It’s been almost a year since SportsPro launched NEW ERA, a year-long program and community created to recognize, support and advocate for a new era of gender equality and representation in the international sports industry.
Over the past 12 months, the NEW ERA Class of 2022/23 has featured prominently in SportsPro editorial content and in-person SportsPro events around the world. Class members have also had the opportunity to rely on the advice and support of a respected steering group, which consists of executives from organizations such as FIFA, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and ATP Media, as well as the Premier League, World Table Tennis and the Olympic Channel .
With applications for the NEW ERA 2023/24 program now open, SportsPro asked Steering Group members for their thoughts on their involvement in the initiative, what they have learned from their interactions with each other and with members of the class, and what impact they believe NEW ERA has had on your first year.
Associates
Andy Chu, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Tennis Channel
Sue Day, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, Rugby Football Union
Sharon Fuller, Associate Vice President, National Basketball Association
Gabriel Guedge, Commercial Director, ATP Media
Raven Jemison, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, Milwaukee Bucks
Jenny Mitton, Director, Sport, M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment
Fiona Morgan, Chief Objectives Officer, SailGP
What is your number one takeaway from participating in the NEW ERA program this year?
Sharon Fuller: My number one takeaway is how much truly excellent female talent there is in our industry. But also the strength of that network when it all comes together, with the new generation combined with our more experienced group, is really something. It was also fascinating that many of the challenges were really similar or related no matter what field people worked in, and I wish I had access to an initiative like this when I was early in my career.
Raven Jemison: The value that emerging talent in our industry will add to the future of the sport is immense. There is no shortage of great ideas, energy or ambition. I got as much out of engaging with this group as I hoped they would. It gave me hope that talk of being “the one” in sports would no longer be the main topic in the future. Instead, we can focus on the work we do and the value we add to our respective roles/organizations.
Fiona Morgan: Women in sport still need support and champions. Although the gap is narrowing, there are still so many barriers and challenges that are the same as when I started. The growth of women’s sport is on an upward trajectory, but what is lacking is the consistent support, funding and time dedicated to making it impactful and successful in the long term.
For me, it’s all about talk and action, not just talk, which is just as important, but progress tends to stall more than talk.
Jenny Mitton: My number one takeaway is that we have some exciting female leaders coming into the industry. This has given me great confidence in the future of our industry and I can see each member of the cohort making their mark and creating positive change.
Sue Day: That there are so many incredibly talented young women in our industry. The future is very bright indeed!
How did you find the experience of mentoring the Class of 2022?
Andy Chu: Mentoring the Class of 2022 was a rewarding experience. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to connect with these talented women. I enjoyed listening to their personal journeys and learning from them!
Sharon Fuller: It was really rewarding but also difficult because I remember what it felt like to be in their position and deal with some of the challenges they faced. Hopefully I’ve helped them learn from my mistakes and have a few laughs along the way, putting a different perspective on some situations.
I always enjoy hearing the perspectives of other women from different jobs, personal experiences and geographies, and this is a really smart and talented group. Besides learning about what our group does (and the businesses and roles they work in are really diverse), I enjoyed getting to know them as people and appreciated their openness to share and their honesty.
Gabriel Guedge: I learned about various issues that our mentees face and was humbled by the ambition and drive to succeed that binds them together.
I believe this community will thrive for years to come. Women supporting women is a powerful thing.
Andy Chu, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Tennis Channel
Jenny Mitton: I loved every minute of the mentoring sessions. The cohort work in a wide variety of roles in sectors and sports that I have no experience of, so it’s been two-way learning for me.
We had great conversations. Dealing with challenges, of course, was at the heart of most of the conversations, but each member came to the table with pragmatic ideas and solutions. Often you just need someone to be a sounding board who is not connected to your workplace to say “Yeah, that’s a great idea.” You have to do it.
Fiona Morgan: It was really inspiring. One of my biggest lessons over the course of my career is that giving back and helping others is so important. I loved getting to know the mentees and felt such energy and optimism from their approach and ambitions. I expanded my network and learned from them. Mentoring is a two-way street and the conversations I had during this program challenged me to do more and think differently. I am very proud to be a part of the program and feel it will only go from strength to strength.
Sue Day: The number one word is: energizing. It’s a wonderful development experience for me to have conversations with people in parts of the industry and parts of the world that I wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to talk to.
Are there new things you’ve learned from being part of the NEW ERA community?
Sharon Fuller: I think I learned a lot too – including getting to know the mentor group better. It brought us together and many of us I think will remain friends in the long run. The main thing I learned is what a brilliant and supportive networking group women can be and how the opportunities available to all are increased when we all work together in this way and outside of our usual groups.
We have an excellent generation of future women here and I’m really excited to see what they all do in the coming years.
Andy Chu: The NEW ERA community reaffirmed for me that there are smart and accomplished women making significant contributions in the sports space. I am impressed by the diverse range of creative ideas and projects being pursued and inspired by everyone’s unwavering commitment to innovate and make their mark in this field.
Gabriel Guedge: I now know that each mentor takes a different approach to communicating with mentees and we all have a different way of supporting each individual – some of us are more structured, others feel more comfortable having an open, free-flowing chat. It made me realize that with all our different styles, we bring different flavors and perspectives to our mentee relationships.
NEW ERA Steering Group member Fiona Morgan (left) speaking on SportsPro Live in 2022.
What impact do you think the program has had in its first year?
Raven Jemison: Connections. Getting to meet these women and talk about the work they do while creating a support network for them was great.
Fiona Morgan: I think it really helped build a stronger and wider network for more women in sports. It has brought new contacts and hopefully elevated more women into sports careers by giving them additional wisdom, guidance and a platform to be rightly recognized by others.
Andy Chu: I am grateful to be in the inaugural year of the program and believe that this community will flourish for years to come. Women supporting women is a powerful thing.
Gabriel Guedge: It provided a valuable support network with the mentors, but also among the mentees themselves – now they will always be there for each other. I have seen some of the ladies gain confidence through their increased online presence and some have found the confidence to make career decisions as a result. Sounds like a job well done.
Sue Day: I think the connections that people have made and the energy that we’ve brought to each other will prove to be very powerful.
Jenny Mitton: The number of applications for the 12 places shows that there is huge demand for programs designed to support women in the sports industry. SportsPro NEW ERA has laid out a plan for how we can support women not only through mentoring, but also by providing real opportunities through thought leadership panels, podcasts and articles.
I can’t wait to see how the program develops and in the future I would love to see senior men in the industry also get behind NEW ERA.
Interested in being part of the NEW ERA class of 2023/24? Click here to learn more about the program and click here to apply.