How did Cathy Bender become one of the most influential women in Nashville? She is a much sought after financial planner with Merrill Lynch and has served as president both of the Bethlehem Centers of Nashville and the Council of Community Services.

Cathy not only attributes her success to hard work but also to the skills she developed as a basketball player. Basketball you ask? You mean participating in sports can lead to success later on in life?

You bet it can and Cathy’s story is the perfect example how sports empowers women. Men have known this forever. Authors Betty Lehan Harragan explained it best in her 1977 book Games Mother Never Taught You. The premise of her book is that men rule the business world. Since men are in charge they set all the rules. What are the rules based on? Principles that men learned as boys playing sports. What are the main rules? Know how to compete and how to be a team player.

Personally, I learned how to be a team player as a high school basketball player. Like other women who participated in team events whether basketball, forensics, debate or softball, I learned a valuable lesson. That lesson was, whether I wanted to or not, I had to practice if I wanted to improve, and I had to play well with people I might not really like if I wanted to win. And make no mistake about it, I think if women want to be successful in the business world which is still largely controlled by men, the more women know about sports and teamwork, the more successful they will be.

Cathy Bender used those lessons to achieve greatness at a young age. She is an African-American who was a star at Mt. Juliet High School, a predominantly white school, and her basketball team consistently played before sell-out crowds. She was the recipient of one of the first scholarships Vanderbilt gave to their women basketball players. Those experiences prepared her to become successful in the predominately white male environment where she works today.

When Cathy was a Lady Commodore, the women traveled for days in a bus to get to a game while the men were flown around the country in private jets. Times have definitely changed as today both the Lady Commodores and the Lady Vols are ranked in the top five teams in the country while their male counterparts are not. In fact, if you have never attended a Lady Dors vs. Lady Vols game, you have missed out on the most exciting basketball game of the year and the best rivalry in the nation.

“Basketball taught me when you get knocked down you just have to get back up,” laughed Bender. “Sports teaches that hard work pays off. I had to develop staying power and the ability to compete. Sometimes women are taught that it is not lady like to compete but you can still be a lady and be very determined. So much of Corporate America today means interfacing with people you do not like. But, in order to be successful, just like winning a game, you have to work together for the good of the team. Sports give you that. If you are a great team player or employee, people will also know at the end of the day that you are also a great individual player.”

Cathy Bender volunteers with many young women who do not have a stable home life. “There are times when the Coach becomes the role model and the team becomes a family. Participating in sports gives these disadvantaged children discipline,” she said.

Learning discipline through team sports will lead to confidence and understanding how hard work pays off is important for young people according to Bender. And confidence equates success in life. “Just like shooting free throws every day at practice, it pays off because free throws equal points in the game. The more free throws you make the more confidence you build. That confidence will help you take risks in business,” said Bender. She went on to say, “ In my mind, if you give me a shot I am going to take it. I know I can do it because the answer for everything is hard work and that hard work goes back to the discipline I learned as a young girl through sports.”

What do three other women who are leaders in our community have to say about how basketball helped them become successful in business? “Knowing and talking sports is a great way in the world of work to relate to folks, particularly men. Sports serve as a great way to establish a connection about something fun and interesting, and there is always a new angle to discuss” according to Margaret Behm, Attorney & Principal with Dodson, Parker & Dinkins and Behm. Behm is respected nationally for breaking the glass ceiling for women in Nashville. She serves as legal counsel for the Nashville Sports Authority, Chair of the Steering Committee for the Women’s Southeastern Conference Committee, is a founder of CABLE, WIN and a recipient of the ATHENA Award.

“I played at Peabody College from 1969-73. As for how it helps me with corporate politics, it taught me to work with others as a team. Between playing basketball and being a Girl Scout for 10 years, I learned great lessons in leadership long before it was popular to train girls for leadership roles, ” said Susan Huggins, President of Direct Link. Huggins has served as President of CABLE, Chair of the YWCA Board, Chair of the ATHENA Awards Program and is an alumnus of Leadership Nashville.

“I think playing basketball at a young age helped build my self-esteem and confidence. I truly believe that playing sports was an invaluable learning experience for me in many achievement oriented behaviors that I encounter in the workplace such as being a team player, goal-setting and pursuing excellence in performance,”said Pat Pierce whose bio reflects her leadership in many women’s organizations including the League of Women Voters, WIN, CABLE the YW and the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus. Pierce was a Lady Vol and is the Director of the Opportunity Development Center at Vanderbilt.

Margaret Behm, Cathy Bender, Pat Pierce, Susan Huggins and I have all joined the 2002 SEC Women’s Tournament Steering Committee to make sure the event is a success not only for the Nashville business community but also to showcase and promote sporting events for women. How can you help? Buy tickets and attend the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament. Bring young women with you and show them the greatness and success that lady college athletes are achieving today.

To purchase individual tickets or a corporate ticket package which includes hospitality, parking, and corporate exposure to the 2002 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament (February 28 --March 3) at Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center, call the Nashville Sports Council at (615) 743-3120.

CABLE has invited a special speaker to their February Membership meeting at the Maxwell House in order to promote the SEC Women’s Tournament. Donna Lopiano, Executive Director of the Women’s Sports Foundation will speak to CABLE at their February 13, 2001membership meeting at 11:30. For details contact the CABLE office at (615) 255-9119 or http://www.nashvillecable.org.

Finally, Pat Summit, Head Coach of the Lady Vols is scheduled to speak on February 2, 2001 to the Sports Council as part of their XO Sports Speakers Series. For more information about hearing Coach Summit call the Nashville Sports Council at 615-743-3120.

Saralee Terry Woods is President of BookMan/BookWoman Used Books, a member of the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Steering Committee and President of bookmanbookwoman.com. Her email address is LSWOODS@bellsouth.net.