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Held at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, the Australian Sports Commission recently facilitated an inclusive leadership development program for leaders across the sport sector with the two-day course led by Harvard Business School Professor Boris Groysberg.

The focus of the course was on recognising that leadership plays a critical role in enhancing organisational outcomes, delivering valued experiences and ensuring sport as a place for all.

The event was attended by more than 60 CEOs and executives from the sport sector, representing national sporting organisations and national sporting organisations for people with disability (NSO/ NSODs), state sporting organisations (SSOs), the national institute network (NIN), Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia and Commonwealth Games (Games partners).

Building upon the success and momentum of a workshop delivered by Professor Groysberg in 2023 which focused on proactive ways to address barriers and foster gender inclusivity within the sporting sector, this year’s program presented a valuable opportunity for Australia’s sports leaders to continue to build knowledge and influence as an inclusive leader, as well as role model the importance of inclusive leadership in sport to other leaders across the sector.

Participants were guided through sessions focusing on the evolution of leadership, leading change in challenging environments, strategies for engaging, motivating and retaining employees, and decision-making.

A session focused on mental health in leadership particularly struck a chord with the attendees as it centred on the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, and how – driven by his own experience of mental health challenges throughout his career – he is now working to remove the stigma associated with mental health in sport and beyond.

Bowls Australia Chief Executive Matthew Kennedy shared “I have now been lucky enough to attend three of Boris’s programs facilitated by the ASC and am very appreciative of the opportunity. Knowing how much I get out of the program every time – whether it’s something new or reinforced – it’s one of those ones that I put in the calendar and protect against at all costs! Boris is engaging and inspiring and he knows the business of sport. The practical nature of the presentations and discussions, alongside the world-leading research of proven successful approaches across an array of industries and companies, has no doubt shaped how I think and go about organisational leadership.”

ASC Diversity, People and Culture Executive General Manager Bianca Broadhurst said strengthening leadership behaviours and inclusive decision-making working within sport was just as important as having the right policy and frameworks in place to accelerate gender equality.

Broadhurst noted “the everyday actions and decisions that leaders make have a broad and long-lasting impact. That is why an initiative like the ASC Inclusive Leadership program is important. It’s about providing the people leading sports in Australia with access to practical information and real-life case studies, so they can continue to create great sporting environments and experiences for everyone.”

An online iteration of this program will be delivered later this year, extending invitations to executives of NSOs, NSODs, SSOs, NIN, and Olympic Games partners.

Image top: More than 60 CEOs and executives from the sport sector attended an inclusive leadership development program hosted by the ASC; image centre:The two-day course was led by Harvard Business School Professor Boris Groysberg; Image below:Sport sector leaders in discussion at the workshop led by Professor Boris Groysberg.Credit ASC

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