Message From the Chairman: Blazing a Trail — Women in the Business of Sports

My daughter was a competitive rower; a grueling, exhaustive mental and physical sport. Rowing ... not for the weak hearted! The lessons she learned in a sport dependent on building a strong team and pushing oneself to physical limits included determination, patience, diplomacy, strategy and self-belief. She and thousands of other young women benefit daily from the skills developed through sports, which follow them into college and careers.

The theme of Women’s History Month is “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Business and Labor.” Countless women, like the founders of the 26 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) inter/national sororities, have faced what might seem like insurmountable challenges. In sports, consider the benefits of athletics and the obstacles women face. We’d like to honor them too. Their stories also feature unceasing determination, breaking glass ceilings, realizing success and continuously blazing trails.

Please take time to read about them:

• Erin Andrews, Zeta Tau Alpha, Fox Sports™ reporter
• Lin Dunn, Chi Omega, University of Kentucky Women's Basketball assistant coach, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member 
• Mary Ellen Gillespie, Alpha Phi, director of athletics, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay  
• Charlotte Jones Anderson, Kappa Kappa Gamma, executive vice president/chief brand officer, Dallas Cowboys
• Condoleezza Rice, Alpha Chi Omega, former U.S. secretary of state, member of the College Football Playoff selection committee

Trailblazing has shaped women’s actions for generations. Through these stories and other female trailblazers in the business of sports, lessons learned on and off the field parallel the sorority membership experience. Building character, confidence, self-esteem, scholarly success, a service heart and leadership skills are at the core of the membership experience. Challenging young women to be trailblazers in their communities and careers defines the “business of sorority.”

NPC salutes and celebrates all women who are “trailblazers” during the month of March and beyond! Learn about more history-making sorority women on the #Iwearabadge Pinterest board.

Interfraternally,

Donna C. King
Chairman 2015-17