The Women in Football Leadership Program 2023 (WFLP) has started with talented women from different football associations from around the world coming together in Switzerland. The week-long annual course is jointly run by FIFA, UEFA and IMD Business School and aims to improve the leadership skills of women football decision-makers and potential leaders.
This latest edition of the WFLP brings together an impressive group of 36 women executives who hold senior positions in football, such as general secretaries, board members or directors. These women were nominated by their respective member associations and represent all six confederations.
What is the Women in Football Leadership program?
The WFLP is a program that aims to promote more women to leadership positions in world football. It provides participants with a deep understanding of football’s challenges and opportunities, and equips participants with the skills needed to drive change and progress in the sport.
By empowering women with the tools to thrive in leadership positions, the WFLP also aims to promote gender diversity and inclusion in football. The program has already had a significant impact with several alumni taking on senior positions in their respective football associations and confederations.
How do participants and the public benefit from the Women’s Football Leadership Program?
Nadine Kessler, Executive Director Women’s Football, UEFA
“The development of a new generation of female football leaders is crucial to promoting a more balanced gender balance in representative roles in football and its decision-making bodies.
“By identifying talent and providing them with a platform that can unlock their potential, enhance their skills and most importantly, empower them to improve and become leaders, WFLP fosters both personal and professional growth.”
Fatma Samoura, Secretary General, FIFA
“We created the Women in Football Leadership Program with the aim of identifying, supporting and developing women leaders and role models in football. This year marks the fourth edition of the initiative, following the launch of UEFA and FIFA’s first edition in 2018, which brought together a significant number of women football administrators to advance their careers. We hope once again that the 2023 edition of the WFLP will educate, empower and create a stronger network for the 36 women leaders from all six confederations of our beloved football.”
Ginka Toegel, Professor of Leadership, IMD
“We are honored to work with UEFA and FIFA to deliver the Women in Football Leadership programme. The future of football can only benefit from greater diversity in its leadership. IMD looks forward to equipping participants with the right tools, knowledge and support to reach their full potential in decision-making roles in football.”
Women’s Soccer Leadership Program: The Class of 2023
Amy Duggan (Australia), Mahfuza Akther (Bangladesh), Zimbiri Zimbiri (Bhutan), Tsholofelo Candy Setlhoko (Botswana), Ana Lorena Marche (Brazil), Martina Kyoseva (Bulgaria), Hairia Ali Mohamed (Comoros), Froso Ppekri (Cyprus) , Michelle Gregersen (Denmark), Eva Nõmme (Estonia), Iris Au (Hong Kong), Christina Wolff (Germany), Cazirah Ruth Thomas (Grenada), Andrea Ornelia Johnson (Guyana), Eniko Vastagh (Hungary), Chhatrapati Madhurimaraje (India) , Homeira Asadi Kavan (Iran), Anica Trajkova (Macedonia), Cheri-Lee Randall Atkinson (New Zealand), Ayishat Falode (Nigeria), Cecilie Olsen (Norway), Mona Dabdoob (Palestine), Marie Schossow Rodriguez (Panama), Claudia Poças Felix (Portugal), Mariia Suchkova (Russia), Aalia Abdulaziz Alrasheed (Saudi Arabia), Julie Tudhope (Scotland), Urška Končar (Slovenia), Christine Stidsberg (Sweden), Zeynep Sener (Turkey), Michaela Clique (Austria), Taibu Azah (Uganda), Zarah Amina Samuel (UK), Mary Ianthe Mumford (United Kingdom), Samantha Miyand a (Zambia).
More about the UEFA Academy
Building on the professional excellence UEFA has built throughout its history and the learning initiatives developed over the past decade, the UEFA Academy inspires the education of individuals and organizations to continuously improve football.
Since its inception, the academy has trained more than 3,000 graduates from 145 nations around the world and offers 62 learning initiatives each year.