Taking the shot: how Kate Doerksen turned athletic grit into business success

Kate (Endress) Doerksen, a 2005 Ball State graduate and former standout basketball player, balances entrepreneurship and a commitment to her community

The moment Kate (Endress) Doerksen, ’05, stepped into Dr. Don Kuratko’s office during her recruiting visit to Ball State University, something clicked.

A basketball phenom from Evansville, Ind., she was navigating an uncertain future after a back injury derailed interest from larger programs. Yet, here was Dr. Kuratko—lovingly known as “Dr. K”—describing Ball State’s nationally renowned entrepreneurship program with passion, rigor, and a clear challenge: succeed or fail.

Ms. Doerksen remembers how her college decision crystallized during that conversation.

“Dr. K told me about the capstone project, where you pitch a real business plan to outside investors, and it’s an A or F grade—no in-between,” she said. “I thought, ‘That’s for me.’”

Dr. Kuratko, in turn, immediately saw something special in Ms. Doerksen on that day.

“Her eyes lit up,” he recalled of that first encounter. “It was clear she had the grit to thrive here, not just as an athlete but as one of our best students.”

Ball State had supported Ms. Doerksen through her injury with a steadfastness she never forgot, but it was that meeting—and the promise of pairing athletics with cutting-edge academics—that sealed her decision.

“They believed in me when others didn’t,” she said. “It felt like home.”

That sense of belonging, combined with her relentless drive, set the stage for a remarkable journey—one that saw Ms. Doerksen excel, both on the basketball court and in the classroom, forging a path that would ultimately lead her to national accolades and entrepreneurial success.

A Foundation of Grit

For Ms. Doerksen, success on the basketball court and beyond began with the foundation laid during her childhood in Evansville. Growing up in a tight-knit family, where her father managed a plastics manufacturing business and her mother worked as a special education teacher, Ms. Doerksen learned the value of persistence and dedication early.

“My entire family values hard work,” Ms. Doerksen said. “They instilled this value in my sisters and me at a very young age.”

Her passion for basketball blossomed during countless hours practicing with her father in their driveway, where she developed the mental toughness and love for the game that defined her career.

“I remember those endless nights, perfecting my shot,” she said. “And my dad made it so fun. We worked on trick shots and played one-on-one. Yes, I worked hard to improve my skills, but it was more about loving the game and bonding with him.”

This love for the game matched Ms. Doerksen’s determination to excel, qualities that quickly set her apart as one of the area’s standout players.

But the road wasn’t without challenges. During her junior year at Memorial High School, a stress fracture in her back sidelined her for 15 months, derailing recruitment opportunities from top-tier programs.

“I went from having dozens, if not hundreds, of scholarship offers to having very few,” she recalled.

Yet, even as her options dwindled, Ball State’s support never wavered. The coaching staff maintained its interest, recognizing her talent and determination.

“Their consistency through my injury meant everything,” Ms. Doerksen said. “It was a values-driven decision to choose Ball State, and I’ve never regretted it.”

That choice would prove transformative. Ms. Doerksen entered Ball State in 2001 not only as a promising athlete but also as a young woman ready to embrace collegiate academics and athletics.

Balancing Greatness

From the moment Ms. Doerksen arrived at Ball State, it was clear to then-assistant coach Lisa (McDonald) Blalock that she was a rare talent.

“I can still vividly remember sitting on the steps in Worthen Arena with Kate and being amazed at her maturity and wisdom as an 18-year-old freshman,” Ms. Blalock said. “She exuded this humble confidence that drew people in, and you could tell she was going to do something special.”

Ms. Blalock recalls that on the court, Ms. Doerksen was the ultimate competitor, known for her laser focus and relentless drive.

“Kate was one of those players who would do whatever it took to win—and she’d bring her teammates along with her,” Ms. Blalock said. “She wasn’t just talented; she had this incredible ability to lead and inspire everyone around her.”

Ms. Doerksen’s impact on the hardwood was undeniable. A three-time team captain, she led the Cardinals to multiple Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season championships and WNIT appearances. She was named the 2004-05 MAC Player of the Year and earned Academic All-American honors the same season. Ms. Doerksen concluded her career as the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,843 points, eventually earning induction into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ms. Doerksen embodied the term “student-athlete” at Ball State, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in entrepreneurship. The rigorous program demanded more than just academic excellence; it required students to pitch a viable business plan to real investors as a capstone project.

Dr. Kuratko, founder of Ball State’s entrepreneurship program, described Ms. Doerksen as one of the best students he’d ever mentored.

“She balanced being one of the greatest basketball players in Ball State history with excelling in one of the toughest academic programs,” Dr. Kuratko said. “Kate had an incredible ability to focus and commit herself 100 percent to whatever she was doing—whether it was leading her team or crafting a business plan. That’s what set her apart.”

For Ms. Doerksen, that balance was intentional.

“I knew I wanted to push myself, and Ball State’s entrepreneurship program gave me the perfect opportunity to do that,” she said. “It wasn’t just about learning theories—it was about applying them, taking risks, and building something real.”

From Athlete to Entrepreneur

For Ms. Doerksen, the call was both thrilling and a surprise.

Fresh off her final season at Ball State, she didn’t expect to hear her name during that year’s WNBA Draft—and she was proven right. But shortly afterward, the Connecticut Sun reached out, offering her a tryout and, eventually, a training camp contract.

“Suddenly, I had to pack up, shake the rust off, and head to Connecticut,” she said, laughing. “It was incredible to train with legends like Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen. I never made it into a game, but I’ll always be proud to have had the shot.”

After her brief stint in the WNBA, Ms. Doerksen turned to the business world, starting in investment banking at Citi and later transitioning to private equity at Wind Point Partners. While these roles provided valuable experience, they weren’t her true calling.

“My first few years in finance felt like a bootcamp,” she said. “I learned a ton, but it became clear to me that I was born to be an operator.”

Encouraged by advice from Dr. Kuratko—now leading the entrepreneurship programs at Indiana University—Ms. Doerksen pursued an MBA at Stanford University, drawn by its emphasis on innovation and start-ups. During her time there, she co-founded Ditto, an augmented reality company that transformed online eyewear shopping. The road was anything but smooth.

“Entrepreneurship is a wild ride,” she said. “We faced hurdles, including patent lawsuits and financial setbacks, but perseverance is the name of the game.”

Ditto became an industry leader, with patented virtual try-on technology that let customers see how glasses fit them before they bought them online. It had more than 70 million users and licensed its technology to many of the leading eyewear retailers around the world. After running Ditto for more than a decade, Ms. Doerksen sold the company to 1-800 Contacts in 2021.

“It all comes back to building something that solves a real problem and sticking with it, even when things get tough,” she said.

Charting New Frontiers

After helping modernize the eyewear industry, Ms. Doerksen reflected on a more personal challenge. Inspired by her children, and a family member’s struggle with technology’s impact, she felt a renewed purpose to create something transformative.

“I realized I was ready to build again—this time with a focus on fixing social media,” she said.

That vision led her to start Sage, a non-toxic alternative to social media, with her younger sister, Anne Pizzuti.

“As a society, our kids are on screens six to nine hours every day, and it’s leading to a lot of problems including poor mental health, a loss of social skills, exposure to creepy strangers and bullies, and a digital addiction to a never-ending doom scroll of content. This is not the way,” Ms. Doerksen said.

Sage’s first app is a safer, kinder chat app for kids ages 8-12 called Sage Chat. Kids can message only with approved friends and family. Parents can supervise the chats easily from their own phones with alerts and recaps. The app uses AI designed to block harmful messages before they are sent and nudge kids towards kindness and best practices.

“At its heart, Sage is about creating the kind of digital experience we want for our own children,” Ms. Doerksen said. “We want to help families feel empowered and supported and build practical technology solutions that give them better, safer options for chat and content which are designed to be used in moderation.”

Sage also launched a free guidebook for parents with best practices and how-to videos to help with execution. In addition, Ms. Doerksen cohosts a relatable podcast called “Sage Sisters” with Ms. Pizzuti.

Even as she leads this impactful venture, Ms. Doerksen remains deeply committed to giving back. As a member of the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors and the Entrepreneurship Center’s Advisory Board, she continues to support the next generation of Cardinals with the same dedication and purpose that defined her time on the court and in the classroom.

“Ball State was so good to me,” she said. “It’s a well-run organization with great values that I’m proud to help support now in a new capacity.”

Reflecting on the journey that took her from a driveway hoop in Evansville to leading innovative companies in Silicon Valley, Ms. Doerksen said, “I guess you can say I am not afraid to take the shot.”

Ms. Doerksen’s former professor and lifelong mentor, Dr. Kuratko, sums up her story with heartfelt admiration.

“Kate is the epitome of what we hope every student will achieve—a life of purpose, resilience, and profound impact,” he said. “She’s proof that with vision, humility, and determination, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.”