GladiatHer ®
Noun. Root words- Gladiator, Her. A fierce woman who tackles life and the world on her own terms. She sacrifices blood, sweat, tears and time in the pursuit of her purpose. The GladiatHer ® is a strong, smart, dedicated woman who gives her all at home, at work and in her community. There is no stopping the GladiatHer ®
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In 2013, GladiatHers.com was born out of the desire to educate the masses about the status of women in sports beyond competition, injuries and trades. GladiatHers.com was dedicated to looking beyond the field of play at thought-provoking issues like equal pay, sexism, racism and personal development that women in sports face on a daily basis. Since its inception GladiatHers.com has grown to touch the lives of women in sports and those outside of the sports world. Our mission is to help women from all walks of life pursue their passions and purposes in spite of what the world throws at them. Join us for the journey!
About the Founder & CEO of GladiatHers®
Cecelia Townes
Cecelia Townes, the Sporty Esquire, is a graduate of Howard University and UCLA School of Law. As an undergrad Cecelia was a 4-Time Academic All-American of the Women’s Tennis team. Cecelia currently serves as Employment Counsel at Lyft where she uses her over 10 years of legal practice in employment and labor law to handle performance and disciplinary issues, employment policies, and claims of harassment, discrimination and unlawful employment practices. She has successfully protected her clients from over $5 million in losses. While engaging in a full-time legal practice, Cecelia also remains dedicated to sports and empowering women. She is a Contributing Writer for Forbes.com where she comments on issues related to women in sports. She also created and runs GladiatHers®, an organization dedicated to women in sports and women who want to achieve their maximum potential. GladiatHers® hosts the Gladiathers® Tribe, events, workshops and a mentorship program. Cecelia serves on the Board of Directors of Next Level Tennis & Education, (a non-profit dedicated to developing talented, well-rounded, successful tennis players). She makes regular appearances on podcasts. She also hosts her own series, Workin’ Women Wednesdays (on YouTube) which provides tips on professional and personal development. Cecelia is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
GladiatHers® Team
Lisa Graddy
Business Development
Lisa is a brand leader with experience in several aspects of marketing. Early in her career as the Director of Marketing for a regional sports network, she realized impactful marketing was about building strong connections for engagement. She expanded on this knowledge to create and execute marketing strategies in the entertainment industry with National CineMedia by connecting brands to engaged consumer movie-going audiences. Never one to rest on her laurels, she also gained B2B marketing expertise in technology working with International brands Barco, GSMA and Rexel.
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Her passion for helping others drives her desire to serve the community. Through active membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and Junior League of Atlanta, she volunteers her time on initiatives with these organizations to make a difference.
Meneftha Pierre
Content & Operations Manager
Meneftha Pierre is a South Florida native who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Communication from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2015. She also graduated with her Master of Business Administration in Sport Management from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in 2018. Pierre has over five years of varying experience in sports at the collegiate, non-profit and professional level. She currently serves as the Content and Operations Manager for GladiatHers.
Charlene Castellanos
Marketing Director
Charlene Castellanos is a Chief Strategist developing stand-out businesses and personas through powerful brand and marketing strategies, sell-out launches, and creating unforgettable public personas. An Air Force veteran, Charlene is a diligent and insightful leader with an in-depth understanding of the power of strategy, reputation, and brand influence. Earning an MA in Public Relations and BS in Marketing Communications, Charlene has developed and honed a strategic mindset for communications, brand and marketing alchemy, and public persuasion. Charlene partners with business owners and public personas who want to create a legacy.
Shari-Zhane Langley
Social Media Manager
Originally from the sunshine state of Florida, Shari-Zhane Langley has been everywhere from the east coast to the west coast. Discovering her love for sports in high school as the basketball and soccer team manager/student athletic trainer, Shari went on to gain a bachelor's in sports management from Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. There she was extremely active in the athletic department working closely under the Athletic Director and Sports Information Director. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude, she was accepted to work as the sports marketing coordinator for Eastern Florida State College. After a year, she began to pursue a Master's degree at the illustrious University of South Carolina. She has worked with professional organizations such as the US Tennis Association (USTA), Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland A's, and the Atlanta Hawks. In the past year, she has been a part of the GladiatHers® family as Social Media Manager. Shari is an Account Coordinator at PeterMayer Integrated Marketing Agency. She is a proud member of THEE Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she continues her founder's vision of women's equality and voting.