Poker Power, a company led by women for women, on Thursday said it has added three poker superstars to its new advisory board.
The company said Xuan Liu, Jennifer Shahade and Melanie Weisner will work with Poker Power to help those who identify as female learn the key life and professional skills poker offers, including decision-making, strategic thinking, capital allocation and risk management.
The new advisory board will participate in player outreach, Poker Power said, as well as curriculum and product development.
The members of the board also will serve as brand ambassadors, which Poker Power said will further its commitment to partnering with leading organizations, such as the Kellogg School of Management and the Women’s Poker Association.
“I am honored to work with these incredible women, who share our mission and vision for the organization,” Erin Lydon, managing director and general manager of Poker Power, said in a statement. “Poker Power as a whole will benefit from their years in the industry and expertise in the field.”
According to Lydon, Shahade has contributed to the meteoric rise of poker as an ambassador for the game. Shahade’s podcast, “The Grid,” was named 2020 Podcast of the Year by the Global Poker Awards.
Shahade is a Pokerstars pro as well as a two-time women's chess champion, the first woman to win the US Junior Open, and the author of several books including "Chess Queens" (2022).
Passionate about female empowerment, Shahade thinks poker offers many important lessons that can be particularly useful to women.
“I love the potential of poker to make me a better version of myself,” she said. “Poker can help anyone make better decisions.”
Poker industry consultant, bilingual commentator and champion Liu has played the game since she was a child and at some of the highest levels for most of her adult life. Poker Power said she is known for her extensive winnings in tournament poker.
“Poker can arm women with essential life skills, such as learning the beauty of risk, negotiating like a pro and taking control,” Liu said. “These are all lessons they can take from the game room to the boardroom for the rest of their lives.”
Professional poker player and coach Weisner holds multiple European Poker Tour Ladies' Event titles, a World Poker Tour Six-Max title, and has cashed 40 times in the World Series of Poker. She has competed on televised poker shows, including the “World Series of Poker,” “Poker After Dark,” “Premier League Poker” and “Late Night Poker.”
“Poker isn’t just a game of cards, it is about strong decision-making and the methodology of calculating precise, high-value decisions in a sea of imprecise information that models the business world in a fascinating way,” Weisner said.
