Billie Jean King is a legendary sports icon, social reformer, and one of the 20th century's most respected and influential people, best known as a champion for social justice and equality. She is a 39-time Grand Slam Tennis Champion and a pioneer who created new inroads for both genders, primarily through the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, which is dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace.
King blazed trails for women everywhere in 1970 when she led a revolt that established women's professional tennis and the formation of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Her influence reached its apex in 1973 with “The Battle of the Sexes,” where she defeated Bobby Riggs, a cultural moment that was immortalized in a major film. Named one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" by Life magazine, she continues to use her platform to drive systemic change.
Her enduring commitment to equality led her to establish the Women's Sports Foundation and the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, which is focused on equality and inclusion in the workplace. Her memoir, ALL IN: An Autobiography, is a New York Times bestseller that is garnering rave reviews, further sharing the arc of her transformative career.
King's status as a champion for human rights is recognized by a host of prestigious honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, and France's Légion d'honneur. As a speaker, she moves audiences with empowering lessons on leadership, inclusivity, and equality, drawing on her legendary career to provide a compelling and urgent call to action for finding one's purpose in the pursuit of a just world.
