Noor Ahmed and espnW Women + Sports Summit
Name: Noor Ahmed, Junior studying History
School: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Sport: Women’s Golf
Interest: College Administration
“I want to talk to you about a pretty cool opportunity.”
When Maria texted me those words I honestly thought she was going to tell me she had an internship opportunity for me or she was going to connect me with someone. I should have known better. Nothing she or the Winning Edge ever does is small. As it turns out, Maria was inviting me to attend the espnW Women + Sports Summit. Like what?! “Why me? I’m not that special.” I did not realize how much attending the summit would change my perspective.
Fast forward a few weeks and I can’t sleep the night before my flight. I was so nervous and excited. I kept packing and unpacking my bag, so unsure of what to bring and how my dress would impact how I was received (which didn’t even matter). I finally made a decision on what to take which was basically everything I own, packed my car and headed to the golf course. Yes ya’ll, I still had to practice before traveling to a once in a lifetime opportunity. Welcome to the life of D1 student-athlete.
A few hours later, I’m in a car with Maria in New Port Beach, CA. We arrive at The Summit just in time for me to mingle in a room full of influential people I had not yet met. I quickly run into Beth Bass, a Winning Edge ally and the phenomenal Robin Roberts. They never asked how or why I was there, they just accepted me. My nerves started to disappear.
Maria was in town to host Unapologetic: The Undefeated Panel on the Black Female Athlete. A conversation featuring Michelle Carter, the current Olympic shot put women's champion, A’ja Wilson, a National Champion and WNBA athlete, and Sharon Matthews, a producer at The Undefeated. The panel address many issues black women face in the sports industry as athletes and as members of the media. They discussed code-switching, wearing protective hairstyles, being the only individual of your race in a room, etc.
“If everyone looks like you in a room that you’re meeting in, somebody is messing up. You’re messing up. The talent is there. It’s out there. You’re not looking and you’re not trying.”
-Maria Taylor
Following Maria’s panel I listened to a one-on-one featuring Ibtihaj Muhammad, an Olympic fencer, known for being the first American fencer of color to compete at the Olympic games and the first American woman to compete while observing the hijab - talk about breaking barriers. I am not someone who gets star struck, but when she greeted me my response was delayed. How do you tell someone you’ve just met that you cried when you saw them compete in the Olympics? I mean being a minority and finally seeing myself represented in sports for the first time was an overwhelming feeling, so you can imagine my emotions when meeting the woman who broke that glass ceiling. Listening to her story and advice was priceless.
“You have to let go of the guilt of not being able to change people,” she told me, “Just focus on you.” -
- Ibtihaj Muhammad
My best conversations were made over a meal. I had lunch with some powerful women including Robin Roberts and Mimi Griffin. At first, I leaned back and listened to their stories, but I was quickly drawn into the conversation. I recognized how all these women helped each other climb to where they are now. Whether it be making connections, providing entry levels opportunities, or putting in a good word, they all can look back at how they got where they are and point out a woman who helped them get there. I looked over at Maria and teared up. In that very moment, she was doing that for me.
“So Noor, what’s your story?””
I wrapped up my trip with dinner at the home of Julie Foudy. Yes, the two-time World Cup Champion, Julie Foudy. At this dinner I had the pleasure of meeting Julie Eddleman. Eddlman reminded me once again that no matter how successful these women are, they still care about young women. I learned that she lives in Cincinnati, which is ten minutes from where we compete for a Big Ten Golf Championship. Needless to say, I recruited a new Big Ten golf fan. I now understand when people say the sports industry a small world becauseI had more in common with the fifty strangers I met at that dinner than I could have ever imgined. These women reminded me that just because society might overlook us , I shouldn’t overlook my value and what I can bring to the table.
Unfortunately, the next morning I had to head back to Nebraska - back to golf practice. When I look back at my experience I remember what Maria told me at the Game Changing Retreat this past summer, “Noor, you’re not alone. You are never alone.” I can’t thank her, Corinne, and the Winning Edge enough for not only telling me this but for also showing me.
I can’t wait to get where I’m going so I can bring along the next generation. As I was often reminded through this experience, God blesses you so that you may become a blessing.
““It’s your job to do the same for a young girl, that was done for you in your journey.””
