One of the most famous sports people of all time, Billie Jean King deserves also to be celebrated for her dogged pursuit of equal rights, between the sexes, between races and in all areas of life. She has her life according to the principles of equality, empowerment, and access for over 45 years, and continues to be a powerful voice for equality and respect.
She founded the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, working advocacy and action, research and innovation, and insight and empowerment, the fights to ensure that those in positions of power in the workplace represent the global world, fresh ideas, inclusive talent, and foster a collaborative work environment.
The campaign for pay equality gained a worldwide audience of over 90 million when Billie Jean battled tennis player and self-proclaimed chauvinist Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” Bobby had claimed the women’s game was inferior to the men’s and Billie accepted his challenge to prove him wrong. King beat Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. No tennis match before or since has been seen by so many.
