WSLA
2025
designed and delivered in partnership with
Sunday 7th to Friday 12th September 2025
Bishop Otter Campus, University of Chichester, UK
About the 2025 programme
The 2025 programme is premised upon four objectives to support the further development of participants. We term these The four Cs: competencies, confidence, context, and commitment.
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leadership Competencies
to support female leaders to enhance their leadership skills and behaviours to navigate the challenges that are part of leading an organisation
Confidence
to encourage female leaders to identify their strengths, goals and ambitions to support their desired career path; championing who they are and others around them
Contextual
awareness
to understand the organisational and cultural environment, recognising opportunities and challenges, and influencing fellow allies and champions to create positive change
Commitment of employers
to engage with the employers of female leaders and support their ongoing development and wider influence
What the programme will do
Specifically, WSLA 2025 will also support the participants to:
- Become a more adaptable and impactful leader
- Develop their own leadership style and identity, and appreciation of their impact upon others
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Identify career ambitions and produce a Personal Development Plan and strategies to support these ambitions
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Maximise their network by being intentional about who to approach and why, including connecting with global WSLA alumni
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Improve intercultural understanding through engagement with a diverse cohort and conversations around leading and working in different environments
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Gain a better knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities for women in sport leadership
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Strategically influence and advocate others to create a more inclusive workplace within their organisation
The week-long programme consists of several elements, all of which are essential for the critical learning and development that will take place during the WSLA residential week:
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Workshops – These are an integral part of the learning process and are designed to meet the needs of participants. They have clear learning outcomes and are tailored to maximise learning; they will be challenging, constructive and highly interactive. Even though we are based at a university, there are no lectures at WSLA.
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Personal Development Plan – Each participant will produce a Personal Development Plan setting goals on leadership behaviours, career strategies, future opportunities and to consolidate learning.
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Reflection groups – These consist of small groups of participants who meet regularly throughout the residential week. Their aim is to help participants consider their learning, raise issues and concerns, discuss hot topics, and provide support and encouragement.
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Peer support sessions – These provide opportunities for participants to define, frame and communicate their key challenges and receive support from colleagues. The sessions allow participants to have time to reflect on their experiences and to explore ways of doing things differently.
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Physical activities – A range of physical activities have been designed to indulge our love of sport, to live our principle of an active lifestyle, to provide a physical challenge, to promote team building and... to have fun!
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Facilitators and guest speakers – The programme is led by Sarah Wright and Tina Dullaghan alongside a team of experienced facilitators, some of whom are WSLA graduates, to inspire participants as well as share their own experiences. Guest speakers will identify what leadership means to them and what motivates and challenges them, as well as providing top tips for participants.
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WSLA is hosted at a University, but there are no lectures, tests or exams. Our programme curates and cultivates a psychologically safe environment for women leaders in sport to recognise personal strengths and look to enact change beyond themselves. Content is uniquely bespoke, iterated to participant needs. It is agile in its development and delivery meaning no two programmes are the same. View our 2024 video to learn more about the 'feel' of the week!
Programme structure and content
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