Women in Sport Leadership Program

Someone showed me it was possible

Ask any woman leading in sport how she got there, and she'll usually name a person. A coach who saw something in her. A club president who handed her the clipboard. A mentor who said, "You'd be great at this."

The Women in Sport Leadership Program is built to be that moment. It's for women athletes, coaches and volunteers who are ready to step up, and who want the confidence, clarity and practical skills to do it well.

Why it matters

Women are stepping into sport leadership faster than ever. The Australian Institute of Sport reports that women now hold more than 25% of national head coaching roles in funded sports for the first time, more than double the 2021 figure. Visibility was one of the four drivers behind that change: when women see other women leading, they believe they can too.

But the pathway still leaks at the community level, where most of us start. Australia's national sport participation strategy, Play Well, found that 44% of sport volunteers lack confidence and 61% don't know what they could do. VicSport's 2026 State of Victorian Sport and Recreation report rates the People domain, the leaders and volunteers who keep clubs running, among the weakest areas of club capability.

The barrier usually isn't talent. It's confidence, a clear next step, and someone in your corner. That's exactly what this program gives you.

Who the program is for

• Athletes who want to grow as leaders on and off the field, and think about what comes after competing.

• Coaches taking the next step in their coaching journey, or stepping into a head coach or program role.

• Volunteers and committee members who have been asked to put their hand up, or are thinking about it.

• Emerging leaders who already lead in their club and want to do it with more confidence.

You don't need a title or years of experience. You need to be willing to back yourself and take the next step.

Eligibility. The program is open to women aged 15 years and over.

What you'll walk away with

• Clarity on your values, your strengths and the kind of leader you want to be.

• Confidence to speak up, make decisions and take on roles you might once have passed on.

• Practical skills in communication, running a group, handling difficult conversations and leading people who are different from you.

• A clear next step, written down, with a plan for the next three to six months.

• A network of women in sport who will cheer you on long after the workshop ends.

Your facilitator

The program is led by Jen Szuster, Director of Strive Sport. Jen is a former elite lightweight rower who has spent more than 20 years in sport as an athlete, coach, administrator and mentor. She has served as Development Manager at Rowing WA, sits on AusCycling's National Advisory Committee, and works with community clubs across Victoria on governance, strategy and volunteer leadership.

Jen knows how much it matters when someone shows you what's possible. Now she does the showing.

What people say

"My mentoring experience with Jen has been awesome! I have more clarity and direction now than I have felt in a while. Jen enables you to question, assess and make changes to the factors that make up the whole picture: rest, diet, exercise, work, family and friends."

Meghan Hester, U21 Single Sculler, Mercantile Rowing Club

"Jennifer is one of those consultants that has the innate ability to be a strategic thinker whilst successfully delivering complex detailed project outcomes. As a great translator she comfortably commands teams, turning challenges into rewarding experiences that build trust and confidence."

Ingrid Magtengaard, Vice President, St Kilda Life Saving Club

What we cover

The workshop moves from the inside out: who you are, how you lead, and where you go next. Each module comes with activities in your workbook so you can keep working on it after the day.

1. Who am I? Values and identity
Identify the values that guide you and write your own "Who Am I" statement. This becomes the anchor for every leadership decision you make, in sport and beyond.

2. Confidence and self-awareness
Understand what holds you back, from self-doubt to the fear of getting it wrong, and learn practical tools to back yourself when it counts.

3. Your leadership style
Discover how you naturally lead, where your strengths lie, and how to adapt your style to different people and situations.

4. Communication and decision-making
Speak up and be heard in the committee room, the change room and the boardroom. Learn how to run a group, give feedback and make decisions people get behind.

5. Difficult conversations and conflict
Handle the tricky moments with confidence: the unhappy parent, the disagreement at committee, the athlete who needs to hear something hard.

6. Inclusive leadership
Lead groups where people come from different backgrounds, ages and abilities, and build a club where everyone feels they belong.

7. Pathways beyond participation
Explore the many ways to lead in sport, including coaching, officiating, committee roles, board positions and careers in the sport industry, and what it takes to get there.

8. Leading across sport, work and life
Apply your leadership skills at work, at home and in your community, and balance it all without burning out.

9. Goal setting and your next step
Leave with a written action plan: one clear leadership goal, the steps to get there and the people who can help.

How the program works

• A one-day interactive workshop. Small group, hands-on, and built around real situations from your sport.

• A practical workbook. Guided activities and tools you'll keep using long after the day.

• Ongoing mentoring. Access to the Strive Sport Mentoring Program for one-on-one support as you put your plan into action.

• Quarterly networking. Regular catch-ups with a growing community of women in sport.

Workshops run in Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong.

Support that doesn't stop at the participant

Leadership doesn't happen in isolation. The people around you matter, so the program includes guidance for clubs and families too, including a dedicated session on how parents and clubs can best support athletes on their journey and create environments where women want to stay and lead.

Bring the program to your club or organisation

Want to grow the next generation of leaders in your club, league or state sporting association? We run tailored versions of the program for clubs and organisations, shaped around your sport, your people and your goals. It pairs naturally with our Club Development Program, because strong clubs need a pipeline of capable leaders, not just a strong committee today.

Planning where leadership fits in your club’s future? Read why your club should do a strategic plan, or start with a Club Health Check.