KIM NG, SHATTERING THE CEILING WITH A BAT
Historically in the sports industry, white males have dominated the business side while athletes more often than not are made up of a diverse group of people that are akin to us. Their stories were those that as kids we could only dream of. “If I practice hard and consistently, I can play ball like Michael Jordan” or his contemporary equivalent LeBron James. As a woman growing up with two brothers, I always involved myself in sports as a way to make sure my brothers knew I was better than them at anything. The competitive drive in me carved out the person I am today and my career in sports. When working my way into the business side of this industry, I found difficulties being a Puerto Rican from the New Jersey suburbs. I had many friends who were exceptional athletes who made it playing professionally, but on the business side no one looked like me- I was alone.
In the eight years I’ve worked in the sports and entertainment industry, I’ve been used as a translator and representative for the Latinx community. I also have been a representative for women who enjoy sports and know how to play and compete. In working this field, my experiences with male counterparts has been one that involved heavy belittling of my sports knowledge through attempts to scathe my confidence using bogus stat questions. All the while, I knew that if it came down to it I could wreck them on the field or court. Overall, my experience working in the sports industry was not any different from what I grew up with. There is a process, it’s challenging and can break you down but you must always pick yourself back up and get back in the game.
Typically, I am not one to be deterred from an opportunity as a result of being the underdog or because I don’t look like everyone else. The way I see it, there are black and white chess pieces on the board for a reason in the game of chess. White always makes the first move and each piece has its role. In real life the color of your skin can give you an advantage or a disadvantage because of institutional racism. If you’re to win the game you must learn how to strategically move pieces to get that ‘checkmate’. If we don’t acknowledge our differences and understand how each piece operates, we are doing ourselves a disservice and leaving wins on the table.
“There were times where I felt like the interview wasn’t maybe on the up-and-up,” said Ng in her introductory media session. “But I will say that just by having my name out there was a source of hope for people. And so you do it because you know that you just have to keep your name out there.” It’s a testament to her tenacity and determination that she never gave her dream up; it’s an indication of a deeply flawed system that she had to show such perseverance.
I’m not the only one nor the last to understand strategically moving in an industry that for years worked against allowing or acknowledging the skills of Women of Color in the sports industry. If you haven't heard her name yet, you’ve been living under a rock (yeah I said it). Kim Ng (pronounced Ang) has a great story of dedication, consistency and resilience, along with taking opportunities that require developing new skill sets, that wouldn’t leave an excuse for any hiring manager not to hire her as GM.
Since 2005 Kim has been on the pursuit of landing a GM role in MLB and 15 years later, this past month, Kim Ng has finally been named the GM of the Miami Marlins. Making her the first female to ever hold the GM title in MLB history and all of men’s professional sports. Even better, Kim Ng is of Chinese descent, making her the first woman of color, Asian-American GM. Kim has been in the sports industry since 1990, specifically in baseball. Her name has been floating around MLB since the late 90’s becoming the youngest female and Asian-American Assistant GM at the Yankees and then at the LA Dodgers, where in 2005, she was up to bat for the first time for the GM role with the Dodgers.
Kim’s resume, work ethic, ability and sharpness have always been at the top of the game. There’s no doubt this made her a top candidate for the role of GM on any team. However, to my dismay and little surprise it took time and time again for her to finally see her admirable patience pay off. Her first time up to bat, felt more like a forced walk than a strikeout. The Dodgers chose Ned Colletti over Kim but Ned kept Kim on as his Assistant GM knowing her value to him and the organization. Ned became an advocate for Kim in her pursuit to be GM.
Spending the next 6 years working with Ned and the Dodgers, Kim interviewed for 3 more GM positions including with the Mariners, Padres and Angels. Each time getting turned down. I took a look at her opposition for those three GM interviews, none of those selected GM’s are still with the teams and didn’t land the position solely off of merit. I found a slew of bad press about their time with those teams— citing, lying about analytics knowledge on resumes to secure the GM role, mismanagement of staff and scouting along with one of them alluding to securing the GM role because of a fraternity relationship in college.
I compared Kim’s resume with each of those who were selected over her and was disappointed to say the least. I also took a deep dive on what it takes to be a great GM and let me tell you that winning championships and using analytics for scouting is at the top of that list. Kim played Softball for 4 years at the University of Chicago and in 1990 started as an intern with the White Sox. From there, she was hired full-time with the White Sox where she was in analytics and baseball operations. Every employer of Kim Ng has always given glowing recommendations about her work ethic and smarts. Her intelligence and experience have never been questioned, which leads me to the question: Why did it take 15 years?!
Kim Ng’s Career Track
Kim could have shattered the glass ceiling in MLB over a decade ago. I admire her determination and ability to push through and continue to work in a league that has repeatedly denied her the top seat because of its “boys club” status. I’ve read numerous press releases over the years about when Kim was up for yet another GM role anticipating this could finally be it, only to be turned down! This quote in particular from Ned Colletti has stuck with me:
“As I told her [after the Padres interview]: ‘This is no longer up to you. You’re prepared. You just need the opportunity and someone to believe in you and give you a chance.’ It’s beyond her control at this point. She’s done everything she can to put herself in that position. She deserves the opportunity and it will take someone willing to give her the opportunity to make it happen.”
That person who gave her the opportunity is none other than the first black CEO in MLB, Derek Jeter. Jeter became the CEO of the Marlins after purchasing the team in 2017. He also hired Caroline O’Connor who at the time (before Kim) was the highest ranking female in MLB. I could only imagine, preparing for all those interviews for such a high level position only to be told that you somehow weren’t the ideal candidate. How sweet it must have felt for her when she secured the GM role and be accredited for her ability and tenacity.
Seeing this news brings so much hope for the future of women and specifically women of color, as we’re constantly battling old traditions and working infinitely harder than white counterparts in hopes of being noticed and awarded. Kim not only put in the work, she challenged, weakened and finally broke through the outdated system of the ultimate boys club in sports— she didn’t give up on her dream. After 15 years of determination, NG never waned despite the obvious discriminatory disadvantage she had . A woman, and an Asian-American working in a male dominated sport. Not only do I want to celebrate her success on finally achieving her dream, I want to make sure everyone knows what it took for her to get there!
Kim Ng, congratulations! Not only will you do a tremendous job, but you got to ‘checkmate’ the boys club. I know you will change the way the GM role will operate, and set the bar for anyone coming up behind you. If you’re curious to see her opponents career paths and how short a time it took for them to get to where they are doom scroll down here!