From Champion Athlete to Care Champion

For Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field Olympian in history, necessity has truly become the mother of invention. Balancing a demanding athletic career while caring for her newborn brought her face to face with a harsh reality: Support for mothers in high-performance sports was almost non-existent. For Felix, it wasn’t just about convenience; it was about survival, self-determination, and reshaping the system for mothers.

This resonates deeply with me. Like Allyson, I was faced with a system (the workplace) that was not designed for primary caregivers, especially mothers. Corporate rules were written predominantly by and for men more than a century ago. But as I often say, when the rules don’t work for you, rewrite them. I was honored to meet Allyson Felix at the EspnW Summit and interview her about her journey. Through the challenges she faced, she found the strength and voice to be a champion for care and set a strong example for mothers in athletics.

Her journey came to a turning point in 2018 when she gave birth to her first child. What started as a simple need for child care while in training turned into a larger purpose: changing the equation for moms everywhere. Allyson’s decision to speak out on birth protection against her main sponsor, Nike, was groundbreaking. Her advocacy and actions, including leaving Nike, starting her own athletic shoe brand Saysh, and joining Athleta’s Power of She Collective, led to a shift in the way Nike and other companies support female athletes. She has become one of the leading voices in an industry where motherhood was once considered the “kiss of death.”

Felix collaborated with Pampers to create the first Olympic nursery at the Paris Games; A groundbreaking space for mothers and toddlers in the athletes’ village. Her experience sparked a movement that amplified mothers’ stories to show that care is the foundation of success, not an afterthought.

“It was incredible to bring a nursery to the Olympic Village in Paris for the first time,” Felix said. “Seeing athletes with their babies made me proud and equally motivated that there is more to be done to support caregivers in our world.”

Felix has now joined forces with national nonprofit Mother’s Room Tackling one of the biggest barriers preventing mothers from voting, especially Black mothers in under-resourced communities: access to child care. This partnershipThe next big moment for Let Mothers’ Room Vote Like a Mother® CampaignIt aims to ensure that every mother, regardless of her circumstances, gets the support she needs to make her voice heard at the ballot box this election season.

“You should never have to choose between your profession, your passions and motherhood,” Felix said. “I’m honored to partner with the Chamber of Mothers to tell mothers that you don’t have to choose between voting and motherhood in this election. In this election, you can do both.”

Inspired by Felix’s perseverance, The Female Quotient (FQ) is honored to support this mission. With a global community of more than 5.5 million women in business, we have the power to create meaningful change. By lending our voices and resources, we can help provide needed care support on voting day for mothers and primary caregivers who often suffer due to high costs and time constraints. Together we can help caregivers fully participate in civic engagement.

At The FQ we know that the most powerful ideas for change come from lived experience. Allyson Felix’s journey shows how personal challenges can inspire systemic transformation. By leveraging the collective power of millions, we can ensure every mother and primary caregiver has the support to thrive in both career and society.

“Providing care for parents in the workplace is a game changer,” Felix said. “Without obstacles, you can emerge as a better version of yourself and do your job better. Care advocacy is crucial work.

The road ahead is clear. Felix’s courage to put his experience into action set the stage for all of us. Together with our FQ community, we can imagine a world where care is not a barrier but an inevitability in our workplaces and civic institutions.

Our actions today can make this vision a reality. This is how we change the equation through purposeful action, collective advocacy, and support for mothers at the ballot box. This is the power of purpose. The power of care. And the power of FQ. Together we are building a legacy of change that will close the care gap once and for all.

Join us in supporting this effort with Allyson and the Mother’s Room #VoteLikeAMother Here.