Franchise
Power
Accomplished women examining how influence becomes scale.
Accomplished women examining how influence becomes scale.
45 highly accomplished women in business gathered in Malibu for the inaugural Prodigious Case Study Event, this year titled "Franchise Power."
The day centered on The Post-Podium Pivot — a live case study following Maya, a retiring professional soccer player navigating limited savings, constrained visibility, and a lack of access to traditional capital networks. Maya's story resonated immediately. The room didn't just analyze the problem. It imagined real solutions.
Three cross-industry teams tackled distinct dilemmas: how to convert social capital into scalable equity, how to access capital outside the traditional gatekeepers, and how institutions can be held accountable for supporting athletes beyond their playing years. What followed was more than strategy — it was a mirror held up to every woman in the room who had lived some version of Maya's story, or was actively working to change it for the next generation.
The themes of visibility, access, mentorship, and institutional accountability ran through every conversation. The ideas that emerged were bold, practical, and deeply felt. We are still thinking about them.
Teams developed bold 3-year Brand-to-Business roadmaps that move athletes from endorsement deals toward meaningful equity ownership — without the initial capital their male counterparts enjoy. The room challenged the default of "influencer" and reimagined what a real seat at the table looks like.
With only 2% of VC funding going to women-led startups, teams designed Capital Access Strategies that bypass traditional gatekeepers — building syndicates of fellow athletes, proving market viability through community, and reframing the "visibility gap" as a competitive advantage.
The most contested question of the day: should leagues fund post-career transitions as part of total compensation — or does that create dependency? Teams proposed scalable Post-Career Ecosystem policies that balance league sustainability with long-term athlete security.
Ideas at a Glance
Personal Brand Architecture — Define storytelling pillars (grit, preparation, recovery) to build profile and attract inbound brand partnerships.
Strategic Platform Play — Lead with one powerful, vulnerable story on a high-reach platform to authentically attract brand opportunities.
Equity-First Partnerships — Pursue early-stage startups and advisory roles that exchange your expertise and network for equity, no cash required.
IP Licensing & Board Service — Package expertise into scalable, licensable IP and pursue board seats now to build career infrastructure before retirement.
Ideas at a Glance
MyTrainer by Maya — An AI-powered app democratizing elite athletic training for every woman, built on Maya's expertise and designed for women's bodies.
Build the Network Early — Leverage agency and representation firm ecosystems for education and mentorship; map her network now to identify a technical and health co-founder.
MVP First, Scale Fast — Vibe-code an AI prototype and run it through hackathons; pilot with youth clinics, college programs, and club sports partnerships.
Athlete-First Funding — Start with a friends & family round and convertible notes for athletes, then pitch health, female consumer, and sports investors.
Ideas at a Glance
Total Rewards, Not Total Cost — Reframe athlete support as a competitive talent strategy, not a league obligation.
Sign-Off Bonuses & Retirement Matching — Defer sign-on bonuses and introduce 401K-style matching to plan for careers holistically.
Internal Career Pathways — Bridge the gap from active athlete to management roles with structured league opportunities.
Two-Tier Performance Incentives — Contractual bonus multipliers rewarding both athletic and corporate engagement.
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Take the SurveyAs Commissioner of Unrivaled, one of the fastest growing sports leagues in the world, Micky Lawler oversees league strategy, operations, partnerships, and revenue growth. She joined in 2024 following a distinguished career leading global sports organizations and advancing gender equity in athletics.
Previously President of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), where she expanded the global reach and commercial value of women's tennis, delivering record growth in sponsorship, media rights, and international investment.
Dr. Ledbetter is the founding director of the Center for Women in Leadership at Pepperdine's Graziadio Business School, where she previously served as Dean of Student Affairs for seven years. A practitioner faculty member in organizational theory and leadership, she teaches graduate courses focused on leadership development and advancing women in leadership.
An award-winning educator, Dr. Ledbetter has received the Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence, the George Award for Outstanding Faculty Member, and Leadership California's TrailBlazer Award.
Monica Shilling is a transactional partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She advises asset managers, private equity funds, and their portfolio companies across the full lifecycle of transactions, and represents public companies, financial advisors, investment banks, and issuers.
Her practice includes M&A, capital markets, leveraged buyouts, corporate governance, and securities compliance. Recognized by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 since 2010.
Founded in 2008 and inspired by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Grameen America empowers women in underserved communities through small business loans, financial education, and credit-building programs — enabling women excluded from the traditional financial system to build businesses and achieve long-term stability.
Building a pipeline to growth for thousands of Black-owned businesses, many of which are women-owned. Together with more than 35 corporate partners, they have built a pipeline to shift almost $14 billion of revenue to Black-owned businesses through curated inclusion programs.
A global nonprofit established in 2010 to accelerate gender and racial diversity in corporate governance. With a goal of achieving 50% women and 20% women of color on corporate boards, the organization directs the majority of its funding toward education and advocacy that prepare women for board leadership.
Prodigious Advisors is an operating partner to high growth companies and category defining brands.
Our work goes beyond advice. We assemble teams of experienced operators who embed with founders and the C-suite to solve complex problems and execute step-change initiatives.
Our clients span consumer, media, sports, hospitality, food and beverage, and ecommerce. They are raising capital, launching new products and ventures, and scaling innovative businesses. Together they represent a new generation of companies reshaping how businesses are built and operated.
Visit ProdigiousThe Center for Women in Leadership at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is dedicated to advancing women as leaders in business and society. Through research, graduate education, and curated programs, the Center brings together executives, scholars, and students to explore modern leadership challenges and expand pathways for women to lead organizations and ventures.
Visit PepperdineWhat's Next
The conversation continues. Stay close — the next edition of Franchise Power is already taking shape. More to come.
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