Women Leaders in College Sports

What Women Leaders in College Sports does

Women Leaders in College Sports (legally Women Leaders in Sports) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1979 as the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and rebranded in 2017. The organization is dedicated to advancing women in sports leadership and serves a network of more than 6,700 individual members drawn from over 1,300 brands and organizations spanning NCAA athletics, professional sports leagues and franchises, sports technology vendors, sports architecture, and sports tourism. It operates from a single headquarters at 1919 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, Missouri (EIN 56-2186122).

The core offering is a multi-product professional development ecosystem rather than a software platform. Members receive access to the Membership Program, the annual National Convention (1,200+ attendees, 50+ hours of programming), Leadership Development Experiences grounded in five pillars (Performance, Presence, Influence, Mindset, Career Strategy), the Career Catalyst Series of virtual training, 22 Member Circles (affinity-based networking groups), virtual roundtables, the ENGAGE online community platform, an industry Job Board, scholarships, and an Annual Awards Program co-sponsored with Nike and BSN SPORTS. Underlying technology is limited to off-the-shelf community, job board, and e-commerce platforms; the organization does not build proprietary software.

Revenue is generated through at least six diversified streams: recurring membership dues (active/individual gift at $75, student/intern at $50, plus enterprise tiers), convention registration and corporate sponsorships, fee-based job board postings ($200 for non-members, complimentary for members), merchandise/apparel e-commerce, tax-deductible donations across multiple structured giving programs (Champions for Change, PowHER Pledge, President's Fund, 5N5) and endowments, and custom leadership training services for organizations. Distribution is community-led, anchored by the annual convention and word-of-mouth among sports industry professionals, with enterprise membership packages allowing organizations to enroll multiple staff members.

Name

Women Leaders in College Sports

Legal name

Women Leaders in Sports

Website

https://womenleadersincollegesports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Women Leaders in College Sports is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization founded in 1979 that provides leadership development, an annual convention, networking, career resources, and awards to advance women in sports leadership across 6,700+ members and 1,300+ organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association & Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations (MPAKACAA)

Keywords

• Women sports leadership
• Professional membership organization
• Leadership development training
• Industry networking events
• Career advancement resources

Headquarters

HQ city

North Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to networking, professional development resources, member circles, job board, and convention discounts.
2. National Convention Revenue: Convention registration fees and sponsorships. Convention draws over 1,200 attendees annually with over 50 hours of programming.
3. Job Board Postings: Fee-based job postings on the organization's job board reaching thousands of women working across the sports industry. Members receive complimentary postings.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise store selling apparel, accessories including t-shirts, bomber jackets, hats, beanies, and youth/infant items.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations as 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 56-2186122). Multiple giving programs including Champions for Change, PowHER pledges, President's Fund, 5N5 donors, and endowment contributions.
6. Leadership Experiences: Revenue from immersive training programs including the Career Catalyst Series virtual training and custom leadership training for organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women Leaders in College Sports operates a paid annual membership program for women professionals working in the sports industry, supported by an annual National Convention, immersive Leadership Development Experiences, virtual Career Catalyst training, an industry Job Board, scholarships, awards programming, and an online community platform (ENGAGE). The organization delivers professional development, networking, mentorship, and career resources across 22 affinity-based Member Circles spanning every sector of the sports industry.

Product overview

Women Leaders in College Sports operates as a unified membership-based professional development ecosystem rather than a traditional product company. The core offerings center on the Membership Program as the primary access point, supplemented by the National Convention (annual flagship event), Leadership Development Experiences (immersive training), and the Career Catalyst Series (virtual sessions). Supporting products include the Job Board, Scholarships, Member Circles (affinity groups), Annual Awards Program, ENGAGE platform, Custom Leadership Training, Endowments, and Calendar of Events. The portfolio is designed to provide end-to-end career support for women in sports leadership from entry-level to executive positions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual paid membership providing women sports professionals access to networking, professional development resources, Member Circles, Job Board complimentary postings, scholarship eligibility, and National Convention discounts.
• National Convention Annual multi-day flagship convening featuring keynotes, networking, and professional development sessions for women in sports leadership, with paid registration.
• Leadership Development Experiences Paid immersive in-person leadership training programs designed for women sports professionals at various career stages, with 2 of 3 attendees advancing within one year.
• Career Catalyst Series Paid virtual training series providing high-impact leadership development sessions reflecting five pillars: Performance, Presence, Influence, Mindset, and Career Strategy.
• Custom Leadership Training Paid bespoke leadership development programming designed and delivered for specific organizations and groups.
• Job Board Postings Fee-based online job posting service connecting employers with women professionals across the sports industry; complimentary for members, $200 per posting for non-members.
• Online Merchandise Store E-commerce store selling branded apparel and accessories including t-shirts, bomber jackets, hats, beanies, and youth/infant items.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 out of 3 Leadership Experience attendees advance within one year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• adidascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2026Presenting sponsor of Women of Color Commitment, established to broadly increase exposure across the industry, raise awareness of barriers women of color experience, assist in building inclusive communities of excellence, and expand the pipeline of Women of Color working in sport.
• 42 Analytics EducationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Long-term partnership with 42 Analytics Educational, united in commitment to leveling the playing field for women in sports through the power of analytics. This partnership includes collaboration with MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
• MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Collaboration through the 42 Analytics Educational partnership; SSAC is a premier global forum where professionals, researchers, and students examine the transformative role of analytics in the sports industry.
• Arizona State University (ASU) Sandra Day O'Connor College of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Research partnership with Associate Teaching Professor Stephanie Jarvis and research assistants from the Allan 'Bud' Selig Master of Sports Law and Business program to release updated research findings on career paths of NCAA Division I, II and III athletic directors.
• Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport and Human DynamicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2024Unique partnership to advance knowledge and enhance professional acumen and management skills of sport administrators and executives. Launched as part of Syracuse University's commitment to elevating sport across all facets including academic study and experiential learning.
• NikecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing corporate partner sponsoring Lifetime Achievement Awards, Executive of the Year Awards, Sandy Barbour DI FBS AD of the Year Award, and Nell Jackson Executive of the Year Award. Multiple Nike executives serve on National Advisory Council.
• BSN SPORTScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor award sponsor for Organization of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Resilience Award, Woman to Watch, and Rising Star awards. Also sponsors Commitment Award and Promising Professional Award.
• TeamworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology company in sports operations; Jessica Huntley, Senior Business Development Executive at Teamworks, received Innovator of the Year award.
• National Advisory Council MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic advisors including executives from NFL, NHL, Nike, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Current, Seattle Storm, WME Sports, FIFA, Angel City FC, US Squash, and others. Includes Kim Davis (NHL), Lara Krug (Chiefs), Julie Haddon (Angel City FC), Alisha Valavanis (Seattle Storm), and others.
• Convention Partner OrganizationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCatalyst and Champion Level Partners providing deep collaboration and unwavering commitment to drive lasting impact. Multiple organizations sponsor and exhibit at annual convention.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WeCOACH (formerly Alliance of Women Coaches): WeCOACH is a national nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in collegiate athletics. Shares the women-in-collegiate-sports mission and a similar membership-plus-events model with WLS, though focused on the coaching career path specifically.
• Women in Sports and Events (WISE): WISE is a national membership organization that supports women across the sports business and events industry via professional development, networking, and leadership programming. Highly comparable in mission, audience (women in sports industry), and business model to Women Leaders in Sports.
• Women's Sports Foundation: Founded by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a nonprofit advocacy and research organization supporting women and girls in sport. Comparable as a peer women-in-sports nonprofit, though its primary focus is advocacy and research rather than professional leadership development.
• National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA): NATA is a professional membership association supporting athletic trainers through education, certification, advocacy, and an annual convention. Closely comparable in operating model (membership dues, annual convention, awards, professional development) and similar structure to WLS.

Emerging players

• Leaders Performance Institute: Leaders is a performance-focused community and content platform serving elite sport leaders, coaches, and practitioners globally. Comparable as a high-performance and leadership community in sports, though broader than the women-in-sports focus.
• Women in Sports Tech: Women in Sports Tech is a membership community connecting women working at the intersection of sports and technology. Partial overlap with WLS's membership audience (women in sports industry) but with a narrower technology-focused niche.
• Black Women in Sport Foundation: BWSF is a nonprofit advancing the involvement of Black women in sports through education, advocacy, and programming. Partial overlap with WLS's mission and audience (women of color in sports) but smaller scale and more advocacy-focused.

Others

• International Women's Forum: IWF is a global membership organization for accomplished women leaders across industries. Comparable in mission (women's leadership advancement) and membership model, but cross-industry rather than sports-specific.

Broad incumbents

• NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association): The NCAA is the largest governing body for U.S. collegiate athletics and oversees championships, rules, and member institutions. Operates broadly in the same collegiate sports ecosystem as WLS, with overlapping membership and audience, though its mandate is governance and competition rather than women's leadership development.

Regional players

• Association of Chief Executives for Sport (ACES): ACES is a UK-based membership network for chief executives and senior leaders across the sport sector, focused on leadership development and peer learning. Highly comparable in mission and programming but operates primarily in the UK rather than the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WomenLeadersinSports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-leaders-in-sports
• Xx.com/_WomenLeaders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women Leaders in College Sports