Meredith Battagello, ArtSci ’26, and Maxine Kirkwood, ArtSci ’26, knew of the lack of opportunities for women in sports, especially when it came to clubs dedicated to empowering women to pursue a career in sports. To combat this, they started their own.
Launched in January, the Queen’s Women in Sports (QWIS) club aims to offer women wishing to pursue a career in sports opportunities to connect and gain experience in the industry. One way the club will offer these opportunities is through events they will host.
“We’re looking to bring opportunities such as networking events, speaker panels, and partnerships with Kingston sports teams to Queen’s. We hope to provide these opportunities for women to gain experience in the field,” they said in a statement to The Journal.
They expressed the importance of having a club like QWIS to provide networking opportunities that aren’t typically offered outside of the Smith School of Business.
As the club is just getting started, they are expecting to face challenges, such as lack of funding, gaining attention and momentum, and attracting members. They’re currently seeking applications for executive positions.
“So far there has been overwhelming interest in the club, but for future success we hope to attract more Queen’s students to the club,” they said.
As success in women’s sports grows in leagues such as the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), QWIS believes the success of women in the industry should grow as well.
“We believe it is important that women have a place in the sports industry as it has been so male-dominated in the past,” they said. “Women deserve equal employment opportunity, and they deserve to have a voice and presence within the sports industry.”
As QWIS looks to gain momentum and members, you can see what they’re doing and apply to join the club through their Instagram.
Tags
clubs, QWIS, Sports industry, Women in Sports
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