Ready to Board Women footballers among 14 beginning course

Did you find it challenging as a woman in a football boardroom?

It was always find your own way in my career. I developed my leadership style on my own but along the way I witnessed a lot of discrimination. Sometimes it’s hard to define what it is. It’s just a sexist comment, not being invited to a social event, or not getting the same level of opportunity. It makes you feel excluded. It makes you lose your confidence. In finance, I never felt inhibited in the same way. That business related fear is not as inherent as in football.

What inspired you to mentor other women?

I was faced with a really difficult rebound period in my career when I took a one week course at Harvard. We dug deep in our lives to find out our weak spots and strengths I came out of it extremely inspired. I found the urge to find others who needed help in their own journeys. Women working in football have valuable ideas but often they cannot find a supportive environment. They are afraid someone will say ‘that’s a stupid idea’, and so they choose not to say anything. That’s such a waste.