The Power of the Game : A Panel on Sports, Risk, and Things No One Tells You

Sports have always been more than just a game. They are a powerful lens through which we discover the qualities that connect us as human beings and inspire us to reach our greatest potential. This panel discussion explores how the lessons learned on the field, golf course, court, and more translate directly into everyday life, from setting meaningful goals and embracing pressure, to managing fear and finding the courage to perform at your best. 

Timeless qualities—resilience, discipline, integrity, humility, curiosity, authenticity—shape not only great athletes, but great people. Life is filled with transitions, and our speakers offer a thoughtful framework for how to evaluate change, stay present, and use every pivot point as a stepping stone toward your next chapter. Whether you're an athlete, a professional, or simply someone striving for balance and purpose, this is a conversation about living with passion, staying humble, and building a life guided by the same principles that define true sportsmanship.

Lindsay Czarniak is an EMMY- and Gracie award-winning broadcaster known for her work across sports and entertainment. Most recently, Lindsay hosted the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics for NBCUniversal on the USA Network and NBC Sports’ College Countdown for the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season. Last year, Lindsay launched her new interview podcast Things No One Tells You, exploring the conversations we don’t always have but should. Previously, Lindsay held on-air hosting and sideline reporting roles for FOX, NFL, and NASCAR, CBS’s Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). She worked at ESPN from 2011 to 2017, anchoring Sportscenter and contributing to Sunday NFL Countdown as a reporter and host in the field. During this time, she became the first woman to host the network’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500 on ABC. Lindsay began her career as an on-air news reporter for WAWS/WTEV-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, before transitioning to cover sports at WTVJ in Miami and FOX Sports’ Speed Channel as an ARCA RACING SERIES pit reporter. From Miami she moved to WRC, the NBC affiliate in Washington, DC where she worked for the legendary George Michael as a sports reporter/anchor and fill-in host of “The George Michael Sports Machine”. Lindsay grew up learning about horse racing from her father, Chet Czarniak, who began covering the sport for USA Today in the early 1980’s.

Ann Ligouri's career in sports media spans four decades across radio, television, print, and digital platforms. She is the first woman to host her own weekly call-in sports talk show on WFAN-NY, the nation’s first all-sports radio station. She is also the first woman to host and produce her own prime-time series on The Golf Channel. Her signature television achievement, 'Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori,' is the long-running sports interview series Ann hosted, executive produced, and owns. At a time when few women hosted sports programs, Liguori independently secured sponsorship and retained ownership of all broadcast rights. She now licenses this rare archival collection for documentaries and productions. Ann continues to host award-winning radio shows and podcasts including 'Talking Golf with Ann Liguori,'  'Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori,' and 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori.' Liguori has covered more than 25 Masters Tournaments, dozens of U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, Ryder Cups, PGA and LPGA Tour events, and nearly 40 consecutive U.S. Open Tennis Championships, along with six Olympic Games for network radio rights holders. She is a frequent expert commentator on FOX, Bloomberg, and the BBC. Ann is the President of Ann Liguori Productions and Founder of the Ann Liguori Foundation, which supports cancer research, in addition to supporting scholarships and mentoring young women pursuing sports media careers, through her annual charity golf classic held in The Hamptons. Ann is the author of two books: A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings about the Game and Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf.

Stephanie Szostak is a French-American actress and author who recently starred as one of the leads in the Sony feature film Soul on Fire. Other screen credits include A Million Little Things, Iron Man 3, and The Devil Wears Prada. Szostak left her native France to study business and play Division1 golf at William & Mary. At twenty-nine, she left the corporate world behind to pursue acting. Ten years into her career, while navigating imposter syndrome, she began reshaping her mindset and developed a personal Playbook as a daily mental-fitness practice. Her book, SELF!SH offers a template for others to create their unique Playbook for life. Stephanie is committed to sharing stories on stage, on screen, and in community that deepen belonging, spark recognition, and remind us of the shared humanity that connects us. She donates half of her book proceeds to the national mental health organization Give an Hour.