Purpose Wins Bridges Gap between Business and Olympism at the ORC

18 | 8 | 2016

Purpose drives performance. That’s the message from Purpose Wins, an event that took place at the Olympians Reunion Centre by EY in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. Whether that is as an Olympian competing to win at the Olympic Games or in business, a single purpose and a strong desire to see it through will create pathways to success.

WOA partner EY hosted the event, bringing together Olympians and members of the local and international business community to explore how Olympic sponsorship can help support the Olympic purpose of building a better world through sport. WOA President Joël Bouzou joined representatives from EY, an Official Supporter of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Olympic TOP sponsors P&G and General Electric (GE), to discuss the link between purpose and Olympism, and how the Olympic ideals of mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play can help Olympians create a legacy and support them in their transition once they finish competing.

“Athletes are dreamers, they dream about success”, said Joël Bouzou. “But then they are also very pragmatic in order to reach success, so there is a connection between vision and action and you can do that in sport and in business, excellence is transferrable. But you can also do it in society and if we are excellent role models we know that we can change lives.”

EY Americas Managing Director Steve Howe also led a fascinating Q&A session with Brazilian Olympian turned entrepreneur Fabiola Molina. Molina, a triple Olympian who represented Brazil in swimming at the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games, was one of the first Olympians to benefit from being involved in the EY Women Athletes Business Network (WABN) and said being a part of the WABN Mentor Program as a mentee has had a hugely positive impact on her transition from sport to business and has made her working life both more enjoyable and more successful.

“It’s very important to have mentors”, said Fabiloa Molina. “I think the technical expertise is important, learning different mechanisms and the right ways, of doing things, things we wouldn’t know if we didn’t have mentors. But also the human aspect and support is important.”

Steve Howe also discussed EY’s own purpose of building a better working world and its synergy with the Olympic mission of building a better and more peaceful world through sport and how they are using the connection to create a positive and lasting legacy from their association with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and through their partnership with the WOA. He used EY’s volunteer program in Brazil and their work helping female athletes to explore their leadership potential and transition from sport to business as examples of how EY is using its purpose to drive action.