Ep. #180 Why Simmons University Is Launching A Master's Program Focused On The Business Of Women’s Sports, ft. Dean Astrid Sheil & Justine Pouravelis
Mon Dec 22 2025
In episode #180 of 🎙️The Business Case For Women’s Sports, presented by Ally, Caroline sits down with Dean Astrid Sheil and Justine Pouravelis from Simmons University – the leaders behind the nation’s first Master’s of Management degree focused on the business of women’s professional sports.
This first-of-its-kind program was created to fill a decades-long gender gap in sports management education, giving women the academic foundation, industry insight, and confidence needed to lead in a rapidly scaling women’s sports economy.
One of the program’s most distinctive features is its powerhouse Advisory Board, made up of industry leaders from the PWHL, Bleacher Report, DraftKings, KLUTCH Sports, the NC Courage ownership group, and more – intentionally bridging the gap between academia and the real-world needs of the women’s sports industry.
In this episode, hear:
Why women’s sports deserve its own academic pathway.The role academia plays in building confidence and leadership pipelines.Why this moment is exactly the right time to invest in women’s sports and launch this program at Simmons University. More from GOALS
Follow GOALS on Twitter: @goals_sports_Follow GOALS on Instagram: @goals_sports_Follow GOALS on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goals-sportsShop: goals-sports.com/shop
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In episode #180 of 🎙️The Business Case For Women’s Sports, presented by Ally, Caroline sits down with Dean Astrid Sheil and Justine Pouravelis from Simmons University – the leaders behind the nation’s first Master’s of Management degree focused on the business of women’s professional sports. This first-of-its-kind program was created to fill a decades-long gender gap in sports management education, giving women the academic foundation, industry insight, and confidence needed to lead in a rapidly scaling women’s sports economy. One of the program’s most distinctive features is its powerhouse Advisory Board, made up of industry leaders from the PWHL, Bleacher Report, DraftKings, KLUTCH Sports, the NC Courage ownership group, and more – intentionally bridging the gap between academia and the real-world needs of the women’s sports industry. In this episode, hear: Why women’s sports deserve its own academic pathway.The role academia plays in building confidence and leadership pipelines.Why this moment is exactly the right time to invest in women’s sports and launch this program at Simmons University. More from GOALS Follow GOALS on Twitter: @goals_sports_Follow GOALS on Instagram: @goals_sports_Follow GOALS on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goals-sportsShop: goals-sports.com/shop