South Asians in Sports Announces Strategic Partnership with EmpathifyU to Elevate Fall 2026 Mentorship Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRINCETON, NJ - August 25, 2026 - South Asians in Sports (SAIS), the premier global network connecting, amplifying, and elevating South Asian professionals across the sports industry, today announced a new strategic partnership with EmpathifyU, a Los Angeles-based leadership and organizational development firm. The partnership will support the SAIS Mentorship Program's Fall 2026 cohort, running September 28 through November 25, and marks the first program delivered under a broader strategic collaboration between the two organizations.
The Fall 2026 cohort will pair 20 to 30 mentors with 30 to 50 mentees from across the global sports industry in a virtual program built on the strong foundation SAIS has established since 2017. Through the partnership, EmpathifyU will bring its expertise in leadership development, coaching, and trust-building to the existing program, adding intentional touchpoints designed to deepen the experience for mentors and mentees alike.
The enhanced program will include a dedicated development session for mentors, a shared framework for building trust and communication throughout the mentorship journey, and structured check-ins connecting each stage of the nine-week experience — from kickoff orientation through a mentee capstone project and graduation. The goal is for every mentee to leave with a clearer sense of the technical skill, human skill, and personal value they want to keep developing, and for every mentor to grow their own leadership and coaching capabilities in the process.
“Our mentorship program has always been about connecting people, but this partnership lets us go further: helping mentors grow as leaders and giving mentees a real, tangible development journey they can carry with them long after the program ends. EmpathifyU brings exactly the kind of trust-centered expertise we want woven into everything we do for our community.”
— Parul Khosla, Executive Director, South Asians in Sports
“Trust is foundational to sustainable performance and success, yet most people struggle with exactly how to build it. Our Trust Formula© removes that ambiguity by providing a clear, practical framework for building trust intentionally. SAIS has already built a powerful community where people show up for one another. We’re excited to build on that foundation and help mentors and mentees thrive personally and professionally.”
— Ajit Dodani, Empathy Strategist & Founder, EmpathifyU
Applications to serve as a mentor in the Fall 2026 Mentorship Program are open now and close on August 31, 2026. Click here to apply to mentor. Applications for mentees will open on September 8, 2026.
About South Asians in Sports
South Asians in Sports (SAIS) is the premier network of professionals across the global sports industry, serving individuals with roots in South Asian countries. Since 2017, SAIS has connected more than 1,800 professionals globally through 25+ annual events, mentorship programming, and storytelling that amplifies South Asian excellence in sports - from the field to the front office. Learn more at sainsports.com.
About EmpathifyU
EmpathifyU is a Los Angeles-based nationally recognized leadership and development firm solving for the trust deficit in today's workplace. Through proprietary frameworks including the Trust Formula©, Empathy Strategy©, and Adaptive Leader Framework©, EmpathifyU equips leaders and teams with practical tools to build trust, strengthen relationships, navigate change, and perform without sacrificing human sustainability. EmpathifyU partners with organizations across sports, technology, banking, education, and the nonprofit sector through keynotes, workshops, leadership development programs, and executive coaching.
Media Contact
Parul Khosla
Executive Director, South Asians in Sports
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