ATHENA International Announces a Transition in Leadership
A global leader in women’s leadership development and awards, ATHENA International announced that Traci (Sliester) Costa has been named as the next President and Chief Executive Officer for ATHENA International. Current ATHENA International Board Chair, Sheri Jones states, “Ann Playter, retiring President & CEO, has been the most dedicated ATHENA International board member-turned-President in our history. We are indebted to Ann for all she has done to keep us on track despite a global pandemic. We now have a clear vision and path to financial stability thanks to the collaboration between the staff and Board of Directors of ATHENA International in developing our new strategic plan.” Ann will support Traci in transition over the next several weeks and will remain a passionate advocate for ATHENA moving forward. "My time with ATHENA has been some of the most rewarding of my life. I will forever be grateful for the relationships I have built and am excited to watch it grow under Traci's leadership" Ann stated.
Traci (Sliester) Corey is no stranger to ATHENA International. In 2018, Traci was honored as an ATHENA Leadership Award recipient for her dedication to developing women leaders and was named to the ATHENA International Board of Directors. She assumes this new leadership role after recently serving as the Vice President for ATHENA International. “Traci comes to us with incredible passion, impeccable credentials, proof of her commitment to ATHENA International based on the work she has done over the past several years creating curriculum, leading cohorts, and now developing our new business plan. Having Traci in this position will allow us to profoundly capitalize on our current momentum.” Stated Sheri.
Prior to ATHENA International, Traci was the founding director of the Olivet College Women’s Leadership Institute, North Central Region Manager of the Arizona Community Foundation and former NCAA Division 1 volleyball coach and athlete. All these experiences have shaped her vision for women’s leadership, and she is passionate about helping them awaken their unique superpowers.
“I stand on the shoulders of the amazing leaders that have come before me at ATHENA International. I am honored and excited to work with the incredible leaders that will walk this journey with me.” Traci says. She also states, “Martha Mertz’s book, Becoming ATHENA, The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership and the Becoming ATHENA Leadership Program have forever changed me. The first principle, Live Authentically, has been my guidepost; it is the foundation upon which I have and will continue to build my life and leadership. It is important to know who you are at your core and stand in that truth.” ATHENA International’s trademark leadership model and programs have long been touted to provide the tools, knowledge and atmosphere for individuals and organizations to develop a pipeline of balanced, diverse leadership by showing participants how to recognize and cultivate their own personal, POWERFUL LEADERSHIP STYLE. The Becoming Athena Leadership Program, especially, has ignited the transformative leadership awareness, skills and implementation necessary to thrive in these unusual times. Traci is “honored and excited to take ATHENA International into a new and expanded place of impact and growth.”