DCOBT Students Pave the Way with Launch of First-Ever Women in Sport Business Club
Five female Sport Business students in the Davis College of Business and Technology at Jacksonville University recognized the need for a dedicated space where women interested in sport business could connect, learn and support each other, resulting in the formation of the inaugural Women in Sport Business Club.
The executive board members of the club are President Layla Green; Vice President Natalie Lewis; Secretary Adriana Fulco; Treasurer Rori Bywater and Event Planner Mikaya Stephens.
The new club cabinet says it’s both an honor and a responsibility to be the first leaders of the organization. “We’re laying the foundation for something that we hope will continue to grow and impact future students,” said Bywater, a senior Sport Business and Accounting major. “Being part of the first executive board means setting the tone, establishing traditions and ensuring that this club provides meaningful opportunities for its members.”
The mission of the Women in Sports Business Club is to establish a community that promotes leadership, creativity and career progression by providing professional development, networking opportunities, mentorship and industry insights.
Fulco, a senior Sport Business major who is also in the Grad2Grad program earning her Master of Business Administration graduate degree, feels women in sports need to support one another now more than ever.
“I think that there’s something really powerful about having a group of women who understand the challenges you’re facing and want to see you succeed. It can be intimidating to step into a male-dominated field but knowing that you have a community behind you can make all the difference.”
Although titled as the Women in Sport Business club, membership and activities are open to both men and women. The club’s leaders all realize that their chosen field of study tend to be a male-dominated one.
“I do believe it’s harder for women in sports than men; however, women are currently dominating the field by being trailblazers,” stated Stephens, a senior Sport Business major.
Fulco shares that the club’s sponsor, Dr. Leah Fiorentino, Expert-in-Residence/Sport Business professor in the Davis College of Business and Technology, has been incredibly supportive through the process of starting the club.
“From the beginning, she has been one of our biggest advocates, offering us advice, guidance and encouragement whenever we’ve needed it,” said Fulco. “She’s been very important in helping us navigate the logistical side of things and makes it apparent that she genuinely wants to see us succeed.”
“Dr. Fiorentino has pushed us to continue to grow and form this club by providing advice, ideas, tools and resources to hit the ground running,” shared Green, a senior Sport Business major and founding president.
Fiorentino shares that the club is an amazing initiative that is student driven. “Over the past three semesters while I’ve been with the Sport Business program, there has been a discernible increase in the percentage of women declaring Sport Business as a major or minor, she explained. “These women are strong leaders and have maneuvered through the legislative campus system to be approved as a campus club.”
The club’s executive board members say they have all gleaned nuggets of wisdom from Fiorentino’s Sport Business classes.
“One of the biggest takeaways from her classes is the importance of being adaptable and always seeking out opportunities to learn,” explained Fulco, who noted Fiorentino has a way of making complex topics accessible and relevant to real-world situations.
According to Bywater, Fiorentino has emphasized the importance of strategic thinking, leadership, and resilience—the three qualities she says are essential for success in sports. “Her insights on industry trends and networking have been incredibly valuable, and she constantly challenges us to think critically about the sports business landscape,” she said.
The new Women in Sports Business Club executive board is excited to be building a strong community of women at Jacksonville University who are passionate about sports business.
“Our goal is to provide valuable experiences—guest speakers, networking events, internships and mentorship opportunities—that will help our members succeed,” noted Bywater. “We encourage anyone interested to get involved and be part of this movement!”