Inspiring story on women’s empowerment: "Women don’t just have a seat at the table, but they own the building that the table sits in"- How Brittany Mahomes is redefining what female leadership means

Brittany Mahomes put women’s empowerment at the centre of her message when she accepted United WE’s inaugural Champion for Change Award at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on May 6, 2026. Speaking during the organisation’s 35th anniversary celebration, the Kansas City Current co-owner called for a future where women do more than occupy influential positions. She urged them to build, lead and create the spaces where decisions are made.Brittany Mahomes’ powerful words about women’s empowermentMahomes used her acceptance speech to explain what meaningful progress for women should look like. Her message went beyond simply encouraging women to pursue opportunities. She focused on creating lasting change and giving women greater control over the spaces they enter.She said:“We are here to build real equity and create spaces where women don’t just have a seat at the table, but they own the building that the table sits in,”The statement stood out because of the distinction Mahomes made between having a place in an existing system and having the power to shape that system.For her, representation is only the beginning. Women should also have the opportunity to become owners, decision-makers and leaders.The setting added another layer to her message. Mahomes delivered the remarks at CPKC Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Current, the National Women's Soccer League team she co-owns. The stadium itself has become a prominent symbol of investment in women’s professional sports.That made her words about ownership particularly fitting.CPKC Stadium reflects Brittany Mahomes’ visionThe choice of venue was significant. CPKC Stadium was built specifically for a women’s professional sports team, creating a permanent home for the Kansas City Current.Mahomes has played a role in the club's ownership group alongside her husband, Patrick Mahomes, and other investors. Her involvement has also given her a platform to speak about the growth of women’s sports and the importance of investing in them.Kimmi Chex, who hosted the United WE event, highlighted the connection between Mahomes and the stadium.“The event here today was built in the stadium that Brittany Mahomes built herself,” Chex said. “CPKC is a stadium that really was her vision and was her voice and also her funding.”The comments underlined why Mahomes’ message resonated so strongly at the event. She was speaking about ownership from a venue that represents a major investment in women’s sport.The achievement also reflects how the conversation around women’s athletics has evolved. Women’s sports are no longer being discussed only in terms of participation or visibility. Investment, ownership, infrastructure and long-term growth have become equally important parts of the discussion.Brittany Mahomes wants women to redefine successMahomes also spoke about the example women can set for younger generations.She has built a public identity that stretches across several areas, including sports, business and motherhood. Rather than presenting these roles as competing parts of her life, she encouraged women to view ambition and family as things that can exist together.“I want them to grow up in a world where women owning a team or a company is the standard,” Mahomes said.She continued:“And I want them to know that being a mother and an athlete, an entrepreneur, or whatever they want to be, isn’t just a balancing act. It is a power move.”The message is especially relevant in professional sports, where women have historically faced greater barriers to ownership and leadership.Mahomes' comments suggest that the next stage of women’s empowerment should involve changing expectations. A woman should not have to explain why she wants to lead a company, own a sports team or pursue a demanding career while raising a family.Instead, those ambitions should be viewed as normal.Brittany Mahomes honoured for her workUnited WE recognised Mahomes with its inaugural Champion for Change Award during its 35th anniversary celebration. The organisation praised her work as an entrepreneur, investor, athlete, mother and co-owner of the Kansas City Current.United WE president and CEO Wendy Doyle explained why Mahomes was selected for the honour.“She is a very independent woman who is really making significant change and using her influence to really impact the sports industry and beyond,” Doyle said. “We couldn’t think of a better person to recognize.”Doyle also used the occasion to point to the growing business potential of women’s sports.“This stadium sends a clear message. Women’s sports are not a cause. They are a market,” said Doyle. “And when you invest in them, they grow.”That idea closely connects with Mahomes’ own comments about ownership. Building opportunities requires more than visibility. It requires people willing to invest money, time and influence into creating something that can last.The event also brought attention to the broader challenges women continue to face. From childcare costs to workplace inequality, many of the barriers are rooted in systems rather than a lack of ambition.Shelley Zalis, founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, captured that argument with another memorable statement:“Women aren’t broken. It’s fixing the system,” Zalis said.Mahomes’ speech fits naturally into that wider conversation. Her message was not simply about encouraging women to work harder or fight for a place in an established hierarchy.It was about changing the hierarchy itself.Her words at CPKC Stadium offered a clear vision of what that future could look like. Women should not have to settle for being invited into rooms where major decisions are made. They should have the opportunity to build those rooms, own them and decide who gets a seat.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.