Episode 90: Leela Srinivasan on Parity, the Fight for Women's Sports Equity and the Economic Realities of Women Athletes

Trail Society

In Episode 90 of Trail Society, we sit down with Leela Srinivasan, the CEO of Parity Now, a pioneering platform that aims to close the gender income and opportunity gap in professional sports. Parity, founded in 2020, works with over 1,000 women athletes across 80+ sports, from archery to weightlifting, empowering athletes through impactful brand partnerships. Leela, a runner, mother, and passionate advocate for women's sports, brings her unique perspective to the conversation, exploring how her platform is reshaping the future of women's athletics. Her leadership at Parity is focused on tackling the financial inequities faced by female athletes, with an emphasis on securing meaningful sponsorships and creating long-term opportunities for women in sports.

A key highlight of this episode is the release of Parity's groundbreaking research, "Beyond the Game: Exposing The Economic Realities of Professional Women Athletes". The study sheds light on the harsh financial realities faced by many female athletes, with findings such as 50% reporting a negative or zero net income, and 74% working another job to make ends meet. Leela discusses the contrast between the booming investment in women’s sports leagues, like the NWSL and WNBA, and the ongoing struggles for athletes themselves. Despite these challenges, the research also highlights the potential for growth in women’s sports, with consumers increasingly backing brands that support female athletes. Leela’s insights into the disparity between league success and individual athlete earnings offer a sobering look at the financial landscape, while also providing a call to action for brands and fans to invest in women’s sports to create lasting change.

Follow Leela on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leelasrinivasan/

Learn more or partner with Parity Now: https://paritynow.co/

Parity Report: https://20518965.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20518965/Parity%20Athlete%20Survey%20Report_Dec2024.pdf

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Citations:

Díaz‐Lara, Javier, et al. “Delaying Post‐Exercise Carbohydrate Intake Impairs Next‐Day Exercise Capacity but Not Muscle Glycogen or Molecular Responses.” Acta Physiologica, 12 Sept. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.14215.