We Need Female Changemakers in Sports and Business

Thursday Thoughts, Inspiration, Motivation for Women in Business, Women in Sports, Females

As the wind howled out my window, I prayed my Internet and electricity would stay on. It was one of those rare, but bountiful days, when the opportunity to listen to four females in the athletic world came to my doorstep – or my computer screen. The Town Hall discussion was on Title IX and the future for Women Coaches and Leaders. Not yet a coach, but born of two coaches, and a woman determined to see equality across the board for all women, I tuned in.

I know people are tired of Zoom presentations but I love them especially when someone like Muffet McGraw, one of the leading female basketball coaches of all time, is virtually sitting 12 inches from your face inspiring and educating you. Thanks to the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, programs like this exist and work to expand women’s equality in sports, besides pleura of other initiatives.

Joining Muffet McGraw was Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports, Kristen Bourne, Cross Country Skier and USA D Team Coach, Gloria Nevarez, Commissioner of the WCC.  Each woman had broken barriers to get to their positions. Listening to them reminded me that women – whether women in business, advancement or sports – still face strong barriers to gain high levels of administration and leadership opportunities in male-dominated industries. The glass is cracking but very slowly.

The biggest takeaway for me after listening for an hour is that every woman needs to believe that women can lead. We need networks of other women to help us. We need women ahead of us to help us advance. We need to be confident and show our competence. We have to try for positions we don’t think we can get, and be prepared in the interviews to land them. Women can’t back down. We must push ahead if anything is to change.

Do you want to be a change maker?