“As Glennon Doyle says, ‘Find what breaks your heart. That will be your purpose.’ The fact that we hire young, healthy men and women as firefighters, and they leave the career decades later broken (at best), breaks my heart! I'm on a mission to make sure that every firefighter has the support they need to remain healthy and well throughout their career.” - Annette Zapp

“My hope is to change the narrative by showing that women belong—not just on the pitch, but in every part of this industry. I want to inspire women to claim their space unapologetically and create an environment where the next generation of girls doesn’t have to fight as hard to feel like they belong.” - Jess Reus

“Sports are more than just a competition—they’re a way of life, teaching valuable lessons and creating lasting connections. It’s about uplifting and empowering those around you to achieve greatness together.” - Dagmara Gerasimuk

“Dream impossible dreams. Life is not linear, it will take you to unexpected places. It won’t always be easy, and can't plan every step, but the unexpected paths are often the most valuable. Don't be attached to a fixed idea of who you are or where you are going; embrace change, pivot, rest and reset as you need.” - Zarina Bahdur

“Through my research, I want to develop new insights into both the challenges and solutions for making sport a more inclusive space. By working with practitioners and activists, I want to find effective ways to implement research findings and recommendations to real world sporting contexts.” - Lucy Piggott

“Celebrate diversity and champion positive change. The sports industry is vast, encompassing many different roles. Identify the area that aligns with your interests and skills. By blending passion, persistence, and a commitment to breaking barriers, you can make a lasting impact in the sports industry while inspiring others to follow in your footsteps.” - Sylvana Mestre Alexander

“To every little girl or differently abled person who loves sport and is ready to give themselves to it: please, go for it. If you believe you can be the best at something or have the talent, fight for it. Don’t let obstacles hold you back.” - Avani Nagar

“I went to see Lewes FC Women playing and was gobsmacked by the potential of the game to change the world. Here were women being strong, working in a team, taking up space, showing absolute focus on the ball, making decisions on the spot, and being total LEADERS....and all in a public place! What's more, the environment was beautiful, relaxed and safe. I realised that women's football was an antidote to sexism and decided to become a fan of Lewes FC there and then.” - Karen Dobres

“Storytelling opens the mind to worlds that are sometimes unseen or unacknowledged, and this has the power to initiate meaningful change.” - Swetha Subbiah

“Dr Anita White CBE crystallised my thinking about the importance of scholarship informing activism. With her, I co-founded the Anita White Foundation, and with our friends from Females Achieving Brilliance - Lucy Faulkner and Pauline Harrison - we established the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy and the Women in Sport High performance pathway to empower women leaders globally and help make the systemic changes needed for gender equality.” - Elizabeth Pike

“Being an African woman, I believe we face many unique obstacles. I want African girls to know and believe that they can achieve success even in fields where they don’t see others who look like them. They can step in and pave the way for many other girls to follow.” - Dorothy Okatch

"I hope to have made a meaningful impact on former athletes through the Athlete's Career program. Additionally, I aim to contribute to closing the gender gap in sports through SkeSkillz Global, by fostering cooperation with various sports organisations." - Guro Askheim Johnsen

“Motorcycling is often associated with rugged masculinity, but I hope to change that narrative and show that femininity has its place on two wheels too.” - Isha Parol

"As women in the sports industry, our innovation and power can drive meaningful change and make the industry better." - Sophie Jones

"Very good women become an inspiration in the field of sports. Hopefully we can work and be a good example for the development of sports." - Dinar Dyah Ayustine

“We must stop labeling it differently and start recognising it simply as sport for people with disabilities. This shift in perspective is crucial to breaking down barriers and ensuring that athletes with disabilities receive the same recognition, respect, and opportunities as any other athlete in the industry.” - Mariona Masdemont

“There were times I had to pretend to be a boy. I knew there was a law, that we had a President who said girls shouldn’t be playing soccer. I ignored it. Soccer is a game for everyone. It doesn't matter what gender, there is a place for you.” - Sissi do Amor

“Sport should provide a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for everyone participating, in any role and at any age. In order to achieve this, we all need to work together with shared values and principles. Working collaboratively is not always easy, but we must always ask, how does what we do benefit those we are there to serve?” - Anne Tiivas, OBE

“Inequality inspired me to get into sport leadership, so that many other young girls would not experience what I did.” - Samantha Miyanda

“In sports, we all participate to the best of our abilities, and in most cases, disabilities are not inherent in the individual but in their environment. When the necessary resources are available to practice sports, the concept of disability fades away.” - Míriam Marimon