Kelly Okun (Class of 2025), a former professional golfer turned entrepreneur and MBA candidate at the University of Virginia Darden School of Management, is driving change on and off the course.
Transitioning from golf course to business school
Okun’s passion for golf began early and blossomed during his time as a varsity athlete at the College of William & Mary. But after an impressive career on the LPGA Development Tour and the Australian Pro Tour, she recognized a greater calling.
“As much as I loved being a professional golfer, I felt I could make a bigger impact outside the ropes,” Okun said of his decision to move from professional sports to golf marketing agency to business school. Let’s look back. This realization led her to apply to Darden, seeking tools and networks to expand her impact.
Creating a fairway to the green: the development of women’s sports
Recognizing the huge gap in media coverage and funding for women’s golf, Okun founded Fairway to Green, an impartial sports media company with a mission to increase visibility and investment in women’s golf. .
“I saw an opportunity when I was interviewing a friend who had just earned his LPGA card,” Okun explains. “Why can’t we shine more light on women who are playing? That’s what ultimately drove me.”
Fairway to Green aims to support current female athletes and inspire the next generation. Okun highlights some powerful statistics: “94% of female executives played sports at some point in their lives, and we want these athletes to be role models as we grow the women’s game.”
Scholarship Support: Strengthening Her Vision
Okun’s journey to Darden was made possible by a Darden School Foundation scholarship designated as a Forte Fellowship. “If it wasn’t for that scholarship, I never would have come to Darden,” she says emphatically. “Coming here made a big difference for me.”
Thanks to the financial support, Okun was able to focus on his entrepreneurial aspirations. “I came here to learn as much as I could and to take advantage of all the great resources we have here to start my business,” she says. Fairway to Green was part of the Class of 2024’s student-led ventures incubated by the i.Lab Incubator, a program of Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology.
Being a Forte Fellow recognizes Okun’s exemplary leadership and commitment to advancing women in business. The fellowship, funded by alumni gifts to the Darden Annual Fund, provides financial assistance and connects her with a network of like-minded women leaders.
Driving change with Darden
At Darden, Okun’s influence extends beyond the classroom. As president of Darden Golf Club, she has been instrumental in increasing women’s participation.
“I thought it would be really cool to be president of a golf club, and thankfully it worked out,” Okun says. Under her leadership, membership grew from 200 to nearly 300 members. “Our board of directors is now more than 50% women. Having that representation at the top has really increased our female membership.”
This change not only enriches the club’s diversity, but also validates Okun’s mission to move from the fairway to the green. “This is a great example of how important representation is,” she points out.
Expanding our reach: global connections and future goals
Looking to the future, Okun is working to expand its impact by extending the fairways into the greens. “The ultimate plan is to pursue fairway to green full-time,” she declares. “I think the media is just the first lever I can pull to increase investment in women’s sports.”
She has already built partnerships that go beyond golf. “I am working on partnerships with other sports such as tennis and soccer,” Okun reveals. “I hope we can continue to grow in these areas.”
Okun intends to leverage both the golf network and Darden’s alumni community. “Between the Darden network and the golf network, I feel like there’s no place on earth that’s unreachable,” she says.
From left, Kelly Okun (class of 2025) and Carter Whitelaw (EMBA’24) cover the 2024 Solheim Cup. (Posted photo)
Kelly Okun (Class of 2025) will speak at the i.Lab Demo Showcase in the Rotunda. (Posted photo)
Supporting scholarships for everyone
Gifts to the Darden Annual Fund directly support scholarships of all sizes that empower students from all walks of life, including Forte Fellows. Your gift helps fund opportunities for women leaders at Darden. Make a gift to make a difference today.
build a lasting legacy
The establishment of endowed scholarships ensures lasting support for students. For more information on how to donate a scholarship, please contact Samantha Hartog, Senior Vice President for Advancement, at +1-434-981-4025 or HartogS@darden.virginia.edu.
