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The world of sports media is overwhelmingly a man’s world in 2014, and there is one organization who would like to see a change in that disproportion.

Women In Sports and Events (WISE) is one of the leading resources for women in the sports and events industry. WISE President, Shelley Taniguchi, describes WISE as, “a catalyst for developing strong business relationships, and is a knowledge-based network for women dealing with issues, challenges and opportunities impacting all stages of their career.”

Taniguchi feels that women are much more natural relationship builders than men, and thus, their role in the performance-based world of sports and event coordinating is not as prominent as it should be.

Taniguchi’s vision to include more women in the industry begins in a simple way. “I think the paradigm shift starts with our own perspective about what we can do,” says Taniguchi. “The most successful women in sports that I know almost never think about how being a woman affects their work. They simply want to be the best they can be and in what they do”

Taniguchi also has advice for young women striving to reach leadership roles in the sports industry, but have second thoughts about entering the industry because they’re intimidated.

“Too many people undervalue what they are, and overvalue what they’re not,” she says. “Do what you love. Know your strengths. Value what you bring and don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise.”

She even has advice for women in Los Angeles on how to celebrate International Women’s Day. She says, “On a piece of paper, answer this question: ‘what would you do if you could not fail?’ And go do it.”

International Women’s Day is March 8, and in 2014 is celebrated in most countries in the world in various ways.

Some of the earliest celebrations of International Women’s Day date back to the 1910s, during the infancy of the first women’s movements.

For those who want to know more about WISE, visit www.wiselosangeles.com.

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