MEET THE EMPOWER WITH A PURPOSE MENTORS

30+

EMPOWERED MEMBERS

85%

ROLES LANDED IN SPORTS INDUSTRY

20+

CAREERS IN SPORTS & NETWORKING EVENTS

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Dr. Emerald Fulmore is a nationally recognized educator, certified WNBA sports agent, nonprofit leader, and senior-level sports executive with over 16 years of experience in collegiate athletic compliance and administration. She is the Founder and CEO of Empower With Purpose, a leadership development organization focused on mentoring and equipping women and student-athletes for success across sports, business, and leadership.

A proud native of Lumberton, North Carolina, Dr. Fulmore earned her B.S. in Sport Management from Winston-Salem State University, her MBA from Morgan State University, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Bowie State University, where she now serves as an Assistant Professor of Sport Management.

Dr. Fulmore has held influential leadership roles at Morgan State, Howard University, and Bowie State University, where she shaped institutional policy, led compliance operations, and championed athlete advocacy. Her experience spans both collegiate and professional sports, including her work as a certified Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) agent, allowing her to guide athletes at the highest levels of professional competition.

In 2022, she was honored as a Business Elite 40 Under 40 for founding the Women in Sports Symposium and expanding Empower With Purpose into a national platform for mentorship, education, and professional growth.

Driven by faith, service, and a commitment to equity, Dr. Fulmore is dedicated to creating transformative pathways for women to lead, grow, and thrive in every arena—from college campuses to boardrooms to professional sports.

MEET THE FOUNDER & CEO

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WOMEN A WITH PURPOSE MENTORS

A woman with long black hair and a white shirt holding a microphone with ESPN logo, standing in front of rows of red, blue, and gray stadium seats.

Lawrencia Moten - Reporter|Anchor|Commentator| Host

Lawrencia Moten is a sports media personality and former D1 basketball player for the Hartford Hawks. At 24, she made history as the first female play-by-play commentator for HBCU Go, where she covered HBCU athletics. She also freelances with ESPN, covering tournaments like the CIAA Championships and ASUN Conference, and has experience as a local sports reporter, writer, and producer across multiple networks.

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Dominique Stapleton
Founder & CEO - Stapleton Sports Group

After years of supporting athletes with financial guidance, Dominique expanded her impact by becoming a Certified NBA and FIBA sports agent in 2020. As both an agent and athlete advocate, she is committed to bridging the gap between success on the field and financial wellness off of it.

Through initiatives like the Extra Credit Program and Financially Fit Athletes, Dominique has empowered countless athletes and their families with the education and tools needed to build lasting generational wealth.

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Classye James
Founder & CEO- Shakeout LLC

Classye is the Founder and CEO of Shakeout LLC, a consulting firm that supports athletes in transitioning from competitive sports to career and life success. She also serves as an Operations Manager at Cisco Webex, where she helps drive growth for a $1B+ cloud collaboration business and made history by leading Cisco’s first marketing campaign featuring an NBA player. Through Shakeout, Classye has raised hundreds of thousands in funding and continues to champion athlete empowerment beyond the game.

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Jackie McWilliams
CIAA Commissioner

Jacqie McWilliams became the first African-American female Commissioner of any NCAA division when she was appointed Commissioner of the CIAA in 2012. With over a decade at the NCAA managing D1 men’s and women’s basketball championships, her career spans roles in coaching, compliance, and administration at Virginia Union, Norfolk State, and Morgan State. She is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Sudden Change LLC and a passionate advocate for service, mentorship, and leadership in sports.

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Monique Smith
Founder & CEO - Seeds of Empowerment

Monique A.J. Smith is a seasoned sports management professional with over 30 years of experience in athletic administration, leadership development, and strategic consulting. As the host of the nationally recognized podcast A Chat in the Garden, she spotlights women of color in sports and athletics to an audience of over 2,500 listeners. Smith is also the founder of Seeds of Empowerment®, a leadership firm for sports professionals, an adjunct professor at Hampton University, a magazine publisher, and a contributing author. Through her work, she continues to mentor, educate, and inspire the next generation of diverse leaders in sports.

Woman in black and white checkered shirt holding NFL football, standing in front of a sports locker with football jerseys and equipment.

DeAna’ Tyler
Sr. Manager - Marketing & Engagement

DeAna Tyler is the Senior Manager of Marketing and Engagement Platforms for the Washington Commanders, where she leads fan engagement initiatives, youth programming, and alumni involvement. Since joining the team in 2021, she has spearheaded impactful game themes like HBCU Night, Inspire Change, and Fan Appreciation. Previously, she served as Director of Athletic Development and Major Gifts at Lamar University, where she increased donor participation and digital engagement by over 200%.

  • A female football player wearing a maroon and gold uniform with the number 18 and the words 'DC Divas' on the front, holding a football in her left hand and a helmet in her right hand.

    Lois Cook

    Pro Football Player - DC Divas

  • A professional portrait of a young Black woman with straight black hair, wearing a black blazer over a polka dot shirt, against a gray background.

    Dr. Jolisa Williams

    Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations

  • Janel Saunders

    Senior Manager, Corporate Sales- Washington Mystics

  • Taylor Mason

    CEO of Edify Consulting

  • Dr. Genese A. Lavalais

    Senior Associate Athletic Director, Chief of Staff| SWA - Alabama State

  • Ari'elle Moore

    CEO of Bottle of Change

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  • Exclusive mentorship access

  • Expert-led webinars

  • Supportive women’s network

  • Early access to events & workshops

WHY JOIN THIS NETWORK?

  • Career tools & growth resources

  • Sports industry Guidance

  • Mentor/mentee matching

  • Grow Your Network