Proving Their Committment

Fifty years ago, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school that receives funding from the federal government was passed into law. While great strides have been made in collegiate women’s athletics, there are still improvements that are needed to bring women’s college sports on a parity with men.

Simmons Bank recently announced an unprecedented multi-university sponsorship of women’s athletics at ten universities throughout the six states Simmons serves, including Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University. Unlike traditional athletic sponsorships, this initiative supports ALL women’s athletics at these universities and aims to provide more than just financial support.

I recently sat down with Lori Baldock, President of the Fort Worth Market for Simmons Bank, and Liz Miller, Simmons’ Regional Marketing Specialist, to talk about this unique sponsorship initiative and what it means for women in general and in Fort Worth in particular.

There is a distinct correlation between athletic success and business success. The teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills learned on the field and the court translates into the business world. Baldock said, “What the bank has realized is that when you look… at the kind of leadership skills they develop as athletes… we want to support that.”

Lori Baldock
Photo courtesy of Simmons Bank

In spotlighting all of women’s athletics at these universities, Simmons Bank is showing how important women’s collegiate athletics are. “Women athletes go on to develop into business entrepreneurs, contributors to our communities,” said Miller. “[There is] that linkage between ‘let’s support what these women are doing throughout their collegiate careers’ and ‘how do we develop that into their next phases in life?’”

An important part of Simmons’ partnership with women’s athletics includes mentoring the athletes as they prepare to take the next step after college. “Not all [of the athletes] will move on to professional careers in athletics. Some may be coaches, some may be players, but many will take other routes… into the business community,” said Baldock.

“These women have been focused on their athletic endeavors in college in addition to their academics… I’ve raised three Horned Frogs. [They] need mentorship to land that first job, to negotiate that paycheck because it sets you on a trajectory for the rest of your career,” Baldock said. “[The mentorship] is important to me personally as a female executive in the Bank and as the Market President in Fort Worth…”

Miller agreed. “[The sponsorship initiative] is more than just our logo on a field or on an arena. It’s the development of these students beyond their athletic careers.”

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, as of 2017, more than 11 million businesses in the United States are owned by women. These businesses employ 9 million people. And these numbers are growing every year.

“We looked at the development of leadership skills [in student athletics],” said Baldock. “As the [student athletes] leave college, some may… start their own companies. Some may become doctors, lawyers, dentists, etc. Maybe some become the heads of their households… [which are] key components of our community… we want all these women to know that there is a banker within Simmons who can help them with their needs.”

To that end, Simmons Bank has five locations in Fort Worth, as well as branches in Arlington, Burleson, Colleyville, Grapevine, Mansfield, Saginaw, and Dallas.

“There are a lot of entrepreneurs in the Tanglewood Moms community,” Miller said. “Lori and her team are right here in Fort Worth to help them get their business to the next level… We have our finger on the pulse of understanding the need of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and women within our community.”

From a remarkable sponsorship initiative for women collegiate athletes to supporting female entrepreneurs in Fort Worth, Simmons Bank has proven their commitment to women and to the communities they serve.