Jenny Gaffney is a project management director at Voya Financial. She previously led ESPN’s digital sports portfolio and worked on Disney’s ESPN+ launch team.
Gaffney’s passionate about the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in tech. She serves as secretary on The Children’s Museum board of trustees. She is a family patient advisor at Yale New Haven Health, supporting NNICU families and digital patient experience initiatives. She’s also a volunteer at Gifts of Love.
Gaffney holds an MBA and advanced business certificates from UConn, and a bachelor’s degree from Cumberland University. She resides in Wolcott with her husband, Chris, and their children, Grace, 6, and Senny, 4.
What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far?
I lead digital experience initiatives and post-acquisition integrations with emotional intelligence, curiosity and agility. Most notably, I helped launch ESPN+ at Disney, and was the program management lead overseeing the ESPN digital sports portfolio.
I’m proud of fostering cross-functional collaboration, building diverse talent pipelines, and mentoring others.
What’s the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally?
With nearly 20 years of experience, I’m eager to tackle new challenges by leveraging my education and expertise to drive innovation, develop future leaders, and solve problems critically. I thrive on organizing chaos and enjoy exploring AI to enhance products, streamline processes, and create space for more strategic thinking.
What’s one of the biggest professional challenges you’ve overcome?
One of my biggest challenges has been navigating career transitions due to evolving technology and shifting priorities. I’ve learned to stay agile, embrace change and see each shift as an opportunity to grow.
These experiences reinforced the power of networking and the importance of valuing my worth beyond any role.
What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over?
I want to create a legacy my family is proud of — one of leadership, inclusivity and innovation. I want to be remembered for giving back to my community and for mentoring and helping women break into tech. I want to inspire the next generation of leaders.