Jaide Stepter Baynes on LinkedIn: When I reflect on my career as an athlete, of course I think about the… (2024)

Jaide Stepter Baynes

Design Leader & World Championship Gold Medalist

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When I reflect on my career as an athlete, of course I think about the championships, the records, and the medals. But even greater, those big moments remind me of what it took to actually earn them. 16 years of running track & field didn’t just transform my body - I learned how to strategize and how to be intentional about my success.I learned the importance of a race plan (and better yet, how to follow one). I gained a new respect for multitasking and organization as I maintained an elite athlete regimen while also growing in leadership at my 9 to 5. I became an expert at overcoming adversity and using my losses to guide my wins.These are not just byproducts of a professional athletic career, but intentional skills that I’ve been honing since I was a kid and the exact skills that I’ve been tapping into to address current inequities for women in sports. In collaboration with a diverse team of elite athletes and industry professionals at PARITY | A Group 1001 Company, we are challenging the status quo to envision a more equitable landscape for women athletes where they receive the recognition that they so deserve.It’s no secret that conversation surrounding women’s sports has been at an all time high as of recent and I love it! But another side of me knows the reality for myself and so many peers that, unfortunately, athletic prowess alone is not enough to pay the bills for many professional women athletes.Creating lasting impact will require strategy and intentionality, so I’d love to hear thoughts from this community: How do you envision this wave of energy surrounding women’s sports can lead to more sustained and widespread monetary recognition for women athletes across the board?#TeamParity #paywomenathletes #sponsored

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    Like millions of other people in this country, I was glued to the TV last night to watch the women's Elite 8 match-up between Iowa and LSU. I couldn't help but think how far the sport has come in just three years. You may recall the videos that came out of the women's tournament in 2021. A single weight rack that looked about as high-quality as my home gym. Meals that I don't think we'd serve kids in school cafeterias. Not allowing the women's tournament to use the March Madness branding.Plenty of people say stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have rocketed the sport. Or that dominating performances by South Carolina and UConn have lifted the sport. Or that coaching personalities like Kim Mulkey and Dawn Staley have increased the sport's visibility.But women's hoops has always had impressive stars. I knew the name Sheryl Swoopes as a kid. There have been plenty of exciting teams and games in the sport's history. Geno Auriemma and Pat Summit were well-known coaches for decades. No disrespect to the players and teams on the hardwood today, but I don't think the individual players or teams themselves are responsible for the hype. It's the investment the NCAA, universities, and the media made that changed it. Don't misunderstand - those institutions didn't make these investments willingly. They made them because they got called out on the glaring inequities. When you put money, attention, and intention to creating a more equitable environment, people will shine. Better facilities, meals, and training created the competitive environment where these athletes could perform at their best, and in turn, they are putting on one hell of a show. And the investments made are paying off, literally. FOX consistently saw higher viewership for women's games than men's this season. Ticket prices to get into the women's Final Four is more than three times the cost to get into the men's. You'll see the biggest stars and coaches in commercials for big brands. If there's one takeaway from the trajectory of the past three years in women's college hoops it's this - invest in women. We are beyond capable of achieving at the same level as men, but we can't do it without equitable access to the resources we need to perform and do our jobs well.

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  • Kara Ruskin

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    Viewership and investment in women's sports have never been higher. However, women's representation in leadership roles at the collegiate and professional level still presents a significant challenge. The time for change is now. Check out this insightful article from Korn Ferry about the importance of advancing women into leadership positions in sports. Let's work together to make sure that women's sports continue to grow and thrive. #WomenInSports #Leadership #Equality

    Women Leaders in Sports: The Time Is Now kornferry.com
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  • Yvette Raposo

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  • Alexis Eva Alvarez

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  • AMA Atlanta

    5,085 followers

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    Professional women athletes are shattering stereotypes, taking pride in "throwing like a girl." 🏀Thank you to all who joined last week's "Her Moment" event as we explored the future of women's sports.The discussions were eye-opening and filled with optimism for the future of women's athletics:📈 Unprecedented Growth: Women's elite sports revenue is projected to surpass the $1 billion mark. The WNBA Atlanta Dream reported significant increases in staff, game attendance, and viewership.💼 New Opportunities: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have opened doors for female collegiate athletes. Interestingly, women's sports have attracted nearly twice as many sponsorship deals as men's sports in some cases.🤝 Authentic Partnerships: Brands are moving away from the "pink and shrink" approach. There's a growing focus on creating authentic connections with athletes and developing personalized content for target audiences.📺 Media Impact: Increased media coverage and distribution have played a crucial role in growth. Star athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are driving audience engagement.⚖️ Equal Pay as a Catalyst: Initiatives for equal pay, especially in soccer, have become a significant driver for growth and visibility in women's sports.🎯 Dual-Team Approach: Many organizations are now supporting both men's and women's teams in their sponsorships, recognizing the value in a more inclusive strategy.Special thank you to our panelists:Jen JohnsMorgan Shaw ParkerShelby WrightAlyx WynnChris BigdaAnd of course, a special thank you to our board:John Levinson Nick Schittone Paul Carpenter Courtney Tierney Kevin Planovsky Rich Nobliski, MBA Jamal Harris Kim Englehardt Miller Sarah Tourville Kari Hiner Joe Koufman Guy R. Powell Nina Norris Hines, BBA Aaron Gill Karen Phillips Liz Farquhar Jenny Reineck Kiera Wiatrak Andy Leonard Kellye DeMott Gardner Sequoyah Glenn, MBA Warren Davis, MAcc Christina Steiner Kim Pollard Meghan Irwin#AMAAtlanta #HerMoment

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  • The GIST

    16,561 followers

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    Standing on BUSINESS, man. This quote is tough af. ✊😮💨•For the latest news in the busy world of women's sports business, subscribe to our forever-free, 3x-weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dWKqChx7 💌 •WNBA legend Candace Parker announced her retirement yesterday, and like everything else she does, Parker did it differently. In the announcement, she outlined plans to ramp up her business aspirations, which include owning a WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) team and an National Basketball Association (NBA) team. Consider tomorrow fueled. 🔥•📝The plan: Like fellow athlete-entrepreneurs Serena Williams and Sue Bird, Parker has big plans for her post-playing career. In addition to pro basketball ownership, Parker plans on increasing her involvement in broadcasting and production as well as growing her business portfolio.•📃The resume: With estimated earnings of $8.1M, Parker ranked No. 13 on Forbes’ 2023 list of highest-paid female athletes. With WNBA salaries capped around $200K, that means most of Parker’s earnings come from prestigious sponsorships with adidas, Gatorade, and CarMax, which sponsored her recent ESPN 30 for 30 documentary. 👀•Parker has been a trailblazer on and off the court, especially as a brand ambassador. She’s one of only 12 W athletes to release a signature shoe (two with Adidas) and became the first woman athlete on the cover of video game NBA 2K in 2021, illustrating her cultural influence on the game at large. 📈•Plus, her handle on the business game is evident through her own initiatives. Her lucrative NBA analyst gig with Turner (Turner Broadcasting System, Inc) Sports made her the first woman to serve as a color commentator for an NBA All-Star game, and she’s backed startups like trading card exchange Alt and pro women’s volleyball league League One Volleyball.•Zooming out: As women’s sports grow in popularity (and prosperity), athletes are able to make investments like their male counterparts. Women athletes are creating brands that transcend sport, driving progress in the women’s game and beyond. Parker has also argued that widespread visibility for women athletes gives them an assist in the boardroom. A business, man, not a businessman. 🤫

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