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Female Olympians Benefit from Elite Mentor Program

11 | 5 | 2016

Olympians have been chosen as part of an elite group of top female athletes to take part in EY’s Women Athletes Business Network (WABN) mentor program.  The 2016 mentee class includes 13 Olympic Games competitors from nine different countries across eight Summer and Winter Olympic sports.

The one-year long mentoring program strategically pairs 25 retired or retiring elite women athletes with prominent female executives from the International Women’s Forum (IWF), a global network of more than 6,000 women business leaders across 33 nations and six continents. The initiative provides athletes with tailored support as they transition from sports into other professional careers. Successful applicants are chosen based on their potential to become strong leaders.

This year’s intake includes the following Olympians:

  • Vicky W.K. Chan, Windsurfing, Hong Kong
  • Kim Crow-Brennan, Rowing, Australia
  • Lieselot Decroix, Cycling, Belgium
  • Taniele Gofers, Water Polo, Australia
  • Jennifer Heil, Freestyle Mogul Skiing, Canada
  • Michelle Hollands, Field Hockey, New Zealand
  • Angela Hucles, Soccer, USA
  • Karina LeBlanc, Soccer, Canada
  • Roisin (Ro) McGettigan-Dumas, Track, Ireland
  • Erica McLain, Track & Field, USA
  • Phoebe Stanley, Rowing, Australia
  • Isabel Swan, Sailing, Brazil
  • Yumi Tomei, Soccer, Japan

The group will benefit from the advice, support and expertise of a diverse group of senior executives, consultants, entrepreneurs and other influential leaders across the membership of the IWF. 

EY’s Women Athletes Business Network is dedicated to building a bridge between women in the business and sports worlds in an effort to open doors and create new career and leadership opportunities for elite female athletes, while at the same time adding to the numbers of women in corporate leadership.

Beth Brooke-Marciniak, EY’s Global Vice Chair – Public Policy, said:

“Success in sports is very much correlated with success in other pursuits. Our research has shown that female athletes exhibit greater confidence, resilience, work ethic and determination, as well as build strong teams and motivate and inspire others – all qualities that make excellent leaders. It was because we recognize the unique strengths of elite female athletes that we created the Women Athletes Business Network Mentoring Program. We want to help them transition to leadership in the business world after retirement from sport.  

“Our inaugural class of mentees was truly an extraordinary and inspiring group of women. I’m confident that this year’s participants will benefit immensely from their mentors and make a great impact in today’s working world.”

For a full list and profiles of all 2016 WABN Mentors and Mentees please visit the International Women’s Forum website. Applications for the 2017 Mentor Program will open later this year - watch this space for more information once dates are confirmed.

Also later this year WOA and EY will join together to host the EY Women. Fast forward Gala at the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympic Games. This Gala will honour the accomplishments of some of the world’s leading sportswomen and pay tribute to the impact the Olympic Movement has had on empowering women and championing equality.

If you wish to keep up to date on the EY Women Athletes Business Network please join their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenathletesnetwork/