Tech, Empowerment, Sport and Its Knock-On Effects

Technology enables stories. I’ve always believed that websites and platforms should enable someone to share their opinion with the world in a scalable way.

My clients are phenomenal businesses and organisations, but there’s one, in particular, making a loud statement at the highest of levels.

Minerva Network is an Australian Not-For-Profit organisation that enables elite Australian sportswomen to maximise their opportunities on and off the field through collaboration, sponsorship, and mentorship.

Minerva Network and Kristy Bayley (Fractional COO) contracted me to assist with building some complex elements of the Minerva Mentoring platform, an end-to-end solution facilitating mentoring programmes and all things goal-setting and accountability for 2000+ people.

Through my work with Minerva, I learned of the many challenges female elite athletes face, including pay gaps, stereotyping, body-shaming, and generally less attention both on and off the field.

Fiji and Australia have both seen a recent increase in attention to women’s sports over the last few years and the underlying issues in barriers to success.

The common stories that can be shared across both nations became increasingly obvious to me when I connected with two courageous athletes, wearing opposing jerseys, but sharing a common advocacy for women in sports.

I first met Sera Naiqama four years ago at an event she spoke at. It was clear then that she was not only a sportswoman but a wonderful speaker with a motivating story. Only this year through sheer luck, I learned she was also a participant of the Minerva Mentoring programme I was assisting to build.

Sereima Leweniqila was introduced to me through a mutual friend, as a “woman of courage” and someone I should know.

She has persisted with her passion through the face of adversity and now she stands as a powerful ambassador for women’s rugby.

I’d like to particularly thank Sera and Sereima for working with me on this piece.

Sera Naiqama

The commercialisation of sport

Sport has transcended mere competition; it’s now a thriving commercial industry. 

However, for female athletes in Australia, the accolades and commercial prospects off the field have often been inadequate, marking a stark disparity compared to their male counterparts.

Enter Minerva Network.

Minerva Network serves as a beacon of support for elite female athletes, guiding them not just through their sporting careers but also facilitating a seamless transition to their professional lives post-competition. 

“Minerva Network has grown rapidly over the last five years, we now support almost 700 elite sportswomen across Australia and the world,” said Minerva Network chief operating officer, Kate Argent.

“With this growth came an increasing need and opportunity to leverage technology to improve our athlete and mentor experience.

“Following an extensive strategic review by our partners Accenture, we engaged Kristy and Shenal to bring our vision to life - and the result is increased efficiency and consistent user experiences. We are now able to support our growth target of supporting 1000 athletes by 2025.” 

Scaling Impact Online: Without Code

Kristy Bayley (Fractional chief operating officer) led the solution to reality without conventional coding and conventional developers, through the use of no-code tools.

“In designing the platform for Minerva, our process was meticulously crafted to align with the diverse needs and working styles of our stakeholders,” she said. 

“Understanding that the core operations team serves as the heartbeat of our organisation, juggling multiple responsibilities while leveraging automation to augment their efficiency, we embarked on a journey that intricately considered the unique workflows of athletes, mentors, and the Minerva council.” 

When business strategists like Ms Bayley create software, the technological solution transcends the code and IT aspects but also focuses on the relevance of the solution in the everyday user’s life. 

The level of customisation of the platform ensures that athletes, whether in training or travelling, receive information, education, and actionable items tailored to their unique circumstances.

“It’s not just about software; it’s about empowering a community, facilitating mentorship, and contributing to the success of an organisation,” she said.

By: Shenal Harakh

• Shenal Harakh is the founder of her eponymous software development agency Shenal (www.shenal.online), which builds tech products for startup clients around the world.She is currently based in Fiji and is running workshops to digitally upskill communities. Head to https://fiji.shenal.online/ to sign up and keep up to date with new workshops, or follow her work on Linkedin: Shenal Harakh or Twitter: @shenalyo.

Feedback: jernese.macanawai@fijisun.com.fj