Edition #39
June 7, 2026
Welcome to The W Profile, a study of the women leading at the intersection of sports, media, and global business. As college athletics adopts professional structures, it is instructive to look to the visionaries who have already mastered the complexities of the corporate world. By bringing C-Suite lessons to the athletics community, this series will provide leaders with the insights necessary to build a lasting legacy.
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Introduction
When the French Tennis Federation needed an executive who could balance the fierce preservation of Roland Garros’s historic clay-court traditions with the intense demands of modern sports entertainment, they appointed a leader whose entire career had been defined by breaking barriers. Amélie Mauresmo, former World No. 1, two-time Grand Slam champion, and the first woman to coach a top-tier male tennis player, now serves as the first female Tournament Director in the history of the French Open.
She is responsible for overseeing the operational, commercial, and competitive integrity of one of the world's most prestigious sporting events. Her leadership is defined by an unflinching commitment to authenticity, a fiercely analytical approach to adopting new technologies, and a profound understanding of sports psychology that allows her to navigate the immense pressure of the Parisian spotlight.
From the Court to the Director's Chair
Mauresmo’s executive DNA was forged in the crucible of elite global competition and high-stakes mentorship. Before entering the boardroom, she navigated the grueling professional tennis circuit, known for her varied, strategic playing style and a signature one-handed backhand. She reached the pinnacle of her sport, winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006, and securing an Olympic silver medal.
However, her transition from athlete to strategist truly cemented her legacy. She shifted her focus to coaching, leading Marion Bartoli to a 2013 Wimbledon title without dropping a single set. In 2014, she made history when Andy Murray appointed her as his head coach. By entering the male-dominated sphere of the ATP tour, Mauresmo faced intense, often unfair scrutiny, yet she proved her ability to unlock value and optimize performance at the highest levels of the men's game. This unparalleled perspective across both the WTA and ATP tours gave her a unique playbook for managing elite talent. By the time she took the helm at Roland Garros in 2021, she possessed a proven track record of managing extreme pressure, allowing her to govern the tournament with a cool, empirical discipline.
The Roland Garros Playbook
Mauresmo approaches tournament direction and sports leadership with a strategy that values human resilience and strategic caution over impulsive modernization. Her playbook encompasses three critical pillars:
➤ Shattering the Coaching Glass Ceiling: Mauresmo proved that tactical mastery and psychological insight transcend gender. By taking on the role of Andy Murray's coach, she fundamentally shifted the global conversation around female leadership in men's sports, turning what the media treated as an "experiment" into a highly successful, normalized commercial reality for the sport.
➤ Balancing Tradition with Innovation: As Tournament Director, she faces constant pressure to modernize, yet she prioritizes rigorous vetting over temporary hype. Recently, amid controversies surrounding electronic line-calling, she firmly defended the use of human officials on clay courts. By stating that the technology was not yet "100 percent reliable," she demonstrated a leadership style that refuses to blindly adopt technology at the expense of accuracy and human trust.
➤ Cultivating Psychological Resilience: Having experienced the crushing weight of French expectations as a player, she uses empathy to govern. Mauresmo understands that modern fans and players are hyper-connected. She leverages her background in sports psychology to ensure the tournament’s infrastructure supports player well-being, prioritizing load management and mental fortitude alongside broadcast demands.
Lessons on Boldness and Cultural Relevance
Mauresmo has built a career on being an unapologetic advocate for living authentically. In 1999, at just 19 years old, she publicly came out as gay during the Australian Open—a monumentally bold decision in an era of sports that was far less accepting. She led with the philosophy that one must stop asking for permission to be themselves, demanding respect through sheer competence and grace instead.
She operates with the belief that a great leader must also be highly adaptable. Whether she is serving as an advocate for LGBTQ+ athletes, analyzing matches as a broadcaster, or making unpopular operational decisions at the French Open, she never allows media narratives to dictate her strategy. Her success proves that true cultural influence in sports comes from a foundational integrity and the courage to make decisions that prioritize long-term stability over short-term popularity.
Takeaways
➤ Competence Shatters Convention: Mauresmo’s success as a coach on the ATP tour proves that elite leadership is defined by tactical value and results, effectively eliminating the gender-bias narrative in high-level coaching.
➤ Authenticity Builds Resilience: Her early career decision to come out publicly forged an unbreakable mental toughness. Her journey proves that raw, authentic humanity is a leader’s greatest shield against external pressure.
➤ Human Element Over Hype: Her recent executive decisions regarding electronic line-calling serve as a reminder that legacy sports properties must continually audit new technologies, ensuring they are empirically superior before abandoning the human elements of the game.
➤ Pressure is a Privilege to Manage: Her transition from heavily scrutinized player to tournament director highlights that the ultimate role of a leader is to manage the environment so that the talent can focus entirely on execution.
Read. Watch. Listen.
READ: The Guardian’s Tim Lewis profiles Mauresmo’s role in shaping men’s star Andy Murray as his coach. Women’s tennis icon Martina Navritilova: “Women are judged by a different stick, that’s for sure. If it didn’t succeed, they’d say women can’t coach men.” Full article. (link)
READ: Mauresmo advocates for continued human judgment following some controversial line calls leading up to this year’s Roland Garros renewal. “What we observed at the clay-court tournaments leading up to Roland Garros is that the reliability of this system is not absolute. As of today, the machine is not 100% reliable, so we continue to place our confidence in human officials.” (link)
WATCH: Mauresmo addresses threats of player boycotts from stars like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff over prize money disputes: "I don't want to use the boycott word for this decision. We regret it but that's how they want to proceed. I don't think it's good for anyone in tennis, to be honest, but that's how it is and we'll talk to make sure that again everyone is happy. Everyone is trying to make sure that everything is working so we'll see." (link)
Quote to Remember
On why she was a relative late bloomer: “Several factors, I think. There is perhaps an emotional factor that I needed time to mature and be able to manage. Another factor is the education and culture in which you grow up. I didn't grow up in the culture of victory, where you are expected to be or have to be, the best. It was not at all like that in my family. Tennis was really a hobby. If it led to something, great. If not, there were other things in life.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Cherie DeVaux – Founder and Head Trainer, Cherie DeVaux Racing
Publication Date: Wednesday, June 3
Carrie Ask – CEO, Wilson Sporting Goods
Publication Date: Saturday, May 31
Rebecca Calder – Commander, United States Navy Reserve (Ret.)
Publication Date: Wednesday, May 27
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(Posted from most recent over the last 15 days)
(NEW!) Director, Athletics Fields (Kennesaw State University / Kennesaw, GA): Responsible for leading athletic field operations, turf maintenance, staff, budgets, and vendors to ensure safe, high-quality, NCAA-compliant playing surfaces for athletics and special events. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Tyler Family Endowed Director of Student-Athlete Development (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Empower Wildcats beyond competition. Lead career readiness, leadership development, and life skills initiatives that prepare student-athletes for success in college and beyond sport. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Hockey Equipment Manager (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Manages all equipment operations for the Division I Men's Ice Hockey program -procuring, maintaining, and overseeing uniforms, equipment, and gear for athletes, coaches, and support staff. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Financial Analysis, Manager II (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Drive financial strategy for Arizona Athletics by leading complex reporting, data analysis, benchmarking, and forecasting to support informed decision-making and organizational success. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Nutritionist (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Help fuel championship performance by delivering expert sports nutrition counseling, education, and meal planning to support the health, wellness, and success of Arizona student-athletes. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Assistant Director, Ticket Operations (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Support the Wildcat fan experience by managing ticket operations for assigned sports, overseeing event-day box office functions, and delivering exceptional customer service. More details HERE.
(NEW!) Associate Director, Ticketing (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): Part of a dynamic ticket office team - primary responsibility for a reserved seating sport while helping shape and elevate the overall ticketing strategy. More details HERE.
Associate General Counsel (Athletics) (Vanderbilt University / Nashville, TN): Vanderbilt University is seeking an Associate General Counsel to join the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and provide legal advice to Vanderbilt University Athletics. More details HERE.
Head Baseball Coach (University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma / Chickasha, OK): Head coach responsible for recruiting, coaching, player development, program administration, and compliance with NAIA, conference, and university regulations. More details HERE.
Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Administration & Risk (University of Southern California / Los Angeles, CA): USC seeks a collaborative Exec. Sr. Assoc. AD, Administration & Risk to oversee legal affairs, organizational strategy and risk management to help guide one of the nation's premier athletics programs More details HERE.
Head Women's Golf Coach (Methodist University / Fayetteville, NC): The head coach will be responsible for the leadership and organization of a competitive women’s golf program that has had tremendous success winning 26 NCAA Division III Team National Championships. More details HERE.
Assistant Women's Tennis Coach (Part-time) - Intercollegiate Athletics (Duquesne University / Pittsburgh, PA): Under the general direction of the Director of Tennis, the Asst. Women’s Tennis Coach is responsible for supervising, planning, and coordinating the activities of the women’s tennis program. More details HERE.
Assistant Coach - Lacrosse (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Direct and independent coaching for student-athletes who compete in D1 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse for UF. Promote academic excellence. Assess/recruit prospective student-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant AD, Business Office, Senior Accountant (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Active role in financial reporting & analysis, budgeting, audits, accounts payable, credit card reconciliations and staff supervision. More details HERE.
Assistant Men's Gymnastics Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant Men's Ice Hockey Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching Cadet-athletes, season planning, recruiting, logistics, scheduling, managing travel, and managing the team’s budget including purchasing. More details HERE.
Assistant/Associate Head Men's Rugby Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Assistant Baseball Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Football Equipment Manager (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Manages the procedures for the storage, maintenance, repair, and inventory control of all equipment apparel, and field equipment for the football team. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications (Juniata College / Huntingdon, PA): Launch your career in athletic communications by creating digital content, supporting live events, managing gameday production, and promoting student-athlete stories in a hands-on role. More details HERE.
Sport Performance Coach-Intern (Juniata College / Huntingdon, PA): Start your sport performance career with hands-on experience designing training programs, supporting student-athletes, and building coaching skills in a collaborative athletics setting. More details HERE.
Strength & Conditioning Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Directly supervise the performance training program of Olympic sports assigned teams - contributing to the wellness of cadet-athletes, assisting cadet-athletes in optimizing competitive performance. More details HERE.
Head Coach Softball (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Provides overall leadership for the Softball program. More details HERE.
Director/Sport Services & Student-Athlete Engagement (NEC / Bridgewater, NJ): The Director will play a key role in the organization and oversight of NEC Championship events and NEC SAAC and academic groups. More details HERE.
Seasonal Assistant Volleyball Coach (Army West Point / West Point, NY): Coaching Cadet-athletes, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. More details HERE.
Part-Time Administrative Assistant (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): This part-time role provides support for the day-to-day operations of the football program, with a primary focus on serving as the front desk and first point of contact for the football facility. More details HERE.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach - Men's Basketball (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): To assist the men’s basketball and men’s golf programs with properly training and conditioning of student athletes. This position will help with overall performance of the student athletes. More details HERE.
Head Men's Volleyball Coach (Loras College / Dubuque, IA): Oversee all aspects of the volleyball program. More details HERE.
Assistant Coach - Swimming & Diving (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Provide direct and independent coaching of student-athletes who compete in D1, NCAA Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving for UF. Promote academic excellence. Assess/recruit prospective student-athletes. More details HERE.
Director of Creative Services (College Sports Communicators / Remote, US): This role will create engaging digital, social, print and other content that will drive engagement and elevate the CSC national association brand, its members, and the Academic All-America® program. More details HERE.
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Florida International University / Miami, FL): Assists Head Athletic Trainer in a manner that provides for competent and complete medical care for all student athletes participating in sports in Intercollegiate Athletics. More details HERE.
Assistant Director of Marketing - Marketing & Promotions (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Create comprehensive marketing plans with focus on ticket sales, attendance driving initiatives, fan experience enhancement strategies, and brand awareness. More details HERE.
Academic Advisor (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): The Academic Advisor-Athletics assists in the development and coordination of academic assistance programs designed to enable student-athletes to receive appropriate and timely academic assistance. More details HERE
Assistant Coach -Softball (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): To assist the softball program with day to day operations that include recruiting, academic assistance, individual workouts, scouting, practice, official and unofficial visits, etc. More details HERE.
Executive Assistant - Men's & Women's Tennis (University Athletic Association, Inc. at the University of Florida / Gainesville, FL): Provide administrative support to the head and assistant coaches. Coordinate team travel, team meals, and recruit visits. Assist with purchases, invoices, and P-cards. Assist with annual summer camps. More details HERE.
Temporary | Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): Temporary Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic will lead the nutrition care for 3 sport programs. This will include consultations, education, lab review, DXA scans as well as other responsibilities. More details HERE.
Head Coach, Cross Country and Track & Field (Cleveland State University / Cleveland, OH): Provides leadership for all aspects of Cleveland State University’s (CSU) NCAA Division I women’s cross country and track & field program, located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. More details HERE.
Head Coach – Women’s Basketball (Haverford College / Haverford, PA): Haverford College invites applications for our full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, benefits-eligible Head Coach – Women’s Basketball opportunity. More details HERE.
Associate Head Coach, Track and Field (Washington University in St. Louis / Saint Louis, MO): Serves as the lead staff member for the head coach in maintaining a highly competitive program. Is given specific autonomy, and shares responsibilities with the Head Coach. More details HERE.
Temporary | Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic (University of Notre Dame / Notre Dame, IN): Temporary Sports Nutrition Assistant, Olympic will lead the nutrition care for 3 sport programs. This will include consultations, education, lab review, DXA scans as well as other responsibilities. More details HERE.