The Silfen Leadership Series is an initiative wherein world-renowned leaders come to campus to speak to students. It is funded by an endowment set up by David ’68 and Lyn Silfen. Each year, a board of six to eight students is selected, with whom we work to run each Silfen session.
As a student-run venture, in conjunction with the Dean's Office and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, the Series aims to enhance the shared access to intellectual capital between students and the leaders who drive organizations, societies, and markets forward.
This session will be featuring Portia Archer '99
Portia Archer joined the NBA in February 2020 as Chief Operating Officer of the NBA G League, the official professional development league of the NBA. In her role, Portia leads the operating activities and commercial growth of the league with oversight of content and media distribution, fan development and engagement, global partnerships, and strategic initiatives. During her tenure, the G League has experienced unprecedented growth and expansion in the U.S. and globally, including a record thirty-two teams and four new franchises in Mexico City, MX, Henderson, NV, Portland, OR, and Phoenix, AZ. Portia is the first woman and African American to serve in this role.
Prior to joining the NBA, Portia served as Senior Vice President and GM, Direct-to-Consumer at NBC Sports Group. In her role, she led the strategy and launch, sports rights acquisition, subscriber growth, product management and day-to-day operations of NBC Sports Gold -- NBC’s first live streaming subscription product and predecessor to Peacock TV. Portia has also held executive leadership roles at British Broadcasting Corporation in London (BBC), Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO) and Booz Allen Hamilton (Strategy&).
In addition to her professional roles, Portia is a passionate ally and champion for the advancement of women and girls. She serves as a Trustee and Executive Board member of the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King and co-founded NBC Sports Group’s first mentorship program, “Huddle Up,” dedicated to fostering connections, growth opportunities and increasing inclusion. Portia has been recognized by Adweek as among the Most Powerful Women in Sports, a George A. Owens Trailblazer by Columbia Business School and a Sports Business Journal “Game Changer”.
Portia earned an A.B. in Public Policy and Economics from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Columbia Business School.