Earlier this afternoon at 101 Marietta Street (formerly the Centennial Tower) in downtown Atlanta, the Atlanta Hawks and Papa Johns hosted an interactive workshop entitled, ‘No Cap: Authenticity in Leadership’ for metro Atlanta high school and college students.

The workshop was facilitated by Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Expert Dr. Derek Greenfield and included a panel of team members from the Hawks and Papa Johns on the importance of embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in their everyday lives. 

“We are grateful to our partners at Papa Johns who share our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Hawks’ Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alexis Roe. “There’s nothing more valuable than building an inclusive experience for the next generation of Atlanta leaders and learning how those values apply in our everyday lives. It’s experiences like today’s event that encourage youth to amplify and support progress toward a better community.”

The panel featured Hawks and Papa Johns team members including Victor Balderas (Group Experiences Consultant at the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena), Calvin Pegus (Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Inclusion Resource Group and Team Member Experience Manager at Papa Johns), Alexis Roe (Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena) and Tim Whang (Vice President of Global Partnership Activation at the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena).

Moderated by Dr. Greenfield, the panel highlighted the importance of authenticity in leadership and to how create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.  

“At Papa Johns, the number one strategic priority for our company is to build a culture of leaders who believe in diversity, inclusivity and winning, and our commitment to DEI must extend beyond our own walls,” said Jenn Garner, Papa Johns Director of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability. “By partnering with the Atlanta Hawks to host workshops like this, young leaders in the Atlanta area are being equipped to cultivate diverse and inclusive environments throughout their careers.”

To conclude the event, Papa Johns provided refreshments and light bites for attendees. The workshop was part of the Hawks and Papa Johns ‘Business of Basketball’ events, which are focused on youth leadership development for local high school and college students. 

In February 2022, the Hawks announced a multi-year exclusive partnership with Papa Johns to become the team’s official pizza partner. In June 2022, the Atlanta Hawks and Papa Johns hosted an interactive workshop entitled, ‘Why Inclusive Leaders are Good for Organizations and How to Become One,’ for students from surrounding universities at Morehouse College.

The workshop brought together local students from surrounding historically black colleges and universities for a discussion on creating positive and productive work environments that encourage the success of team members, organizations and the communities they serve. Additionally, the partnership focuses on positively impacting the community in multiple ways including ‘Hawks Spirit Days’, memorable experiences for youth at select Community Centers around Atlanta.

For more information about the Hawks’ efforts in the community, visit Hawks.com/community.