A new graduate program builds on Simmons’ historic excellence in women-centered management education and leadership.
Simmons University has launched a new Master of Science in Management (MSM) and a groundbreaking concentration in Business and Leadership in Women’s Sports — the first graduate degree in the nation dedicated to the business of women’s professional sports.
Developed with input from an Advisory Board of executives — including those from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), Boston Red Sox, Bleacher Report, NWSL’s North Carolina Courage Ownership Group, the Miami Heat, Draft Kings, and the KLUTCH Sports Group — the MSM program prepares students to lead in one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. Women’s sports are projected to reach $2.35 billion in global revenue by 2025 — a 240% increase since 2022. Courses such as “Financing the Future of Women’s Sports” and “Disruptive Entrepreneurship in Women’s Sports” reflect the dynamic growth of the industry.
“The rise of women’s sports is transforming the global sports landscape — and Simmons is proud to lead in preparing graduates to capitalize on this growth and shape the business strategies that will define the next era of the industry,” said Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University. “Boston is a sports city through and through, and this program builds on that energy while extending our legacy of advancing women-centered leadership in key industries.”
Helping to lead the new concentration is Justine Pouravelis, a 15-time Emmy Award-winning sports media executive with nearly two decades of experience across professional sports and media. Pouravelis, who has worked with the Red Sox, Bruins, and PWHL Boston Fleet and was recently inducted into the New Agenda-Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame, brings firsthand expertise in both the business and storytelling power of women’s athletics.
“Having spent nearly two decades in sports and media, I’ve seen firsthand how women’s sports have evolved from the margins to the main stage,” said Pouravelis. “This program is launching at exactly the right time. Our students will engage directly with industry leaders, analyze real-world challenges and graduate ready to drive growth in one of the most exciting sectors in business today.”
MS in Management Degree Builds on Long Tradition
The new Master of Science in Management program at Simmons is a comprehensive graduate degree designed to cultivate versatile, ethical, and effective leaders. The curriculum provides a foundation in core business principles, focusing on three essential areas: finance and economics, marketing and revenue generation, and ethics and gender equity. Students can concentrate in either Business and Leadership in Women’s Sports or Nonprofit Management, and have opportunities to deepen their expertise through advanced coursework in technology, entrepreneurship, and analytics.
Rooted in core sports management principles, the Business and Leadership in Women’s Sports concentration prepares students to thrive in women’s sports and the larger professional sports industry, opening doors to careers in major leagues including the PWHL, NWSL, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL.
This new MSM program builds on Simmons’ long-standing excellence in management education. The university’s School of Management, founded in 1974 as the world’s first MBA program designed specifically for women, became a global model for advancing women in business. The MSM program continues to emphasize gender equity and inclusive leadership as students advance their professional goals.
"We are in the middle of the fastest growing movement in women's sports and this movement is being led by women,” said Marcell Bhangoo, a Simmons alumna and Senior Vice President of Client and Sponsorship Services for the Boston Red Sox. “Now is the time to create more opportunities in the sports business by building expertise and leadership in this space.”
"The Simmons School of Management has a rich legacy of preparing students to lead across industries,” said Simmons School of Management Dean Astrid Sheil. “We are thrilled to build on that tradition with this new, distinct pathway focused on the business of women's professional sports at this moment of rapid growth in the field."
Through the Business and Leadership in Women’s Sports concentration, students will gain a better understanding of the management, marketing, and operational dynamics that shape the rapidly evolving women’s sports industry and develop the skills and leadership perspectives needed to drive growth and innovation across organizations that champion women’s sports.
New England is home to the WNBA Connecticut Sun, National Women’s Soccer League Boston Legacy FC, PWHL Boston Fleet, Boston Banshees Rugby, Boston Guard Women's Lacrosse, and the future women’s professional WPBL Boston Baseball team.
The MSM program offers a flexible format ideal for professionals at every stage of their careers. Rooted in Simmons’ 125-year mission to advance women and gender equity in higher education, the MSM continues the University’s proud tradition of preparing graduates who rise, thrive and lead in their chosen professions. Students can enroll for the Fall 2026 semester.