The mission of the Lead Sports Co. is to elevate and empower female athletes.

Learn more about us! ↓

Our Goals

  • Support girls and women in realizing their goals and their strengths as students, athletes, daughters, and leaders

  • Connect emerging female leaders with accomplished athletes and industry specialists, as well as their peers, to create a network covering confidence, leadership, mental health, nutrition, and more

  • Align with mentors and community leaders from diverse backgrounds to connect with every girl who joins the Lead Community

Meet the Team

  • A smiling woman holding silver Olympic medals, wearing a medal ribbon around her neck.

    Kara Lynn Joyce

    FOUNDER/CEO

  • A woman with long red hair smiling outdoors, wearing a plaid blazer over a navy lace top, standing near a white railing with a blurred cityscape in the background.

    Courtney Randolph

    OPERATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS

  • A young swimmer in a black swimsuit with yellow straps, smiling with arms raised, standing in front of a large black flag with a white and yellow logo.

    Ellie Friedlander

    CONTENT CREATOR/SOCIAL MEDIA

  • A young man with dark hair and a smile wearing a blue collared shirt, standing outdoors against a background of a wooden fence and beige stucco wall.

    Cejih 'CG' Yung

    PARTNERSHIPS/SALES

Our Founder

Kara Lynn Joyce is a three-time Olympic swimmer living in Long Beach, CA. Kara competed in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics for Team USA winning a total of four medals. As a swimmer for the University of Georgia, Kara won 18 NCAA titles and set the American Record in the 50-yard and 50-meter freestyle.

Kara founded the Lead Summit in 2017 with a goal of connecting female athletes with accomplished, strong women in sports through yearly summits. In 2020, Lead Sports Co. now encompasses both the annual Summit and the Lead Academy, a virtual community and resource for teenage girl athletes, parents, and coaches with comprehensive online courses in Leadership, Confidence, Sports Psychology, and more.

Black and white photograph of Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce with wavy hair holding two Olympic medals in her hand.
A woman speaking into a microphone, with a colorful backdrop featuring the words 'Lead Summit' and an illustration of a city skyline. She is wearing a maroon t-shirt and white pants, standing on a stage with chairs and potted plants nearby.
Group of young female swimmers in black swimsuits and swimming caps, posing together at a swimming pool.

Lead History

Since 2017, the Lead Sports Co. has educated and empowered hundreds of female athletes through the Lead Summit and Academy. Founded as LEAD, our goal has always been to provide a platform for Leadership, Empowerment, and Athletic Development.

Lead partners with like-minded brands to enhance and enrich the experiences of our community and bring attention to important causes. Our partners have included renowned brands Coca-Cola, ADIDAS, Under Armour, and Arena, and local women-owned businesses gr8nola, Better Half, and SBR Sports.

Lead has welcomed many Olympians and elite athletes to the Summit since 2017, including: Elizabeth Beisel, Lilly King, Alex Walsh, Phoebe Bacon, Natalie Hinds, Katie Grimes, McKenzie Coan, Madisyn Cox, Ella Eastin, Annie Lazor, Missy Franklin, Maya Dirado, Katie Meili, Hali Flickinger, Lia Neal, Eva Fabian, and more.

Photo: Founders Kara Lynn Joyce (left) and Courtney Randolph (right)

Two women sitting on a white leather couch in front of a blue and teal abstract background with a large illuminated 'LEAD' sign. They are smiling and looking at the camera.

Ready to join the Lead Family?

We’d love to see you at an upcoming Lead Summit.

Check our our programming for:

Swimmers • Parents • Coaches