By Mark Harrison (MH3)

One of the most challenging aspects of business is that no matter how many people agree on a topic, there is often only one person that matters.

The decision maker. 

The power of that individual is fully understood when you realize that it only takes one person at a company to decide not to support professional women’s sports despite the other seventeen million who say otherwise. 

Oh, to have that power.

The power to ignore the obvious. The power to apply old rules to a new game. The power to be a marketer who markets to himself. The power to say NO. 

NO is the most powerful word in business. It allows us to manage budgets. It supports our priority setting. It can clarify an organization of where the lines of the box are drawn. 

But NO can also be a door opener for an organization. An organization filled with NO men will soon open plenty of doors for them to oblivion, oblivion, and obscurity. 

This first-of-its-kind report reveals that two in three Canadians aged 13-65 are fans of women’s sports—equivalent to more than 17 million Canadians! 

So get ready to say YES to professional women’s sports by rethinking how you, as a brand, approach sponsorship marketing. 

Say YES to revamping how you evaluate sports sponsorships. Do not apply a traditional league model that reeks of impressions and value banks. Apply a progressive  model where you measure the equity of a marketing partnership (I am referring to value here, not DEI) based on how the consumer values it. That is where the gold is in women’s sports. 

Say YES to true partnership instead of the lip service that often exists in our business today. Move yourself from being a patron to an investor who is looking to commit to the long-term growth of their partner and understands the actual returns come down the road, not in the first month of activating. Speaking of which, say YES to activating at a 10X-20X ratio with women’s sports to balance your total investment with your traditional portfolio and reap the rewards. 

Say YES to fully integrating women’s sports into every aspect of your business. Recruitment. Employee Engagement. Channel Marketing. Industry Stakeholders. Government Relations. Women’s Sports is not CSR, ESG, or DEI. It’s ROI. A women’s sports partnership can play an integrated role in how you operate your company and be much more than a communciations stratgey or marketing tactic. 

What I am saying here isn’t new. Ask any person in the women’s sports business. Almost a decade ago, I was fortunate enough to create a fantastic national women’s sports platform for our clients at Dairy Farmers of Canada -  Fuelling Women’s Sports - We were alone in the wilderness at the time. But now with the PWHL, Project 8, the WNBA and our Olympic/Paralympic teams we are finally seeing the dream becoming conscious reality. 

The actual votes are in; it’s all right there in the report. However, there will still be some people who want to disbelieve what is in front of them. Let them. Let’s not worry about the NAYsayers, the NOmen, who are about to be NObody’s.

Instead, let’s celebrate the leader wise enough to understand what their consumers of today, tomorrow, and quite frankly yesterday have been asking for all along. 

Notice I didn’t say brave when I describe the leader who says YES. When you have seventeen million supporters, it isn’t about bravery; it’s about listening. 

It’s Time for your brand to unlock the power of pro women’s sports fans.

Our three distinct networking dinners offer a unique and delicious experience and are perfect opportunities to forge new connections. On Thursday, we'll be in the heart of Crankworx Boneyard. Friday, we'll be at the summit of Whistler Mountain, and Saturday, we'll be at a world-class Whistler Village Restaurant. All three dinners are included in our Experience Pass. 

In response to more requests for group discussions, we have brought in classroom sessions at breakfast. These sessions are 100% full participation from all delegates, with designated tables discussing unique topics. Our C-Suites will be inspiring and informative, and our TalkShows will have you wanting a front-row seat.  

In addition, you'll witness the Red Bull Joyride delight thousands of Gen Z fans live and many more worldwide on Red Bull TV. This is the largest slopestyle mountain biking competition in the world!

It's no secret that SponsorshipX Whistler is like a vacation with speakers. We don't hide from the fact that while we know you are all business and your money and time are precious resources, we want to ensure that you receive a corporate ROI on attending and a personal ROI from joining the SponsorshipX Community.

Don't delay. Our early bird expires on May 27th, and our discounted hotel room block is limited. Reminder: this is the busiest weekend of the year in Whistler!

Team SPX

Team Canada and Lululemon have unveiled the new athlete kit for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, designed with innovation and purpose to help athletes perform at their best.

The kit blends advanced technology with sustainable materials, ensuring comfort and style for athletes during their journey in Paris. Each piece has been crafted with athlete input to meet their needs, from dynamic movement to keeping cool in the summer heat.

Discover the vision behind the design, the thoughtful attention to detail, and how Lululemon is empowering Team Canada to excel on the world stage. Read more about the kit and its innovative features on our website.

Let's cheer on our athletes as they prepare for Paris 2024! #Paris2024 #TeamCanada #Lululemon

But don't mistake all the fun, networking, and experiences for a lack of learning. We believe in the perfect balance-there is no pleasure if we don't progress. SponsorshipX Whistler is not just about fun but also about your professional growth and development. 

Sign up today to see what our team has been up to!

MH3