About BJKLI
Founded in 2014 by sports champions and social activists Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative aims to create a world where workplaces are free of discrimination and inequality.
The amount of untapped human potential in our world is enormous, yet in so many places, race, gender, and sexuality are used to discriminate against men and women and prevent them from reaching their full potential. Inspired by tennis great Althea Gibson’s book, I Always Wanted to be Somebody, which focuses on Gibson’s experiences with racial inequality, Billie Jean King envisions a world where individuals are free to bring their authentic selves to work every single day. The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative fosters a movement where diverse talent is promoted and celebrated, from the top-down and the bottom-up. It challenges the ways differences are seen, and encourages companies, corporations and individuals to embrace those with diverse personalities and lifestyles for the positive and unique contributions they bring to the workforce.
Our Approach – Listen, Learn, and Lead – is dedicated to inspiring future leaders, where we hope to motivate people and those in positions of power to promote diverse identities and challenge the status quo. With your help, we can reach the next generation, and together we will build a more inclusive, respectful society.
The amount of untapped human potential in our world is enormous, yet in so many places, race, gender, and sexuality are used to discriminate against men and women and prevent them from reaching their full potential. Inspired by tennis great Althea Gibson’s book, I Always Wanted to be Somebody, which focuses on Gibson’s experiences with racial inequality, Billie Jean King envisions a world where individuals are free to bring their authentic selves to work every single day. The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative fosters a movement where diverse talent is promoted and celebrated, from the top-down and the bottom-up. It challenges the ways differences are seen, and encourages companies, corporations and individuals to embrace those with diverse personalities and lifestyles for the positive and unique contributions they bring to the workforce.
Our Approach – Listen, Learn, and Lead – are dedicated to inspiring future leaders, where we hope to motivate people and those in positions of power to promote diverse identities and challenge the status quo. With your help, we can reach the next generation, and together we will build a more inclusive, respectful society.
Our Vision
- Everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion, ability, or sexual orientation should have equal rights, opportunity and access.
- Inclusion and equality should be celebrated.
- We must ensure people feel comfortable to bring their authentic selves to work every day.
- People in positions of power must use their platforms to advance positive change.
Our Purpose
To promote
equality, access, and inclusion
To Advocate
for equal pay for equal work
To support
organizations that align with our vision
To partner
with leaders who are making positive change
Billie Jean King’s Story
Named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life magazine and a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Billie Jean King is the founder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, the co-founder of World TeamTennis and part of the ownership group of the Los Angeles Dodgers. She founded the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Women’s Tennis Association. In 2006, the National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in honor of her accomplishments on and off the court. In 2017, Fox Searchlight released the critically acclaimed film, Battle of the Sexes, which depicts the cultural and social impact of the groundbreaking match. In 2018, King received a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. In 2019, the Billie Jean King Main Library opened in King’s hometown of Long Beach, California, and ESPN established the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award. King serves on the board of the Women’s Sports Foundation and is a past member of the board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a past member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
