March is Women’s History Month—a time to honor the trailblazers, pioneers, and everyday heroes whose contributions have shaped our world. At Pitch In For Baseball & Softball (PIFBS), that celebration feels especially meaningful as we reflect on the power of sport to uplift and empower young women. In this special interview, we sat down with Meredith Kim, CEO of PIFBS, to talk about the women who have shaped her own leadership journey, the role of youth sports in building confidence and resilience, and the ongoing mission to create equal opportunities for girls in baseball and softball. Meredith’s reflections offer both personal insight and a powerful call to action for equity, perseverance, and community in the world of sports.
March is Women’s History Month—a time to celebrate trailblazers and changemakers. Who are some women who have inspired you in your career and leadership journey?
Honestly, there are too many to count. But I want to start with the most important: my mother. I was born in South Korea and adopted when I was three and grew up in a tiny, quaint town in Central New York. I spent much of my free time during the schoolyear with my father and two brothers at the gym at Colgate University and fields playing basketball, softball, and soccer. Admittedly, I was a tough teenager – very headstrong and independent – which resulted in a stretch of my teenage years when my mother and I didn’t connect on many levels, but she was always there for all of us kids at every sporting event and for anything we needed.
It really wasn’t until I started my adult life – graduated from college, got married (and divorced), had children, and balanced family and career did I begin to fully appreciate and see my mother for the superhuman she is… I came to understand that the things I had regarded as weakness were in actuality signs of quiet strength. My mother had a Bachelor of Science degree, a Masters from University of Minnesota in Adaptive Physical Education, raised three children (including one with a major language barrier) as a stay home mom who went to night school to get her certifications in health, and then returned to the workplace as the phys ed teacher in the k-12 school I attended. Despite being a highly educated professional, my mother still had to persevere in a male dominated industry and was paid less than her male counterparts as compensation was based on years served and didn’t factor in education. As I now raise my two daughters, I appreciate more and more her strength, perseverance, and how she herself was my OG trailblazer, setting the tone and the model for me as I continue navigate this world. As an adult now, I very much admire my mom’s grace, quiet perseverance, and strength as she broke down barriers in her field and can only hope to make as big of an impact on this world as she did.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you personally, and how do you see it connecting to the mission of Pitch In For Baseball & Softball?
If I’m being honest, it bothers me a little that we have to have a month for this. But I understand why it exists and I do love learning all the ways that women have been kicking ass since the beginning of time. In terms of how Women’s History Month connects to our mission? Since our inception, about 30% of the kids we serve annually are girls who play baseball or softball. We officially changed our name in 2019 to not only demonstrate our commitment to softball, but also to more accurately represent PIFBS’ work. Over the past 5 years, PIFBS has served on average 150,000 children, so based on sheer numbers, we are reaching more girls but the percentage has remained consistent. I would love for PIFBS to get the number close to a 50/50 split, serving both boys and girls equally.
As a leader in the nonprofit space, what advice would you give to young women aspiring to break into leadership roles in sports philanthropy?
This is more general advice for young women who are starting their careers… It’s possible to have a career that you enjoy and feel fulfillment from. Get as much practical experience as you can, have a desire to want to continuously learn and grow, and almost importantly remember – relationships and people matter. It’s possible to find a job doing something you feel passionately about while staying true to who you are and treating people with respect and kindness. So have a plan. Be open to change. Enjoy the journey.
The sports industry has historically been male-dominated. What challenges have you faced as a woman in this field, and how have you overcome them?
Prior to joining PIFBS in 2013, I worked for a decade in both small grassroots and large national nonprofits. The challenges are very similar quite honestly, but certain aspects are magnified in the sports industry. However, I would say that the difference is not in the challenges, it is more about the opportunities. I have had the great fortune and pleasure of meeting some of the most incredible women at all levels – from coaches and league presidents to school administrators, professional athletes, and corporate and industry leaders. The opportunity is that even though there are fewer women in this field, there is a special bond that connects women in this space. I find that – because it’s male dominated – women tend to support one another in a way that I hadn’t seen in my previous jobs or industries.
Softball is often the counterpart to baseball but hasn’t always received equal recognition. How does PIFBS ensure that softball players have the same opportunities and resources as baseball players?
A very wise (and dear friend) of mine once said “there is a misperception that softball is baseball for girls. It’s not. They are different games with different rules.” The extension of that is that part of doing better is understanding that they are different sports that require different approaches. From an organizational level, softball equipment is more expensive than baseball due in part to supply and demand. There are fewer softball programs in general so harder for families to access high quality leagues, whether at the community or travel level. Many leagues that offer both softball and baseball clearly prioritize baseball – even adding portable mounds to fields designed for softball so that baseball can use it. Taking all of that into consideration, on a personal level, it’s interesting to me – the women’s college softball world series has higher viewership than the men’s and softball is more viewed than baseball in the Olympics, yet the game and its athletes still doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
What role do you think youth sports, particularly softball, play in shaping confident and resilient young women?
I am a huge advocate and believer in the power of sport to impact youth development. I am an example of how sport can be an effective vehicle for instilling invaluable life lessons. Back when I was in high school in the 90’s – I was a three sport athlete in addition to a myriad of other extracurriculars. Sports taught me time management, how to work with people I didn’t necessarily like, discipline, resiliency, and a slew of additional life lessons I didn’t know I was learning at the time. For young girls, sports can help with positive body image, create positive bonds/friendships during impressionable development years, and build confidence on and off the field.