Veteran sports analyst Scott Pioli is a firm believer that a woman will be able to make a successful NFL general manager.
Pioli write a strongly worded column on the topic and his views are illuminating.
“In my time working in the NFL, I have encountered several women who would have made strong general managers. Unfortunately, I have also seen how women can be sidelined from this career path, with their roles unfairly minimized by titles that diminish their value, even when they are performing jobs that are equivalent to those executed by men with more prestigious titles."
Pioli most recently worked as the assistant manager at the Atlanta Falcons and has been a front office executive for some of the sport"s biggest franchises.
He served the Patriots, Browns, Jets, Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs with distinction.
He was part of the three-time Superbowl winning Patriots.
He is a big fan of Dawn Aponte. “Dawn Aponte has more than three decades of experience and is currently the NFL"s Chief Football Administrative Officer. Her lengthy résumé, work ethic and drive make her more than qualified."
Aponte recently shared the following with Pioli,
“Your job is 8 to 6. You build your career before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.,
“I took that to heart, and [that"s] why I spent nights and weekends staying in the facility to do research projects, FedEx or fax paperwork, pick up dinner, type contract language or whatever else needed to be done."
The pair worked together at the Jets and the media analyst had fond memories sharing a strong message from the tireless Aponte.
“Dawn [Aponte] began her career with the New York Jets in 1991 as a summer intern, a role she served in until 1993; in 1994, she was hired full time as a staff accountant. Early on in her time with the Jets, she told a team executive that she eventually wanted to work on the football side of the organization. He chuckled while responding, “That"s cute, but you know women working on the football side is just not culturally acceptable.'"
It is time for a woman GM, who will break the ceiling?
