executive Director at Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
Moderator
Rebecca Paul
President and CEO, Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation
]]>September 11, 2025 | 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Niagara Falls Convention Center – Peller Estates Ballroom D
Come learn more about two of our newest lottery CEOs.
- Sharon Strong, Executive Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
- Harjinder K. Shergill-Chima, Director of the California Lottery
PRESS RELEASE
International Women’s Day 2024
Advancing Gender Equality as an Opportunity. And a Collective Effort.
Brussels, 8 March 2024 – The European Lotteries (EL) believe sustainability topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are of crucial importance in the workplace, not only for the advancement of society but also to ensure fairness and inclusion for all.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, EL is proud to announce the launch of its DEI Growth Environment – a learning module for its Members – to amplify the importance of gender inclusivity. DEI drives organisational success by unlocking the potential and creativity of diverse talents while building stronger communities. It is all about making a change – a change in mindset, awareness and skills.
‘’International Women’s Day isn’t just about women’s rights or creating a fair society. It is a collective opportunity – it is about our ability to leverage knowledge and skills more effectively, says Romana Girandon, President & CEO, Loterija Slovenije and President of EL. ‘’Let’s use this day as a catalyst for positive change, in our personal, professional and social lives and breathe the spirit of it into our every-day.’’
Despite a gender-balanced workforce of over 51,000 employees in the EL Membership, only 32 percent of women hold management positions. Romana says, ’’Data shows that companies with diverse cultures and more than 30 percent female leadership representation are likely to outperform their less diverse peers – in creativity and innovation, better decision-making, better risk management and higher return on capital’’.
DEI are essential for creating and sustaining a thriving and innovative society and the new learning module is an important tool to unite EL Members in advocating for the inclusion of all genders in key positions in the lottery sector. True change will only happen once ingrained societal patterns are changed, and we can collectively create an environment where all individuals, regardless of gender feel safe, valued and heard.
In addition to EL’s work on the DEI Growth Environment, for several years, the Association has pioneered the Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership (WiLL) Mentoring Programme in Europe. More and more male colleagues are stepping up to get involved and advocate for the advancement of women into top positions of lottery management. This example demonstrates that change is possible and a drive for the future.
ENDS
Notes
[1] DEI Growth Environment on the EL Learning Platform (for EL Members only) https://europeanlotteries.flowsparks.com/?store=75ce2bc4-9c68-4cfc-a4a0-fe6d74bc7ffb
[2] EL Press release https://www.european-lotteries.org/news/international-womens-day-2024
About The European Lotteries (EL) is the European umbrella organissation of national lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit in more than 40 European countries with around 50 Members in all EU Member States. It is the largest and most representative lottery and gambling sector’s organisation in Europe whose members only operate in those jurisdictions in which they are licensed and where they comply with the legal requirements. EL stands for the sound and sustainable gaming model for the benefit of society based on the values of responsibility, sustainability, and integrity. Over 2022, the money contributed to society by all the members of EL amounted to just over 22 billion euros, a year-on-year growth of a little over 11%.
Contact: Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson, EL Communications Officer, E-mail: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson
Communications Officer
[cid:[email protected]]<https://www.european-lotteries.org/>
THE EUROPEAN LOTTERIES
Avenue des Nerviens 9-31, 1040 Brussels (B)
M +32 470 847 573
– I am not in the office on Mondays –
www.european-lotteries.org<http://www.european-lotteries.org/> | [X Logo – Vecteurs et PSD gratuits à télécharger] <https://twitter.com/EuropeLotteries> [cid:[email protected]] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-european-lotteries>
[cid:[email protected]]<https://www.european-lotteries.org/events/el-industry-days-2024-salzburg>
The N.C. Education Lottery celebrated its Women in Lottery Leadership (WILL) chapter, the first of its kind in the nation, this month with a visit from a trailblazer who inspired the creation of the group and championed the role women can play in the future of the lottery industry.
Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery and president of the World Lottery Association, began the WILL initiative in 2016 as a way to drive business growth through supporting the advancement of women into top positions of lottery management, leadership and responsibility. In her 40-year career, Paul has served as Chief Executive of the Illinois, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee lotteries. In three of those four states she led the start-up and remains at the helm in the Volunteer State after 20 years.
“Often times, women have not had the same career opportunities as men,” Paul said. “So, it is a wonderful role that WILL is playing to help give talented, passionate women the chance to advance their careers.”
Paul says women bring a valuable perspective to organizations and can be strong listeners, mentors, and collaborators. In a visit to the lottery headquarters in Raleigh, she urged members to ask questions, cross-train, and learn everything they can about the lottery business.
The North Carolina WILL chapter first met last year and serves as a platform for women to network and prepare themselves to take leadership positions. Paul wants to see more chapters spring up at other lotteries and hopes the North Carolina chapter will serve as a model.
Paul’s visit attracted more than 60 employees to hear of her experience and get her advice for professional growth.
The WILL chapter is just one effort at the North Carolina Education Lottery aimed at empowering employees. The lottery launched an Employee Resource Group (ERG) program with committees for minority employees, young professionals, and volunteers in community service. As voluntary, employee-led groups, ERGs bring work colleagues together based on a common identity, interest, or purpose and provide educational and networking opportunities.
Panel Discussion:
Progress in the empowerment and advancement of Women in Lottery State of WILL (Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership) Moderator: Rebecca Paul, President & CEO, Tennessee Education Lottery, President of the World Lottery Association, and Founder and Chair of WILL
Panelists:
Richard Bateson, Chief Commercial Officer, INTRALOT, Inc. Wendy Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability , IGT
Jennifer Welshons, Chief Marketing Officer, Scientific Games Jennifer Westbury, Executive Vice President Sales & Customer Development, Pollard Banknote
CO-HOSTED by PGRI, Inc., The Tennessee Lottery, and our Industry-Leading Sponsors
The W Nashville Hotel
Tuesday September 12
3:00 pm WILL (Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership) session
Take Command and Win’ Special Guest Speaker: Captain Gail Harris, United States Navy (Retired)
Bloom Where You’re Planted: Turning a desert experience into an oasis of opportunity. Through hard work fired by courage and persistence- she became the highest ranking African-American female in the U.S. Navy
Captain Harris created the U.S. Navy’s first course on ocean surveillance information systems and taught the Anti-Submarine Warfare and Soviet Surface Operations courses. She was one of the first two women assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence’s War Gaming Team Detachment at the Naval War College, and was chosen to be commander of the Soviet Union’s Theater military forces. Gail coordinated the Defense Department’s Intelligence support for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, headed the Intelligence Department for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two, in Rota, Spain, with the mission was to support U.S. military and aircraft carrier operations with intelligence reports during the Gulf War.
During her service, between 1992 and 1996, in the Middle East, as the intelligence planner for Commander U.S. Forces Central Command, she also headed the U.S. Navy’s Iraqi Crisis Action Cell and Intelligence Watch Center during crisis operations in the Persian Gulf. At this time, she was also specifically chosen by the director of Naval Intelligence and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command to fill in as acting naval attache, Egypt, for a five-month period, becoming the first female attache to a Middle Eastern country. For her last assignment, Harris was selected to develop intelligence policy for computer network defense and computer network attack for the Department of Defense.
Upon her retirement from military service, Harris worked for Lockheed Martin as an intelligence subject matter expert, has been a contributing author to books such as Wake Up and Live Your Life With Passion, and Lies and Limericks: Inspirations from Ireland, and is currently finishing her book/memoir War On Any Given Day. And she still makes time to host a weekly R&B radio show
WILL (Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership)
Panel Discussion: Progress in the Empowerment and Advancement of Women in Lottery
WILL (Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership)
Moderator: Rebecca Paul, President & CEO, Tennessee Lottery, President of the World Lottery Association, and Founder and Chair of WILL
Panelists:
Richard Bateson, Chief Commercial Officer, INTRALOT, Inc.
Wendy Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability, IGT
Jennifer Welshons, Chief Marketing Officer, Scientific Games
Jennifer Westbury, Executive Vice President Sales & Customer Development, Pollard Banknote
IGT Wins “Diversity and Inclusion” Category at 2023 Women in Gaming Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards
PR Newswire
LONDON, June 13, 2023
Company recognized for commitment to DEI initiatives at the highly regarded global awards program
LONDON, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — International Game Technology PLC (“IGT”) (NYSE: IGT) announced today that it won the “Diversity and Inclusion” category at the 2023 Women in Gaming (WIG) Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards last week in London. The annual awards program recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding commitment to enhancing diversity, equality, and inclusion within the gaming industry.
“IGT winning the “Diversity and Inclusion” category at the WIG Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards reflects our commitment to creating a workplace culture that is empowering to women and their colleagues globally,” said Brian Blake, IGT Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “We are dedicated to our ongoing efforts to embrace our core values and embed equality across our organization while setting a standard of excellence in the gaming industry that empowers our employees, stakeholders, and the communities we serve.”
Since IGT created its Office of Diversity & Inclusion in 2018, the Company has executed various programs, policies, and systems that have promoted multiple dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion. These include facilitating mandatory and elective employee training courses that support the Company’s anti-discrimination commitments, implementing more inclusive and equitable hiring processes, and offering competitive benefits for same-sex partners.
IGT has also expanded its global roadmap for its employee-led and executive-sponsored Diversity & Inclusion Groups (DIGs), which include the Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN), ACE (Employees of African descent), PRIDE (LGBTQ+), Wealth of Wisdom (employees 50+), NEXGEN (millennial and Gen Z employees), and more.
To learn more about IGT’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, visit IGT.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About IGT
IGT (NYSE:IGT) is a global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated segments, from Lotteries and Gaming Machines to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivaled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 jurisdictions around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 10,500 employees. For more information, please visit www.igt.com.
Contact:
Phil O’Shaughnessy, Global Communications, toll free in U.S./Canada +1 (844) IGT-7452; outside U.S./Canada +1 (401) 392-7452
Francesco Luti, Italian media inquiries, +39 06 5189 9184
James Hurley, Investor Relations, +1 (401) 392-7190
(c) 2023 IGT
The trademarks and/or service marks used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of IGT, its affiliates or its licensors.
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SOURCE International Game Technology PLC