Q: As an Olympian, athlete and woman, what do you think it means to be a leader within the sports industry/tennis community?
A: Gosh, I am not sure I am a “leader,” but I love the opportunity to organize events and see them be successful and help people who may not have otherwise had the opportunity. I think through my work right now, it is so fun to see women in the Games who are now 50 and over get to compete in tennis and all of the other sports. Many of these women are pre-Title 9 babies and never had the opportunities in sports growing up as they have now.
My first jobs were in teaching and coaching swimming, and I love to help find that spark in people and help them find the best in themselves. In my opinion, sports are key in that and are great for persistence and working hard. I really love it and the fact that I can get involved in organizations that are underserved.
Q: Why do you think it is important to have a diverse representation of people in tennis and the sports industry?
A: Diverse representation is so important across the board, and not just in tennis and sports. I believe everyone has something to share with others and to learn from others and different perspectives are so important in this mindset. Additionally, I think it’s also important for everyone to see people who look like they do in leadership and decision-making roles in sports and in life.
Q: In your opinion, how can we better bring together people of different identities, cultures and ages through tennis?
A: I think I gained a good perspective on this when I was a founder of the women’s American Basketball League. I remember a colleague said little girls have to see girls who look like them, and I could not agree more. The solutions for bringing diversity and the inclusion of different identities and cultures are not always easy, but it starts with having representation on the committees and in leadership at the government level, local level and having diverse people be a part of the planning process. It’s really about ensuring there are people who bring different perspectives. This all leads to providing programs and outreach for everyone and making the resources available to all. Within tennis, some of the ways to do this include, providing programs for all, no matter where people live, and making equipment available – programs too – at an affordable cost and easy to enroll.
Q: Why do you think it's important that we have a special month to honor women? What does Women’s History Month represent to you personally?
A: I love the stories about women who have achieved a lot against a lot of odds, and I think it is important we share these. There weren't a lot of opportunities in sports for women in the past and so it is great to reflect on. While we are not done yet, it’s important for women to celebrate what they've done in their life. Tennis-wise, I love the stories of pioneer women like Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals and it goes back again to having girls see others who have come before them and represent them.
Q: What advice would you give to others who are interested in starting tennis or taking on a leadership role in tennis?
A: When you have a good idea, don't be afraid to speak up and use your voice; I think it’s also key to be willing to listen to what other people have to say. Additionally, I think it also comes down to understanding that partnerships with people are important because everyone has something to bring to the table and everyone has something important to say. And with that, don’t underestimate funding and money. They are part of the foundation to make real change.
Q: Has there been a learning curve or a major insight into your tennis involvement thus far?
A: I would say one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that partnerships are important – BASOC, USTA NorCal and enthusiastic outreach are a few examples in my case. At end of the day, we all want the same thing. One of the core values of the Olympic Games sums it up well in that we want “To educate youth through sport to build a better and more peaceful world.”
