As a girl growing up in Amman, Jordan, Nour Kayyal approached sport with passion and energy. At 15, she was the youngest person to play for the under-18 women’s national basketball team and, five years later, was among the best female players in Jordan earning a full-ride college scholarship.

Shortly after finishing university, Nour ended her competitive sports career and began working at Jordan Kuwait Bank, while also coaching young basketball players in Amman. Women’s sports programs in Jordan often lack funding, adequate facilities, and teams for girls and women. Recognizing these limitations, Nour founded SWISH, a high-quality basketball academy that provides innovative programming to help youth develop key fundamentals and mental skills needed for everyday life. Since its launch, SWISH has trained approximately 1,525 girls and boys across Jordan. In 2020, Nour was featured as one of Women in Business Arabia’s 365 Inspiring Arab Women.

“I always tell my girls, ‘I need your heart on the court. That’s how we will win,’” Nour says. “If you play basketball by the book, it will be very boring—just like life. You have to think outside the box, trust me. ‘Hearts win,’ that’s my motto!”