New Tory Burch Sports Fellowship is 'opportunity of a lifetime’
The ITF and the Tory Burch Foundation have today announced the first ever Sports Fellowship for early-stage women entrepreneurs.
The Tory Burch Foundation Sports Fellowship empowered by ITF Advantage All (the global governing body’s gender equality strategy) will provide the opportunity for a woman entrepreneur in sports to grow their businesses through workshops, coaching sessions, network-building and financial resources.
Aligned with the aims of the ITF Advantage All strategy which seeks to empower, inspire and enable women and girls to reach their full potential, the Fellowship will support a woman entrepreneur whose work involves the development of solutions to global challenges in the sports sector.
The Fellowship was announced at the Champions of Equity lunch event at the USA v Austria Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier tie in Delray Beach on Friday 15 April, via a live panel discussion between Katrina Adams (ITF Vice President and Chair of ITF Advantage All Committee), Gabrielle Raymond McGee (Chief Operating Officer, Tory Burch Foundation) and Billie Jean King.
Starting in the summer of 2023, the successful Sports Fellow will receive a range of benefits including a $5,000 educational grant from Tory Burch Foundation, access to 0% interest loans and one-to-one mentorships.
They will have the opportunity to collaborate with other Tory Fellows alumni and advisors through online networking and small group sessions, as well as access to specialised working groups and resources from an extensive video and article library.
The winner will also travel to watch the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals in November - the largest annual team competition in women’s sport and a platform for women’s empowerment.
David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “We are proud to be part of the conception and creation of the new Tory Burch Foundation Sports Fellowship empowered by ITF Advantage All. The Tory Burch Foundation, with its goal to empower women, aligns perfectly with our Advantage All strategy and makes the organisation a perfect Global Partner for the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge. We both seek to identify, champion and provide a tangible development pathway for women who embrace ambition, to help them achieve sustainable growth and make a positive lasting difference by reaching their goals.”
Gabrielle Raymond McGee, Tory Burch Foundation COO, said: “We’re on a mission to support a woman founder that will change the game in sports. Similar to the sports world for women, there are huge systematic barriers and bias that hold women founders back. Through the Tory Burch Sports Fellowship empowered by ITF’s Advantage All, we will tackle these barriers. In addition to the Fellowship, we’re focused on shining a light to make sure that women are embedded in all levels and through all aspects of the sports world. Tennis is the sport that has made the greatest strides for equality and that’s because of Billie Jean King. Not only do we want to see women entrepreneurs in the sports world succeed, but we also want to call out that women belong in all places in sports – in leadership, in the Board room, in ownership, and beyond.“
A Joint Selection Committee will approve the selection of the successful participant, and will be made up of David Haggerty, Katrina Adams, Gabrielle Raymond McGee and Heesun Lho, Tory Burch Foundation, Director of Programs.
For more information visit: https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/external-fellowships/