The KPMG Women's PGA Championship provides a fantastic platform

When Lynne Doughtie, former CEO of KPMG and one of the most influential women in corporate leadership, said, “The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship provides a fantastic platform for us to demonstrate our commitment to elevating women in business and the sport of golf through the Championship, KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit, and KPMG Future Leaders Program,” she was not speaking merely of a sporting event. She was speaking of legacy, of elevation, and of the sacred duty of leadership — to use power not for one’s own ascent, but to lift others. Her words shine as both celebration and calling: a declaration that progress is not complete until every woman has the same ground to stand on, the same sky to reach for.

The origin of this quote rests within a modern alliance between the world of sport and the world of enterprise. Under Doughtie’s leadership, KPMG — one of the great pillars of global business — sought to bridge the gap between athletic excellence and corporate empowerment. Through partnerships like the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Women’s Leadership Summit, she envisioned a movement that transcends the boundaries of fairways and boardrooms alike. In this vision, golf became more than a game — it became a symbol of balance, discipline, and mastery, the same virtues that drive success in leadership. By combining sport with mentorship and education, Doughtie helped forge a path where women could learn not only to compete, but to lead.

When she speaks of a “fantastic platform,” Doughtie invokes something ancient: the idea that greatness requires visibility. For centuries, the contributions of women — in art, science, governance, and sport — have too often been hidden in the shadows. She understood that true change requires not only opportunity, but recognition — that when women stand in the light of achievement, they illuminate the way for others. Just as the arena once gave voice to warriors and philosophers, so too do modern platforms like this championship give voice to those whose strength deserves to be seen.

The unity of business and sport in Doughtie’s vision carries profound meaning. Both demand courage, preparation, and perseverance. The athlete trains for years for a single moment; the leader labors through failure and doubt to reach vision’s summit. In both, character is tested in silence and revealed in struggle. By weaving these worlds together, Doughtie reminds us that leadership, like sport, is not born in comfort but in resilience. The same discipline that drives a golfer to perfect her swing drives a leader to perfect her craft; the same endurance that conquers the course conquers the boardroom.

History offers many echoes of this truth. Consider Billie Jean King, who in 1973 defeated Bobby Riggs in the legendary “Battle of the Sexes.” Her victory was not merely on the court; it was a battle for equality and recognition, proving that women’s excellence needed no apology. Likewise, Doughtie’s work stands in that same spirit of transformation. By creating platforms like the KPMG Future Leaders Program, she ensured that leadership was not reserved for the privileged few, but cultivated in every girl who dared to dream. She understood that empowerment must begin young — that today’s student becomes tomorrow’s CEO, athlete, or innovator.

Her gratitude to the championship, to the summit, and to those who make them possible reveals something deeper — a belief in collective progress. No leader rises alone; no movement flourishes without allies. Doughtie’s tone is not one of boastfulness, but of reverence. She honors the partnership between institutions and individuals, between mentors and mentees, between sport and society. In this spirit, her words remind us that the future is not built by solitary heroes, but by communities united in purpose — each one adding their strength to the foundation of equality.

The lesson of Lynne Doughtie’s words is both noble and practical: leadership is stewardship, and power is sacred only when used to uplift others. To lead is to create pathways where none existed, to turn the spotlight outward, and to ensure that the next generation climbs higher than the last. Whether in business, sport, or everyday life, each of us holds the ability to build platforms for others — to mentor, to encourage, to champion those whose voices deserve to be heard.

So let her message endure like a torch passed from hand to hand: commitment to others is the truest mark of greatness. Build where others can stand. Speak where silence has ruled. Lift as you climb. For when one woman rises, she does not rise alone — she lifts the world with her. And in that rising, as Doughtie’s words remind us, we see the reflection of our highest calling: to lead not for glory, but for the elevation of all humankind.