SIGA
Mentorship important for sport’s aspiring female leaders - FA chair
Debbie Hewitt, the Football Association’s first ever chairwoman, spoke to SIGA this week about the drive to get more females into leadership positions in sport.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, Football Association chairwoman Debbie Hewitt has urged aspiring female leaders in sport to take advantage of mentorship programmes such as that run by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA).
Hewitt, who in 2021 became the FA’s first ever female chair, was speaking this week at SIGA’s annual Summit on Female Leadership in Sport, and on the alliance’s monthly #SIGAWow talk show.
“Be hungry to learn”
Discussing her career and the growing impact of women in the administration of global sport, Hewitt championed the SIGA Women Global Mentorship Programme, a scheme designed to promote future leaders in sport and foster greater diversity within the sporting industry.
“My message to all women is: be hungry to learn,” Hewitt said. “Every situation is an opportunity to learn and develop, so enjoy and learn from the journey and don’t focus too much on the end game. Trust yourself, trust your inner voice, and when you feel the fear, just do it anyway.
“The global game needs a pipeline for the next generation of female leaders, and networks and mentoring can help - especially through programmes like the SIGA Global Mentorship Programme.”
Read more about SIGA’s conversations with Hewitt.
What is SIGA?
Founded in 2017, SIGA is a non-profit organisation that works with stakeholders from across the sporting world to safeguard integrity and good governance in the industry. AS is a proud media partner of the body.