Sports Shaped These 6 Women Into Industry Powerhouses. Here Are Their Biggest Lessons.

Q: What percentage of women in leadership roles played sports?

Seventy-one percent of women in formal leadership roles have early ties to sports.

Q: How do sports influence women's leadership skills?

Sports teach valuable lessons such as teamwork and leadership, which translate into professional success.

Q: What is the significance of women in C-suite positions having sports backgrounds?

Ninety-four percent of women in C-suite positions played sports, highlighting the impact of sports on developing leadership qualities.

A collage of six individuals participating in various sports-related activities.

These Women Are Transforming the Future of SportsHearst Owned

When girls play sports, they do more than compete. They learn how to lead.

Research shows that 94 percent of women who hold C-suite positions in the U.S. played sports at some point in their lives, while 71 percent of women in formal leadership roles (such as manager, director, or president) also have early ties to sports. This is no coincidence: Decades of studies prove that sports teach lessons that translate far beyond the field of play.

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Hearst Owned

Today, we know that young women who participate in sports report higher levels of confidence at all ages, a stronger sense of meaning and purpose, and a greater likelihood of pursuing their dream careers than those who never had the chance to compete.

The sports industry in 2026 looks very different than it did when Title IX was passed nearly 54 years ago, and that’s because women take up more space across the sports ecosystem than ever before. The future of sports will be shaped by women in boardrooms, owners’ boxes, and front offices—women who unapologetically stand up for what they believe in and have fun doing it. Women are not only sitting at the most influential tables; they are at the heads of those tables, influencing every aspect of the industry and redefining how sports are built, financed, marketed, and experienced.

Ahead, you’ll meet six individuals who are among those game changers. Each has taken a unique path in sports and built a career in a different corner of the business. Yet their stories have a common thread: Their relationships with sports began when they were kids. They are proof of the power of sports to change the game for everyone.