Athletes Unlimited Softball Commissioner Kim Ng learned everything she needed to become a trailblazing sports executive in two places:

The softball diamond and the tennis court.

A 4-year starting infielder for the University of Chicago, Kim graduated with a master's degree in dedication, grit, perseverance and the willingness to fail, DESPITE a fear of failure.

(Say that last part out loud, and sit with it for a moment.)

Perseverance? Critical, as Kim made history as Major League Baseball's first female general manager. Grit? Essential, when she left her dream job as the Miami Marlins' GM, because the fit was no longer right.

In this candid conversation, Kim discusses what it took to stand her ground as often the only woman in the room, how she battled an identity crisis during a critical chapter in her career (and won), and her resilience after a gut-wrenching decision that, ultimately, led her back to her softball roots, where Kim is now paving a powerful future for the AUSL.

If anyone's ever made you feel like you don't belong. If you've ever questioned whether your dream is worth the fight. This episode is for you.

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***FOLLOW @THE_ATHLETE_EFFECT ON INSTAGRAM

TO ENTER OUR UPCOMING AUSL VIP SWEEPSTAKES

Grand prize:

► Two (2) tickets to an AUSL 2027 regular season game of your choice

► On-field access for batting practice

►AUSL swag bag with autographed Kim Ng softball

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TOPICS COVERED:

Kim Ng, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, AUSL, professional softball, growth of softball, women's sports, investment in women's sports, MLB, first female GM, Miami Marlins, Yankees, Dodgers, White Sox, leadership, coachability, resilience, courage, grit, reflection, fear of failure, trusting your voice, breaking barriers, imposter syndrome, Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Title IX, Women's Sports Foundation, University of Chicago.

AUSL LEAGUE SITE & HANDLES:

► AUSL Site: https://theausl.com/

► Instagram: @theauslofficial

► X (Twitter): @theAUSLofficial

BONNIE BERNSTEIN SOCIALS:

► Instagram: https://instagram.com/BonnieBernstein

► X: https://x.com/BonnieBernstein

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein

THE ATHLETE EFFECT™ SOCIALS:

► Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_athlete_effect

► TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@TheAthleteEffect

► Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect/?sub_confirmation=1

Kit Hoover doesn’t sugarcoat it: she was in way over her head at ESPN. First time doing live TV. First time reading a teleprompter. All while navigating postpartum depression with two young daughters. The UNC track and cross-country athlete reveals how the sports mindset she mastered on the course helped her find her stride and thrive in broadcasting.

In this candid conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, Kit opens up about the “coachability” that has been a throughline in her career, from MTV’s Road Rules and Fox News to ESPN’s Cold Pizza and 16 years hosting Access Hollywood. She also gets vulnerable about motherhood, career pivots, loss, grief and change—and the male champions who've empowered her along the way.

As Kit turns the page on her career and becomes an empty nester, running has taken on a greater purpose. For athletes dreaming of broadcasting, parents stuck on the work-life hamster wheel, or anyone contemplating a pivot, Kit’s story offers hard-earned wisdom on fearlessness and a road map for moving forward when life makes an unexpected turn.

Topics Covered:
Access Hollywood, MTV Road Rules, ESPN, reality TV, grief, failure, community, resilience, fearlessness, discipline, pivot, Live Like Braun Foundation, raising good humans, teamwork, and reinvention.

Show Notes and Kit Hoover Socials:

• https://www.instagram.com/kithoover/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-hoover-0a5a90302/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@kithoover
• https://x.com/KitHoover?lang=en

To Learn More about the Live Like Braun Foundation:

• https://livelikebraunfoundation.org/

The Athlete Effect™:

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

Bonnie Bernstein:

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

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/