Challenging the Status Quo and Leading: Michele Kang, Building a Global Women’s Soccer Organization

Abstract

In 2022, Y. Michele Kang broke barriers by becoming the first woman majority owner of a multi-team soccer organization featuring the Washington Spirit and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. In 2023, she expanded her organization by adding the London City Lionesses. Kang’s journey to soccer team ownership was unconventional, as she had primarily worked in healthcare IT. However, her reputation for challenging the status quo and driving change was immediately evident in the investment, resources, and attention she brought to her teams. This case study delves into the leadership challenge of Michele Kang as she sets out to build the first-of-its-kind global women’s soccer organization. The study aims to demonstrate that this venture is a promising business opportunity and a beacon of hope for achieving equity with male peer teams and their associated resources.

Learning Outcomes By the end of this case study, the students should be able to: • Identify leadership skills necessary to elevate women’s soccer revenue, pay, profile, attendance, and interest. • Suggest how Michele Kang can navigate building a global culture of excellence and data sharing across her multi-team organization. • Identify attendant challenges to training women with equipment and programs designed specifically for women, rather than adapted from men’s programs and equipment.