As a former professional golfer turned entrepreneur and MBA candidate at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Kelly Okun (Class of 2025) is driving change on and off the course.

Transitioning from the Golf Course to Business School

Okun’s passion for golf began early and flourished during her time as a varsity athlete at the College of William & Mary. However, after an impressive career playing on the LPGA’s developmental tour and a professional tour in Australia, she recognized a larger calling.

“As much as I loved being a professional golfer, I felt I could make a bigger impact outside the ropes,” Okun reflects on her decision to transition from professional sports to a golf marketing agency and then business school. This realization propelled her to apply to Darden, seeking the tools and network to amplify her impact.

Creating Fairway to Green: Advancing Women’s Sports

Identifying a significant gap in media coverage and funding for women’s golf, Okun founded Fairway to Green, an equitable 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 won her LPGA card,” Okun explains. “Why can’t we shine more of a light on the women that are playing? That’s what ultimately drove me.”

Fairway to Green aims to support current female athletes and also to inspire the next generation. Okun highlights a powerful statistic: “94% of women executives played sports at some point in their life. By growing the women’s game, I want these athletes to become role models.”

Scholarship Support: Empowering Her Vision

Okun’s journey to Darden was made possible by a Darden School Foundation scholarship designated as a Forté Fellowship. “I wouldn’t have come to Darden without that scholarship,” she states emphatically. “It made all the difference for me coming here.”

The financial support allowed Okun to focus on her entrepreneurial aspirations. “I came here specifically to learn the most I could and to take advantage of all the amazing resources here to launch my business,” she shares. Fairway to Green was part of the 2024 class of student-led ventures nurtured by the i.Lab Incubator — a program of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology at Darden.

Being a Forté 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 at Darden

At Darden, Okun’s influence extends beyond the classroom. As the president of the Darden Golf Club, she has been instrumental in increasing female participation.

“I thought it would be so cool to be president of the golf club, and thankfully, that worked out,” Okun says. Under her leadership, membership grew from 200 to almost 300 members. “Our board is more than 50% women now. Having that representation at the top has really increased our female membership.”

This shift not only enriches the club’s diversity but also validates Okun’s mission with Fairway to Green. “It’s a great example of how representation matters,” she notes.

Expanding Her Reach: Global Connections and Future Goals

Looking ahead, Okun is committed to expanding Fairway to Green and amplifying its impact. “The ultimate plan is to pursue Fairway to Green full-time,” she affirms. “I see media as just the first lever I can pull to increase investment in women’s sports.”

She is already forging partnerships beyond golf. “I’m working on partnerships with other sports like tennis and soccer,” Okun reveals. “I’m hoping we can grow into these areas as we go.”

Okun intends to leverage both her golf network and the Darden alumni community. “Between my Darden network and my golf network, I feel like there’s no corner of the globe that’s unreachable,” she says.

Suport Scholarships for All

Every gift to the Darden Annual Fund, no matter the size, directly supports scholarships that empower students from all walks of life, including Forté Fellows. Your contribution helps fund opportunities for women leaders to thrive at Darden. To make a difference today, make a gift.

Create a Lasting Legacy

Establishing an endowed scholarship ensures perpetual support for students. To learn more about how you can endow a scholarship, please contact Samantha Hartog, senior associate vice president of advancement, at +1-434-981-4025 or HartogS@darden.virginia.edu.