As a young girl, Esther didn't imagine herself as a star athlete, an entrepreneur, a role model. In part because she didn't see people like her in those roles. Esther shares a warm, relatable account of the power of representation. What it's like to find your role models, step into the invitation to become your fullest self, and ultimately pay it forward to become that waypoint and inspiration to someone else. How might broader representation and more inclusive stories lift up the best and brightest in all of us? Esther Wallace is the designer and founder of Playa Society, a brand she created to bridge the gap for women’s sports. She is an artist, turned athlete, turned entrepreneur who went from never having played sports as a child, to falling in love with basketball and earning a Division I scholarship to Fairleigh Dickinson University. After playing and coaching overseas, Esther decided to create the brand that she needed when she was younger - one that would prioritize representation and recognition for female athletes. Inspired by her personal experiences, Esther uses Playa Society as a platform to contribute to the growth of women’s sports. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx