743 Persistence, Purpose, and Building Community with Jenny Nguyen

Today, I’m joined by Jenny Nguyen, Founder and Owner of The Sports Bra, the world’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women’s sports.

Jenny’s background as an Executive Chef equipped her with the leadership skills to build a successful hospitality business. The idea for The Sports Bra was born of her personal frustration at not being able to reliably find a place to watch major women’s games.

Fueled by a community-backed Kickstarter, she opened The Sports Bra in April 2022. It became an instant global phenomenon, proving the existence of a massive, underserved market. In its first eight months alone, the bar generated nearly $1 million in revenue.

Jenny’s vision transcends sports, focusing on equity by sourcing from women-owned businesses and creating an inclusive space. Her leadership and the bar’s success have drawn extensive media coverage from outlets including The TODAY Show, ESPN, The New York Times, and Vogue.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• The benefits of community-funded success over traditional funding
• Why persistence and taking the next step matter more than having all the answers
• The massive underserved market for women’s sports
• How to use your business as a platform for social justice