ABSTRACT
Women who aspire to work in the business of sport face many challenges because sport has historically been the domain of men. Nevertheless, there are a number of women who have led the way in making significant contributions to teams, leagues, and corporations associated with professional sport. The stories behind these trailblazing women are fascinating and inspirational. This chapter highlights a few of these amazing women from several sectors of the sport industry. Among others, this chapter includes: Effa Manley, the first women inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; Val Ackerman, the first President of the Women’s National Basketball Association; Amy Trask, Chief Executive Officer of the Oakland Raiders; Lesa France Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of International Speedway Corporation; Anita DeFrantz, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee Executive Board; Christine Driessen, Chief Financial Officer of ESPN; Alison Overholt, Editor-in-Chief of ESPN The Magazine; Lisa Murray, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Octagon; and Billie Jean King, a legendary leader in the sport of tennis and advocate of equal rights. This chapter profiles the success stories of these women and others, and notes the challenges they faced as business leaders working in the male-dominated world of sport.
