A career in the sports field can be daunting for many women as they face challenges finding employment options in the male-dominated industry.
A group of upperclassmen at the University aims to break down these barriers, which is why they started Future Women in Sports. The group plans to share its connections and opportunities with new members to get them started in the sports industry.
No matter what area they are planning to work in, the board has found that the best way to get a position is by reaching out to others already involved in the industry. The board finds it’s important for women in the industry to help each other since it’s a more male-dominated field.
Isabella Ramsey, Future Women in Sports president and junior in AHS, was inspired to create the club after realizing the lack of campus resources for women in sports. Ramsey wanted to create a space that would connect other women with career opportunities and each other.
“I wanted to connect with more people, and I know that it’s a growing industry for women in sports,” Ramsey said. “I felt like it would be a need and be very beneficial.”
That’s when she gathered a group of passionate women at the university, hoping to share their knowledge through this new club. Before starting with events, Future Women in Sports held a general meeting and asked attendees what they wanted to get out of this club.
According to Bea de Guzman, Future Women in Sports vice president and senior in AHS, many of the prospective members were looking for networking opportunities and new connections.
“They just want to be more in the field and connect because it is hard trying to get into sports without connections,” de Guzman said. “So, for them being in this club, they get to see us board members who are already connected with people in the sports field, and then they can connect with us, and it could branch out into more.”
All the board members are involved with sports teams on campus, from working in the hockey arena to managing the softball team. They hope to use their current positions to benefit the new members. The board feels that just getting people to step through the door of these facilities can open their minds to career opportunities on campus.
For Marcella Vasquez, Future Women in Sports membership director and senior in AHS, getting members access to new opportunities is important because these relationships will benefit members beyond their time at the University.
“I want people to have those connections for the future,” Vasquez said. “I want people to be able to learn about new opportunities that we know of or connect with people that work in the businesses they want to work in.”
All of the board members are upperclassmen who had their own journeys to get their current positions in sports. They started the same as many of the underclassmen, navigating schoolwork while trying to find jobs and figure out their futures.
The board members have done the networking, applied for the jobs and taken the recreation, sport & tourism classes, which is why they are so open to helping the new members. Most of them also hope to work with professional sports teams in their future, which is why they have made so many connections in the industry that they’re willing to share.
They also hope to serve as mentors for the members and share advice from their different paths to help these women find their way. Ramsey, for example, never imagined working for the football team when she started at the University as an English major, but now she has a unique perspective to share with members.
“We can prepare (these girls) for their future careers,” Ramsey said. “I know when I was a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Now I’m an (recreation, sport & tourism) major, and I work for the football team. I just want to create a safe, comfortable space where they feel like they’re doing something productive.”
All the board members emphasize creating a safe space and a strong network through their group. According to de Guzman, the recreation, sport & tourism major is male-dominated, as is the sports industry, and the board noticed that in their classes.
Ari Miguel, Future Women in Sports secretary and junior in AHS, remembered how she would show up to a class full of men and try to find a woman to sit next to and befriend.
One of the women Miguel chose to sit next to in class was de Guzman. They didn’t know it then, but this connection would lead them to serve as board members together just a few semesters later. Both hope to foster strong connections like theirs between members attending Future Women in Sports events, like LinkedIn workshops and guest speaker nights.
“It’s such a male-dominant field, you walk into class, and you see all these guys, and as a woman, I think we need to stick together and be friends,” Miguel said. “The people you know now, stick to them and become their friends, because you never know when you’re gonna need them or when you have to reach out to them at some point in the future.”
These women have already made many connections with each other and within the sports world, but they remember how it felt trying to find opportunities on their own. The board hopes that by providing its guidance on navigating the sports field, it can make the industry more welcoming for young women.
“I think this whole club is about leading these young girls into what they want to be,” de Guzman said.
