The Power of I Am: Women for the Win

The last few years have been a banner year for women in sports. To start, the WNBA dedicated its season to racial justice and the #SayHerName Movement. Their stance and leadership paved the way for many other sports organizations in supporting the Black community. Kim Ng, became the first woman general manager, not just in professional baseball, but in any of the four major American sports leagues. The National Women’s Soccer League, announced plans for a Los Angeles team with a star-studded, woman-dominated ownership group. These moments initiated a wave of “firsts” for females in typically male dominated roles and sports leagues.

Women are making space for themselves and using their platforms to bring attention to the disparities experienced by underserved communities.

However, in many cases, women are still not given the proper visibility and opportunity needed to pursue and talk to broader endeavors like their male counterparts—despite equal talent and commitment. At AT&T, it inspires us to act and provide resources that empower women both personally and professionally.

As a part of this action, AT&T continues to partner with world-class athletes like Chiney Ogwumike, Alex Morgan, Sue Bird and Maria Fassi through the She’s Connected by AT&T program. She’s Connected provides access to AT&T small business services, mentorship tools, and more that support their goals on and off the court, field or pitch. Multi-hyphenate women don’t get an “off-season,” so ensuring that they are supported in every role, whether that is mom, businesswoman, or activist, is core to how we’re deepening our commitment to empowering women and girls everywhere.

As a WNBA Changemaker and sponsor of U.S. Women’s National Soccer , we are broadening this commitment to invest directly into the issues of highest importance to players while amplifying their stories and transforming the business of leagues and clubs.

This transformation will lay the foundation for the next generation of players and through programs like Her Time to Play and #SeeHerInSports, AT&T is proud to support and inspire future champions as they prepare for challenges in life and on the court.

This support is also key to our mission to increase opportunities for women to enter and succeed in fields that have traditionally been dominated by men, specifically in STEM. In the gaming world, it is reported that women and girls make up 46 percent of gamers, but only 24 percent of game developers. In response, AT&T launched Unlocked Games, the first ever live gaming showcase and contest devoted entirely to women game developers and women-led teams. Winners of Unlocked Games receive a $50,000 grant to fund the final stages of games development, mentorship from AT&T and International Game Developers Association, and marketing support.

At AT&T, we believe that we all win when people can bring their full selves to any arena. With that said, we will continue to provide platforms for women and girls to define themselves and achieve their goals, no matter what they are. Tune into the next “Power of I Am…” video below for more about how we are Standing for Equality on behalf of women across industries.