Global Sports Mentoring Program

FIFA Referee Encourages Young Girls To Pursue Their Sporting Dreams in Nigeria

Mimisen Iyorhe (Mimi) has never been discouraged by the gender stereotypes and cultural barriers facing women in Nigeria. Growing up in a family that provided a strong support system, Mimi felt empowered from a young age to overcome inequalities in pursuit of her dreams. Now the highest-ranked FIFA Football referee under the Nigeria Football Federation, Mimi is opening doors for women and girls to follow their own sporting aspirations. Since gaining her FIFA accreditation, she has officiated two African Women’s Championship Tournaments, and in January 2021, alongside two other women, made history as the first all-female refereeing team for the African Men’s Championship Tournament. She is part of the FIFA Elite A Match officials and one of two Nigerian female referees preselected for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

When she’s not on the soccer pitch, Mimi champions young girls through her #GirlsthatRef program. She organizes clinics where she mentors young girls interested in sports who lack the structural support to pursue their goals. Mimi hopes that #GirlsThatRef will grow into a nationwide initiative that will further address issues of gender inequality while getting more young girls involved in refereeing. She knows the importance of female representation in all sectors of society and feels a deep-rooted sense of responsibility to ensure girls and women are given the time and resources to make their dreams come true.

Through her GSMP experience, Mimi hopes to acquire the skills and strategies to effect long-term positive change in Nigeria. For GSMP: Empowering Women through Sports 2021, Mimi will be mentored by Olga Harvey, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer and her team at the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York, New York.

Olga Harvey, New York, NY

Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Women’s Sports Foundation

Olga Harvey brings 20 years of business experience and boundless passion for sports to the Women’s Sports Foundation where she leads research, advocacy and community impact initiatives. Ms. Harvey joined WSF in 2017 to head up the Foundation’s Athlete Leadership, including its Athlete Ambassador program which connects elite and professional athletes with girl-serving organizations to teach workshops, serve as mentors and provide inspiration to young girls; and leadership development programs that help athletes transition into successful careers after competitive sports.

In 2018, Ms. Harvey stepped into the role of Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, allowing her to apply her business acumen and strategic thinking to all of WSF’s programmatic initiatives. Under her leadership, WSF’s has launched two fellowship programs that seek to close the gender gap in collegiate and professional coaching; developed WE PLAY INTERACTIVE digital platform for community leaders working with girls; and expanded Foundation’s grant-making portfolio to support BIPOC communities, foster multi-generational connections through fitness and movement, and allow mom-athletes to compete without barriers.

A native of Moscow, Russia, Ms. Harvey received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University, where she played on the Varsity Tennis team. She was the team captain and holds a 21-0 record in Ivy League singles play. She was the Ivy League Player of the year in 1995 and 1996 and was inducted into Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

Since graduating from Cornell, Ms. Harvey stayed involved in tennis by joining the United States Tennis Association. She is an avid player and serves as the Vice President on the USTA Eastern Board of Directors. In 2019, Ms. Harvey was recognized as one of the notable women in the business of sports by Crain’s New York.

FIFA Referee Encourages Young Girls To Pursue Their Sporting Dreams in Nigeria

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