The Experiences of Women Working in Leadership Positions in North American Professional Sports Organizations
Women are an underrepresented group in sports leadership. Due to the masculine nature of the sport industry, women have different experiences than those of their male peers. The purpose of this study was to: 1) examine the experiences of women who are currently working in leadership positions in North American professional sports; 2) to understand if and how they experience gender bias; and 3) to explore what impact intersecting identities have. A narrative inquiry approach was used to understand the experiences of women in leadership positions in professional sports. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three participants. Thematic narrative analysis was used to maintain a focus on the unique stories told by each participant while also identifying common themes across participants stories. Results are presented and discussed in relation to the existing women in sport leadership literature.