Invisible Women In Sport

See Us Now

PODCAST/WEBCAST
Launched: May 9, 2018
Recordings: iTunes

WEBCAST
Launched: April 30, 2020
Recordings: YouTube

Next Episode: April 20, 2023
Guest: To Be Announced Soon

Registration: https://bit.ly/3UuQ16V

Replay: Danyelle Mathis, https://bit.ly/3Kuakwq

Description: Invisible Women In Sport is a discussion, an opportunity and a celebration of women leaders in sports. We will discuss the pathways and challenges that women have had to overcome, and explore their unique journeys through sport. We will investigate opportunities to challenge the status quo and action steps for aspiring women to become leaders in sports. Finally, we will celebrate the accomplishments, inspirations, and impressions these women have imprinted in the sports world.

“I contemplated what it means to be invisible, to be present, but not seen; to be concealed from public knowledge. . .”
Delise O’Meally
Vice President, International Relations, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Background

In October 2016, we convened a panel discussion on the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus called Invisible Women In Sport (IWIS), featuring the journey of women of color in the sports industry.  The goal of IWIS is to celebrate the accomplishments of women of color in sport, challenge the status quo that places all women at a disadvantage in advancing in the sports industry, and generate a discussion of academic and career pathways to encourage and improve opportunities for women of color in sports.  Our panelists included Vicky Chun (AD, Colgate University), Nnenna Akaotobi (Assoc. AD/SWA, Swarthmore College), Brandi Stewart (Sr. Assoc. AD/SWA, UCF), Coach and former Olympian Jeanette Bolden, and Delise O’Meally (Executive Director, ISSJ).  It was extremely well received, so we decided to continue this dialogue in a podcast.

The series launches with three episodes, which are 25-40 minute conversations with women of color, hosted by former NPR and sports journalist, Mat Edelson; Delise O’Meally, Executive Director – Institute For Sport & Social Justice; Amy Huchthausen, Commissioner – America East Conference; and Christina Roybal, Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA.  Following episodes feature Jacqie McWilliams (Commissioner, CIAA), Etienne Thomas (Associate Athletic Director, Student Life, University of Kansas), Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of Central Florida), and Shauna Cobb (Director, Academics & Membership Affairs, NCAA).

Future episodes of Invisible Women In Sport podcast will be released twice a month, and will be available on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and on the Institute For Sport & Social Justice RSS feed. We would love to continue this discussion with you. Please send us your comments and questions through the “Contact Us” link on our website and follow us on our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Institute For Sport & Social Justice

Since 1985, our mission at the Institute For Sport & Social Justice is to “use the power of sport to affect positive social change. We educate and empower individuals and organizations by inspiring values-based thinking leading to actions that promote social responsibility and equality.” Learn more about us at sportandsocialjustice.org. We are “Changing Lives Through the Power of Sport.”

Kaia W. Forget

Kaia W. Forgét is the Vice President of Community Impact & DEI for Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride. She joined the front office of the Club in 2015 as the former USL franchise played their first season in Major League Soccer, added a NWSL professional women’s team in 2016, and built a downtown soccer-specific stadium in 2017. She currently leads the Club’s corporate social responsibility strategy which is focused on creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture of belonging across the enterprise and beyond. She also serves as the Executive Director of Orlando Soccer Foundation, Inc., whose mission is to leverage the popularity and reach of professional soccer to support efforts that advance the well-being of youth, promote health and wellness, and assist, encourage, and enrich the lives of those in need in the Central Florida community.

 

Originally from New Hampshire, Kaia attended Canisius College in Buffalo, NY on a Division I soccer scholarship where she earned a B.A. in Communication Studies. After graduation she played one year for the Buffalo FFillies USL W-League team while completing an AmeriCorps service year working in the Buffalo community. Kaia moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida where she earned an M.A. in Mass Communication. She spent seven years working for Orange County Public Schools, three years with the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and seven years at the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership (EBI), a Center of Excellence at Rollins College’s Crummer Graduate School of Business.

 

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for The Institute, Kaia is a Member of the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC), serves on the Corporate Equality Council for The Pride Chamber, is a Special Olympics Florida – Race For Inclusion Committee Member, 100 Women Strong – Central Florida Member, Heart of Florida United Way – Women United Member, and a WISE – Women in Sports & Events – Member & Mentor. Outside of her professional commitments, Kaia has two daughters, enjoys sports and the outdoors, and loves to travel.