Do you imagine a group of powerful women around the world getting together to exchange ideas, inspire one another and live immersive experiences with the common purpose of transforming lives through sports?
This was possible last September in Women Sport Leadership Academy – WSLA, led by the University of Chichester and Leading Edge Performance, where 36 women working in sports had the opportunity to receive an intensive and practical training to enhance their leadership skills and useful tools they can apply in their personal and professional settings. But the most enriching experience was to learn from different cultures, best practices and perspectives as well as getting inspirational insights and thoughtful reflections about their dreams and pathways where they can continue to grow as leaders while serving others and belonging through the power of sports.
Carolina Recalde, Advocacy, Communications and Partnerships Deputy Manager of FUDELA – Fundacion de las Americas, was part of this cohort and the first Ecuadorian participating in this process that has reached 492 women based in 82 countries across all WSLA programmes, including those with license, and 331 participating at the residential week that takes place each year in Chichester, England.
This kind of program is a one-time opportunity that creates lifelong connections as well as unique narratives of how you can own and tell your own story with the conviction that dreams come true if you are intentional, confident, curious and authentic. It is about asking the right questions, pushing and pulling, shining but not outshining, setting your life purpose and making it happen with the support of your personal boardroom, listening more than speaking, celebrating small wins, leading in peace, belonging to yourself first.