Why entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian is doubling down on women’s sports | Leadership Next

**Alexis Ohanian** (0:00)
In America, the ball don't lie moment is in the revenue, the dollars. And you'd be laughed out of a room for saying people don't care about women's tennis, because the money says, you're an idiot, that's wrong.

**Diane Brady** (0:11)
Welcome to Leadership Next, the podcast about the people and trends that are shaping the future of business.

**Kristin Stoller** (0:17)
I'm Diane Brady, and I'm Kristin Stoller.

**Diane Brady** (0:21)
And this week, Kristin, one of my favorite people to interview, Alexis Ohanian.

**Kristin Stoller** (0:26)
Yes, the co-founder of Reddit, but now so much more. He is all about investing in women's sports. We interviewed him at our Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh, and he told us a lot about expansion of women's sports, not only in the US, but globally and in the Middle East too.

**Diane Brady** (0:42)
Well, and let's just level set. One of the reasons I think he's so interested in women's sports is he has a much more personal connection now with Serena Williams, who's also investing in this area. And he has been an investor. This is a man who's been very successful with Instacart, Coinbase, Open Door. So as an investor, he's very successful. He's a man to watch. And of course, he's an entrepreneur.

**Kristin Stoller** (1:06)
He is. I think one of the most interesting things he told me that week when we were there is that he believes we're gonna see a billion dollar women's team within the next five years. He is very excited. He launched this new women's track and field competition, Athlos, which just took place in Times Square in October. And he is confident that women's sports is just around the corner from being as profitable as men's.

**Diane Brady** (1:29)
So he talks about that. He talks a little bit about his own leadership philosophy, which has changed over the years. And he also talks about some of the activism that he's done. I knew him originally from his battles over net neutrality, internet freedom. Obviously, we're now at a whole new dawn of what's going to be happening with AI. So we got into that as well.

**Kristin Stoller** (1:51)
Some spicy hot takes too.

**Diane Brady** (1:53)
Yeah, very much so. So I really enjoyed this conversation with Alexis Ohanian. I hope you do too. And we'll be right back after the break. Cities are home to the majority of the world's population and account for 80% of global GDP. That makes the health and sustainability of our cities critical to creating a prosperous future. And of course, business has a role to play. Jason Garzatis, the CEO of Deloitte US is the sponsor of this podcast and he joins us now. Jason, great to see you.

**Jason Garzatis** (2:25)
Great to see you, Diane. Thanks for having me.

**Diane Brady** (2:27)
So how should businesses play a role in creating more vibrant and sustainable cities?

**Jason Garzatis** (2:33)
It's clear to me that their health of cities is inextricably linked to businesses' viability and success. I think it starts with an awareness or a recognition of that mutually dependent reality. I think the how is around collaboration. It's bringing to bear the capabilities of businesses to support cities' renewal and innovation, to understand the criticality of cities' role around economic prosperity, innovation, as well as cultural exchange.

**Kristin Stoller** (3:04)
Jason, could you give us some examples of successful urban transformation projects that have been driven by these innovative business practices?

**Jason Garzatis** (3:12)
I'm proud to say that Deloitte, back in 2023, we've started an effort called YesSF. Here in San Francisco, where I live, the launch of YesSF with other business collaborators has brought together our competencies around stimulating interest amongst innovators to bring sustainability and technology innovation to benefit the city itself.

**Kristin Stoller** (3:36)
Excellent. Well, that sounds like a very cool project. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

**Jason Garzatis** (3:40)
Thank you.

**Diane Brady** (3:41)
Thanks, Jason.

**Kristin Stoller** (3:44)
All right, Alexis, thank you so much for joining us here at the Fortune Global Forum. I'm in Riyadh.

**Alexis Ohanian** (3:48)
Thank you for having me.

**Kristin Stoller** (3:49)
Of course. So I want to start with, you are wearing so many hats these days. Your founder, investor.

**Diane Brady** (3:54)
I thought you were going to compliment his suit actually. You're wearing so many hats.

**Kristin Stoller** (3:57)
Hats and a nice suit. Thank you. Your founder, investor, your owner, your dad.

**Alexis Ohanian** (4:02)
Yes.

**Kristin Stoller** (4:02)
Where are your priorities at right now? Give us a taste.

**Alexis Ohanian** (4:05)
Literally this week, my priorities, I'm not being the best dad, but I promise my girls, Papa's coming home Friday. There might be pancakes for dinner. You got to spice things up when you've been out of town for a week.