#HERSTORY
Inspiring Women in Sport
Changing the narrative by amplifying women’s stories in sport.
Women working in sport are shaping sport in powerful ways, on the field, behind the scenes, and in leadership roles across the industry. Yet too often, their stories go unheard, under-represented, or undervalued.
Her Story is a CTN initiative dedicated to spotlighting women working in sport. It shares real experiences, career pathways, and perspectives that reflect the diversity of the sport industry today.
This is about visibility, representation, and ensuring more women can see themselves and their futures in sport.
To nominate an inspirational woman in sport or learn more about the story of #HerStory, checkout the buttons below.
Meet the women changing sport
Her Story features women from across the sport ecosystem. Each story offers insight into the realities of working in sport — the challenges, the opportunities, and the moments that shape a career.
These are real, honest reflections from each woman on what it means to build a life and career in sport.
Field
- Advocacy
- Anti-doping
- Athlete
- Athlete Health
- Brand
- Coaching
- Commentating
- Commercial
- Communications
- Education
- Events
- Governance
- HR
- Health
- Inclusion
- Journalism
- Leadership
- Legal
- Management
- Marketing
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- Officiating
- Operations
- Recruitment
- Research
- Retail
- Safeguarding
- Sponsorship
- Sport Administration
- Sport for Development
- Sustainability
- Technology
- Volunteer
SIAN MASSEY-ELLIS MBE
“Surround yourself with people who support you, and remember that by pursuing your ambitions, you’re not just building your own career — you’re helping to make the path clearer for those who will follow.” - Sian Massey-Ellis
INDIRA DICKHÄUSER
“Sport is a powerful way for us to connect and share our struggles together.” - Indira Dickhäuser
LIPA NESSA
“I’m going to change the world with a hijab on my head and a ball at my feet.” - Lipa Nessa
ISABELLE CHAUZY
“Long-term change in sport will come from creating space for many different people, perspectives and voices.” - Isabelle Chauzy
EMILY HERBERT
“I want to show that there isn’t one set path into football broadcasting.” - Emily Herbert
PRISCA MUTESI
“I have found that having a “can do” attitude will take you places you never dreamed” - Prisca Mutesi
LINA TAYLOR OLY
“Sport was one of the only avenues to create a better life, and I leaned in with all that I had.” - Lina Taylor OLY
MARIYA KUTMANOVA
“With the right attitude, commitment, and determination, we are capable of more than we are made to believe. We can redefine what is possible.” - Mariya Kutmanova
HELEN HARDY
“The reality of my world (sports retail) is that people want it. Don’t underestimate the power of the female athlete.” - Helen Hardy
JESSICA STOMMEL
“For me, the most exciting opportunity is proving that investing in women’s football is a smart and sustainable business decision.” - Jessica Stommel
CHARLY RHODES
“Being someone's high five, "well done", or helping hand when they need it goes a long way to making lasting connections.” - Charly Rhodes
MARTA ZAWADZKA
“The passion for sport and organisational skills allowed me to work in an environment that suits me best.” - Marta Zawadzka
VANESSA MARTIN RANDIN
“Every word matters. In today’s world, where what you say or write can quickly go viral and shape public perception, language holds real power.” - Vanessa Martin Randin
MAHA GOUDA OLY
“By sharing our journeys and achievements, we aim to remind the sports world of our strong presence, and advocate for a future where talent, skill and potential are recognised, regardless of borders or backgrounds.” - Maha Gouda OLY
LUCY HORSELL
“Whenever we fit women properly, we have a real ‘OMG’ moment from them. It fuels me to believe we can see a whole generation grow up without the worries we had.” - Lucy Horsell
VICKY HUYTON
“Sport has the power to change lives, but only if we lead with honesty, purpose, and a commitment to something bigger than just the game.” - Vicky Huyton
BAZ MOFFAT
“The gender gaps in sport and exercise will not close until the workforce is properly educated about women & girls.” - Baz Moffat
JELENA CANKOVIC
“I want to remind others to never forget to have fun along the way, because the joy of the game fuels the passion to keep going. Success is not just about physical strength and skill - it's about being balanced and resilient in mind.” - Jelena Cankovic
KATELYNN SLADE
“I think my story reflects bravery, resilience, and ultimately believing that I belong in leadership positions. I hope the message of believing I belong in leadership positions resonates with other women and they can believe they belong too.” - Katelynn Slade
THE STORY OF #HERSTORY
Herstory is a digital campaign that was created in the lead-up to our Changing the Narrative in Sport Summit in May 2024 in Lausanne. This event focused on “Harnessing the Power of Storytelling for Women’s Sports”. We explored how athletes are portrayed in the media, strategies to enhance their exposure, the role of digital transformation, and ways to overcome bias.
As part of this event, we decided to share the stories of women working in sport. Our goal was simple: to challenge stereotypes, increase representation, and celebrate the achievements of women in sport around the world. We issued a call for nominations on our channels, inviting people to nominate inspirational women in sport. Within 36 hours, we received over 80 nominations, and we knew we were on to something — people want to hear from women in sport.
From March to May 2024, we received 152 nominations and shared the stories of 26 women. To further amplify these women’s stories, we organised an exhibition at our Changing the Narrative event. The response was so positive that we realised HerStory needed to grow beyond a single event.
With the support of England football legend Jill Scott, we opened HerStory to international nominations. Since then, we’ve received nominations for 400+ women across 40+ countries, and we continue to reach out to every woman nominated to see if they would like to share their story and perspective.
We love hearing these stories and learning from these journeys. If you know an inspirational woman working in sport, please nominate her using the button below — thank you for being part of the change.
Get involved
There are many ways to be part of HerStory:
Read & share
Explore the stories and help amplify women’s voices by sharing them within your networks.
Tell your story
If you are a woman working in sport and would like to share your experience, we’d love to hear from you.
Partner with us
We collaborate with organisations that share our commitment to inclusion, representation, and meaningful change in sport.