Power of Women's Sports Summit in London Drives Strategic Focus on Growth & Inclusion

• Power of Women’s Sports Summit returned to highlight female athletes reshaping industry standards
• The summit featured influential voices spotlighting strategic momentum toward fair investment and representation in women’s athletics
• Women’s tennis advancing gender equity and professional opportunity remained a central narrative

Hosted in London on June 24, the second annual Power of Women’s Sports Summit with sponsorship from e.l.f. Beauty, emphasized the growing impact of women’s sports a catalyst for innovation, inclusive practices, and sustainable economic expansion.

Led by CNN International’s Amanda Davies and produced by Billie Jean King Enterprises, the summit convened influential voices across sports, business, and philanthropy to advance the global agenda for equity and investment in women’s sports.

Key participants joining Billie Jean included high-impact leaders such as Melinda French Gates, known for her philanthropic leadership; Michele Kang, a trailblazer in business and women’s sports ownership; and Malala Yousafzai, globally recognized for her advocacy in human rights and education.

“The success of women’s sports isn’t theoretical -- it’s happening now,” said Michele, who owns the London City Lionesses football club. “Across football, rugby, tennis and beyond, the results are clear: Investing in women is driving performance, building passionate fanbases and shaping the future of sports.”

Melinda French Gates, founder of Pivotal and a leading force in global philanthropy, reinforce on accelerating systemic change through strategic investment in women’s sports. “When we invest in women around the world, we unleash a cycle of prosperity that benefits everyone -- families and communities are healthier, and economies thrive,” she said. “It’s time the world stopped seeing women’s potential as a sidenote and recognized it as the main event.”

Malala Yousafzai and Asser Malik introduced Recess, a long-anticipated program designed to drive capital and visibility toward women’s sports, with a special focus on markets where opportunities for young girls remain limited.

Mala stated that the initiative aims to redefine equity in women’s sports by ensuring representation and influence across all levels, including ownership and governance. The summit welcomed key figures like Kendall Coyne Schofield, a decorated ice hockey Olympian, and Jenna Schillaci, a trailblazer in women’s football with Tottenham Hotspur.