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WSLA

أسبوع سكني

designed and delivered in partnership with

Sunday 8th to Friday 13th September 2024

Bishop Otter Campus, University of Chichester, UK

The participants

Applications for WSLA 2024 closed in February. Over 120 women based in over 50 countries applied, making it the most competitive year ever. A team at the University of Chichester selected the 2024 cohort based on a series of criteria. 

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When they applied, the leaders were:

  1. Currently in middle management, or recently appointed senior managers or Board members, of sport or sport-for-change organisations

  2. Responsible for key areas such as managing staff (or likely to be doing so soon) or heading up a specific department, area or project for their organisation

  3. Passionate and driven to pursue their own professional development

  4. Committed to influencing change in an organisation or sector of work

  5. Identified as future leaders by their organisation

  6. Committed to making a difference to as well as enhancing opportunities for women and girls in and through sport

  7. Competent in written and spoken English (min IELTS 6.5). Please note that no translation service will be provided.

The participants

The 2024 programme

The 2024 programme was premised upon four objectives to support the further development of participants. We termed these The four Cs: competencies, confidence, context, and commitment.

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2024 programme

leadership Competencies

to support female leaders to enhance their leadership skills and behaviours to navigate the challenges that are part of leading an organisation

Confidence

to encourage female leaders to identify their strengths, goals and ambitions to support their desired career path; championing who they are and others around them

Contextual
awareness

to understand the organisational and cultural environment, recognising opportunities and challenges, and influencing fellow allies and champions to create positive change

Commitment of employers

to engage with the employers of female leaders and support their ongoing development and wider influence

Specifically, WSLA 2024 also supported the participants to:

  • Become a more adaptable and impactful leader 
  • Develop their own leadership style and identity, and appreciation of their impact upon others

  • Identify career ambitions and produce a Personal Development Plan and strategies to support these ambitions

  • Maximise their network by being intentional about who to approach and why, including connecting with global WSLA alumni

  • Improve intercultural understanding through engagement with a diverse cohort and conversations around leading and working in different environments

  • Gain a better knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities for women in sport leadership

  • Strategically influence and advocate others to create a more inclusive workplace within their organisation

The week-long programme consisted of several elements, all of which were essential for the critical learning and development that took place during the WSLA residential week:

  • Workshops – These are an integral part of the learning process and are designed to meet the needs of participants. They have clear learning outcomes and are tailored to maximise learning; they will be challenging, constructive and highly interactive. Even though we are based at a university, there are no lectures at WSLA.

  • Personal Development Plan – Each participant will produce a Personal Development Plan setting goals on leadership behaviours, career strategies, future opportunities and to consolidate learning.

  • Reflection groups – These consist of small groups of participants who meet regularly throughout the residential week. Their aim is to help participants consider their learning, raise issues and concerns, discuss hot topics, and provide support and encouragement.

  • Peer support sessions – These provide opportunities for participants to define, frame and communicate their key challenges and receive support from colleagues. The sessions allow participants to have time to reflect on their experiences and to explore ways of doing things differently.

  • Physical activities – A range of physical activities have been designed to indulge our love of sport, to live our principle of an active lifestyle, to provide a physical challenge, to promote team building and... to have fun!

  • Facilitators and guest speakers – The programme is led by Sarah Wright and Tina Dullaghan alongside a team of experienced facilitators, some of whom are WSLA graduates, to inspire participants as well as share their own experiences. Guest speakers will identify what leadership means to them and what motivates and challenges them, as well as providing top tips for participants.

Programme structure and content

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