The Commonwealth Sport Women's Leadership Program (CWLP) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at supporting and empowering women from the Commonwealth on their personal development journeys towards becoming influential leaders and agents of change in the field of sports.
An initiative of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the CWLP is open to all female leaders in the sports industry, including coaches, administrators, executives, officials, and others, who demonstrate a need for support and show a commitment to promoting equality within their communities and the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
The program offers scholarships of £5,000 to eligible female leaders to provide financial assistance on their individual development pathways. It is designed to provide a supportive and educational environment with mentorship so the CGF connects recipients with an International Mentor who helps them clarify leadership aspirations, recognize strengths, and broaden understanding of promoting equality within the sports community.
I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work alongside dear friend and colleague Barbara Daniels to act as programme leaders for the CWLP 2023 which included participants from across the Commonwealth:
Anna Williams from Sierra Leone
Ayushama Seebun from Mauritius
Francis Tepareu Brown-Toa from Cook Islands
Gorata Kgathi from Botswana
Joyce Juma from Kenya
Leong MunYee from Malasia
Libby Barnett from Jersey
Nadine Jaeger from Namibia
Oluwasuen Nariwoh from Nigeria
Simelane Nokulunga Pretty from Estwatini
Stephanie Duval from Seychelles
Tinyiko Lucert Kamango from Zambia
Thonkazani Twambilire Chalemba from Malawi
Barbara and I were beyond proud this week to watch as 13 aspiring women leaders graduated from the CWLP 2023. This event was attended by the graduates, their mentors, representatives from Commonwealth Games Associations, Ellen Barwise Director of Development and CGA Relations and Katie Sadleir CEO of the CGF.
The keynote address from Katie Sadleir talked about her remarkable leadership journey across multiple sports and across the Commonwealth. In reflecting on her career she shared some significant messages, with perhaps the strongest focusing on the idea of community and:
'Your little black book.... think of this as your stakeholder engagement plan and challenge yourself to meet and add one new person every month to your network.'
Success in the Commonwealth Sport Women's Leadership Program is measured by the growth and development of each participant towards becoming an influential leader and agent of change, promoting equality in the sports community and beyond. The program is designed to help participants reach their full potential and create a brighter future for women in the Commonwealth.
The collective success and impact the participants of the CWLP 2023 is perhaps best reflected in the montage below: