She walked onto two teams at Hampton University and nearly got kicked off one of ’em for bad grades.

Could anyone have predicted then that Jacqie McWilliams Parker would one day become the first Black woman to lead an NCAA athletic conference, in any division? Probably not.

That’s how stories become fairy tales.

Since 2012, “The Commish” has led the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s oldest conference for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In this candid conversation, Jacqie shares how the confidence she developed through basketball and volleyball helped her squash the self-doubt that crept in early in her tenure.

Jacqie reflects on the instability of growing up as a military kid and the sense of belonging she found on the court when she struggled to feel comfortable off it. She offers candid advice to high school athletes pursuing the next level and opens up about the deeper work of learning to love the person she sees in the mirror.

In one of the most emotional moments of the conversation, Jacqie shares her journey to “locking” her hair, the boundary she drew when others challenged that choice, and the strength she found on the other side.

This episode may change how you see leadership, confidence, legacy, and what it really means to earn your power.

Topics covered: Jacqie McWilliams Parker, CIAA Commissioner, HBCU, D1, D2, D3, leadership, relationships, conflict management, being a good teammate, spirituality, transitions, confidence, letting go, vunerability, compassion, the joy and innocence of sport.

Show Notes and Socials:

CIAA: https://theciaa.com/

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ciaasports/?hl=en

Jacquie McWilliams-Parker:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqie-mcwilliams-parker-7ab5551/

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/ciaacommish/?hl=en

The Athlete Effect™:

• instagram.com/the_athlete_effect
• tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect
• www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect

Bonnie Bernstein:

• instagram.com/BonnieBernstein
• https://www.tiktok.com/discover/bonnie-bernstein
• twitter.com/BonnieBernstein
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/