Today we’d like to introduce you to Philippa Portnoy.

Hi Philippa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I have been an athlete and sports fan for most of my life. I attended Barnard College and was a member of the Columbia-Barnard tennis team. Attending a women’s college and playing college athletics inspired a passion for mentoring and supporting women, especially women athletes.

Our experience and research indicate that women athletes develop key traits such as grit, resilience, and teamwork which make them excellent leaders in the workplace. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation: “There is a clear and positive relationship between years spent in youth and young adult sports and holding formal leadership titles in adulthood.” If you’re an employer looking to hire women athletes, please reach out to us or join our job board on www.launchbreak.com.

Founding LaunchBreak with my former college doubles partner, Teresa Saputo-Crerend, to propel athletes in women’s sports forward has been a dream come true.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

I have been a huge supporter of women’s sports and improving the landscape. In college, our program had few resources and less-than-ideal practice times and support. Additionally, professors didn’t understand the demands of being a D1 athlete and made very few accommodations. These struggles bonded our team, and we worked hard to advocate for our program and each other. I became active after college and was the first female president of the Columbia Athletics alumni organization, the Varsity C Club.

I co-founded the Columbia Athletics Women’s Leadership Council in 2007, which is designed to financially support the athletics program and women athletes in their post-athletic careers. Women’s sports has come a long way but some of the challenges we faced in college still exist. I was shocked by the inferiority of the 2021 NCAA women’s basketball tournament weight room vs the men’s. I am still angered by the 1.3 million fewer opportunities for girls to play high school sports than boys, according to the Women’s Sports Foundation. This was the genesis for founding LaunchBreak, bringing together women athletes to provide resources, support, introductions, and collaborations so they can accomplish their personal goals. Unfortunately, we are years away from parity in the workplace for women and LaunchBreak’s goal is to help our members get there.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

LaunchBreak is a free networking and shared-interest platform for athletes who play or played women’s sports collegiately, nationally, or professionally. We broadly announced LaunchBreak in January 2024 and have grown from just over 100 members to over 1600 members in November. Who would have thought that just ten months later our concept would resonate with over 1,600 women? Our main priorities are to propel our members professionally and provide a community of like-minded “teammates”. We have many professional development features including a job board, mentor matching program, virtual and in-person networking events, and resources for entrepreneurs.

What sets us apart from others is that our platform includes all sports, all generations (pre and post-Title IX) as well as all industries. Our platform includes firefighters, lawyers, healthcare professionals, bankers, scientists, athletic trainers, coaches, entrepreneurs, and more. We also have fascinating members with inspirational stories including founding their businesses and non-profits, fighting for more equity in women’s sports, and being pioneers in their fields. Our members instantly connect due to their shared athletic experiences no matter the sport, age, or background.

We are known as an authentic and supportive community, this makes me immensely proud. All of us work together to support each other. We often receive emails or notes from members thanking us for creating LaunchBreak.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

Learning to take criticism and being flexible has been an important lesson. This was important in my career in finance and has been especially helpful with LaunchBreak. My co-founder, Teresa Saputo-Crerend, and I recognize that our viewpoint may not be the same as our community which has a diverse range of ages and backgrounds. We continually ask for feedback from our members so that we can improve our platform and provide the features most in demand.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://launchbreak.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaunchbreak/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/79099501/