From left Jamie Fischer, Kelly Tilghman, and Laura Linger
Former Golf Channel Broadcaster Kelly Tilghman headlined William Blair's Women on Course golf event, sharing life lessons—many learned through the great game of golf—with more than 100 women executives and investors who attended the annual outing on June 17.
Tilghman, the first female broadcaster to anchor PGA tour coverage, spent 22 years with the Golf Channel and NBC sports. She captivated the crowd with stories of famous athletes and the lessons she learned along the way that helped her in business and life. Tilghman said she was overwhelmed by the size, scope, and reach of the women attending the event and was convinced that women can help golf as much as golf can help women.
"This is our opportunity as women to come together for this great game and turn it into power for us, our gender, and our children's future," Tilghman said.
William Blair teamed up with LPGA golf professional Jamie Fischer for the sixth year to host the golf outing at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Illinois, for women to network, share stories, and improve their golf skills. Underwriters Laboratories (UL), True Partners Consulting, and Zurich also co-sponsored the event.
Life lessons
Tilghman grew up with a golf club in her hand in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where her family owned and operated a golf course. Both her grandfather and great-aunt were accomplished golfers and members of the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame. Tilghman, who attended Duke on a golf scholarship and played professional golf in Europe and Asia before becoming a broadcaster, joined them as a South Carolina Golf Hall of Famer in January.
Good manners, mentoring, and positive visualization were among the lessons she learned early on playing golf. Such lessons served her well as a 21-year-old college grad who one day, practicing on the golf course, found herself invited to play in a foursome that included two NBA Hall of Famers—David Robinson and Charles Barkley.
Playing a round with the good-natured and world-famous giants of their sport taught a valuable lesson. The value of "being relaxed in an uncomfortable setting" came in handy that afternoon, she said, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.
Today, Tilghman spends her time raising her six-year-old daughter and working with the Gene's Dream Foundation she co-founded, named after her mentor and late PGA professional Gene Weldon, to support youth golf in South Carolina.
"I truly believe, now more than ever, that there is a time in your life when you take and a time in your life when you give," Tilghman said. "Now is my time to give."
The event also featured a talk on the global economy led by William Blair global strategist Olga Bitel. A panel on mentoring followed with business leaders Val Haller, founder of Valslist; Nora Klein, lifelong golfer and lawyer for McDermott Will & Emery; and Mary Petrovich, chairman of technology company AxleTech.
Host Committee:
Alexis Bergman, True Partners Consulting
Phyllis Cretors, Entrepreneur/Philanthropist
Vindya Dayananda, William Blair
Jamie Fischer, Conway Farms, LPGA
Heather Gardner, William Blair
Barbara Guthrie, UL
Dalynn Hoch, Zurich
Nora Klein, McDermott Will & Emery
Louise Lane, William Blair
Betty Lindquist, Counseling Connections
Laura Linger, William Blair
For more information, please contact William Blair.