Equipping and Empowering Athletes to Lead Beyond the Game
The Athlete Business Academy is a six-month virtual business-readiness experience created by Women Business Collaborative.
This selective program, offered at no cost to participants, equips professional women athletes with business fluency, executive mentorship, and meaningful access to corporate leaders. Designed specifically for current and recently retired athletes, the Academy translates elite leadership from sport into corporate, entrepreneurial, and boardroom opportunities.
Who It's For
Current professional women athletes
Athletes retired within the last three years
Individuals interested in exploring business leadership, entrepreneurship, or corporate careers
WE'LL BUILD IT. TOGETHER.
Equipping and empowering the next generation of women leaders rests in the hands of those who believe our vision. We are bringing strategic and financially motivated partners on board to help with all aspects of equipping women athletes to ensure they are prepared to compete in their chosen business arena. Our immediate needs are:
- INDUSTRY PARTNERS – finding organizations and leaders who desire to mentor future leaders
- EMPLOYERS – working with organizations and businesses that can offer training, fellowships and externships – real world training for women professional athletes
- ATHLETE PIPELINES – identifying leagues, organizations and individuals that want to opt-in the Academy as its primary off-the-field business training platform
- BUSINESS PIPELINES – connecting with organizations that can confirm interest in and first access to women emerging from the Academy with custom skills and leadership aspirations
WHY NOW – THE URGENCY TO DELIVER ON AN UNMET NEED.
As women’s sports grow in prominence and profitability, so do its select stars. We seek to galvanize this moment for all professional women athletes for their life’s work – which goes far beyond their competitive career and endorsements. Right now, various models are beginning to be discussed. Some are sports specific. Others cater to specific regions or subsets of women athletes (e.g., college students, league-specific).
There is a need for a definitive lead platform in this training and development space. As our name suggests – we seek to be collaborative, for the good of all women in business.
Athletes are a critical subset of business leaders. Our model at the professional level has the potential to reach across all sports horizontally – with the potential of reaching all women who play sports, albeit professional, semi-pro, or collegiate over time.
Inclusive thinking wins – now and in the long term. Taking action together signals we are poised to lead the pack and strategically bring on more collaborators who share a similar vision.
In the 2025 version of our annual report, we explore the theme “Field to Fortune: Athletics and Women CEO Leadership,” offering new analysis that builds on existing research to explore the connection between women’s executive leadership and athletic participation as a pathway to CEO leadership.
These athletes will develop critical business and leadership skills, and receive mentorship and coaching from experienced executives. gain exposure to career pathways
What makes this initiative uniquely powerful is the Women Business Collaborative’s ecosystem. Through WBC’s network of over 87 partner organizations, 60 corporate sponsors, and 150 champions, athletes are directly connected to companies, resources, and real opportunities—from mentorship and training to internships, advisory roles, and full-time positions.
This is not just a training program—it is a pathway. A pathway that recognizes the value of women athletes, accelerates their entry into leadership roles, and strengthens the talent pipeline for companies seeking proven, high-performing leaders.
Interested Athletes
Are you an athlete interested in participating?
Additional Questions?
Questions or need additional information? Please contact us at [email protected].
Women Business Collaborative (WBC) is focused on leveraging the growing international excitement and investment in women’s sports. WBC’s extensive network of corporate sponsors, organizational partners, and champions is a vehicle to advance women in the business of sports, and recognize women trailblazers leading the way for the next generation of executives.
