SheCompetes, presented by Gainbridge, will be held in conjunction with the USA Lacrosse Experience in Indianapolis on Sunday, October 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Eiteljorg Museum.
The event is designed to serve as a forum bringing together young women and successful business leaders from Indianapolis to take part in educational sessions as well as a valuable mentorship connection. This event is meant to celebrate, empower and inspire!
One of the professional business leaders who will be serving as a mentor at the event is Melissa Thompson, vice president of bids and external affairs at Indiana Sports Corp since 2018. In this role, she is responsible for board affairs, community initiatives, event bids, strategic planning, and government relations.
As a native of Indianapolis, Thompson’s roots and networks run deep in the city, and she has extensive experience in event and logistics planning as well as public space management. In recognition of her leadership and commitment to driving positive change, Thompson was honored as the 2024 Empower Award recipient at the Indiana Women’s Summit.
Thompson shared her enthusiasm and commitment for mentorship during a short Q-and-A with USA Lacrosse.
Q - Why do you believe mentorship is important?
I've experienced, in my career, the opportunity to have other people pour into my life and my career and give me advice, both constructive criticism or just constructive advice, and its helped me get to the point where I am today. Over the last few years, I've come to understand that I'm sort of in that transition phase now, maybe not necessarily needing a mentor as much, but having some insight and influence to be able to share with other people. So, I've really leaned into the opportunity to mentor younger people in the sports and events industry and just try to share some of the things I have learned with others. Mentorship is something that’s very close to my heart.
Q - What does a mutually beneficial mentor – mentee relationship look like to you?
I think that we all come to the table with different experiences and so while I may have been in the industry longer than someone who I'm mentoring, there are things that they do on a daily basis that can help me. I mean, frankly, technology is moving so fast and it's sometimes hard for me to keep up. And so having a mentee that may be younger that understands it is an example of a mutually beneficial relationship that could teach me how to use, for example, TikTok. I think that everybody has something that they bring to the table and I think that the best way that we all learn and grow is to learn from each other.
Q - Is there a process to finding the right mentor?
I think so, but it's a personal process. If you're a part of WISE (Women in Sports & Events), we do it in a formal setting. You apply to be a mentor or you apply to be a mentee, and we try to pair you together with people who have similar interests, or similar jobs. But I think if you're not in a situation like that, just finding someone that you connect really well with, but also is in a position where you'd like to be someday, or has a skill set that you really want to develop, can work.
Q – How important do you think it is to develop a professional network?
Oh, I think it’s the most important thing. Relationships are the most important thing. Building your network and building those relationships with people who can be there for you and can help you out is critical. I think it's very important that you have a mindset that every single person on the spectrum is someone you can be connected to, whether it's a janitor at a venue or the CEO of the NFL team in your area. Building your network just helps you in so many ways. You can just pick up the phone and call somebody and say, ‘Hey, I've got this problem. Can you help me fix it?’ That's the power of relationships and the power of a network. It's invaluable.
Q -Do you have any specific goals, as a mentor, for this event?
Sure. I actually did a similar program like this in Cleveland in April during the women's final four, and I sort of went into it not knowing what the expectation was of me or what expectations I had. So I go into this one very differently. I may sit at a table with young women who are looking for a mentor to help grow their career, and they may have lots of questions. I think the vulnerability that I can have with them about how things have gone in my career, or to answer their questions and just be honest with them is the is the biggest thing that I can offer them. And I also know that there is an opportunity to potentially connect one-on-one with one of those people, right? And so, while it may be a moment in time, there's also the opportunity to then connect with someone long term.
Q -Do you have any other suggestions for young women who may be considering attending this event?
I just think it's important, especially for women in the sports and events industry, which is so male dominated and has been for so long, to find those people who are your people and women that you can look up to and that you can talk to. I have a friend who calls it her personal board of directors. Who are those people that are consistently influencing the decisions you make or giving good advice? Go find those personal board of directors that are for you and that have your best interests in mind.
SheCompetes event registration is free and includes snacks and drinks throughout the day. Registration is capped at the first 100 young women, ages 16-22, that sign-up.
Schedule of Events
11:00 AM – Registration and Check In
12:15 PM – Emcee Welcome
12:30 PM – Pick Up and Play Outdoor Clinic
1:45 PM – Educational Sessions and Panel Discussions
4:00 PM – Emcee Wrap Up and Networking Social
5:00 PM – Event Concludes
About Gainbridge®
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.
