Minjei Jeon was a 5-year-old girl in Busan, South Korea, when her mother first enrolled her in figure skating lessons. From the skating rink, Minjei made her way to the basketball court, the soccer field, and the slopes to fuel her thirst for sports.

Minjei completed her master’s degree in sport science and accepted a job at the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, where she became responsible for developing student-athlete culture and managing communication regarding school sports policies. Minjei has received strong feedback from girls, who confirm that participating in sports has helped to relieve academic stress. It is this kind of motivation that pushes Minjei forward in her work, believing that sport can make a great impact in the lives of women. She is on a mission to reform the sports system and increase participation of female students in school sports across South Korea.

In 2017, Minjei started “MEANS: Meaningful Sports Means Mentorship Empowered Accomplished and Nurtured through Sports,” a soccer-based mentoring program for female students. University female athletes mentor high school students on goal setting, choosing a career path, and tips for succeeding on a university campus.