Gamechangers who will push the boundaries

Gbemisola Abudu is the youngest and only black woman to run an office in the league. Her passion for basketball began at a young age, when she was practically forced to watch games by her brother. Luckily, she quickly fell in love with Koby Bryant's discipline, talent and ability to concentrate. Driven by this enthusiasm, she continues to pursue her passion for basketball to this day - and no longer just from the stands.

She is the richest woman in India and was named the most influential female CEO in Asia by Forbes magazine in 2016. But resting on her laurels is not her thing: Indian sports official Nita Dalal Mukesh Ambani is co-owner of the Mumbai Indians, a cricket team from the Indian Premier League. In 2010, she also founded the country's largest philanthropic initiative, which promotes education, art, culture and sport, among other things. She has been honored for her work in these areas at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, among other places.

Freeride Anne impresses the mountain bike world as a transgender athlete and sets new standards as an influencer and pioneer. With her openness and commitment to diversity and inclusion, she inspires a large community. Her story is a prime example of courage and change in sport. Anne shows that identity and passion can go hand in hand and challenges traditional notions of mountain biking. Her role as a trailblazer strengthens the visibility of transgender people in sport and motivates others to follow their own path.

With 2.8 million followers on Instagram, she is one of the biggest names in the fitness business. Massy Arias suffered from depression and talks about her way out of the crisis. Born in the Dominican Republic, she began to live a healthy lifestyle, overcoming her illness and making physical limitations a thing of the past. She is an example of how a healthy diet and an active lifestyle can change your life mentally, physically and spiritually. She shares her knowledge charmingly and with power on various social media channels - with great success. She currently lives and trains in Los Angeles.

Jana Bernhard, the Chief Commercial Officer of FC Basel 1893, is at the forefront of a movement that combines innovation and sustainability in the sports business. From November 2024, she will be responsible for the entire commercial area of Red & Blue in this role, contributing her extensive experience from over 20 years in the sports environment. Born in Freiburg and with a degree in business administration, she attaches particular importance to ethical practices and future-oriented strategies.

Previously, Jana Bernhard was Managing Director of S20, an association of leading sports sponsors in Germany, since the end of 2019. With her experience in global partnerships and sustainable strategies, she has left her mark on the sports industry. She brings this expertise to FC Basel 1893 to further develop the commercial focus and ensure long-term success.

Jeanie Buss achieved something outstanding in 2020: She became the first female owner to lead her baskeball team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to the NBA championship. She is following in the footsteps of her father Jerry Buss, who bought the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers for 67.5 million US dollars. The sports official is one of the most influential and powerful women in sport and the sports business. In 2018, she even came eighth in the Forbes list.

She is the Ultra Runner Girlshe's a human rights advocate, she's The North Face Explorer, she's a TEDx speaker and she's the founder of Free to Run. "My ultra running and my work keep me sane and slightly crazy in equal measure, but I wouldn't have it any other way." A true all-round talent, she is committed to helping women and girls in conflict zones with Free to Run. The aim is to promote their physical, emotional and social well-being through adventure sports.

Mary Davis' journey with the Special Olympics began after college as a volunteer and coach. Since then, she has been a longtime leader in the Special Olympics movement, currently leading an international team of 250 employees and is passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive society.

For 15 years she was a civil rights lawyer until she decided to devote herself to her passion and go to another extreme: Marinel de Jesus leads a life as a mountain gnomad. To give even more attention to her passion for mountain sports, she founded Peak Explorations, now called Equity Global Treks, with the aim of promoting equality and the inclusion of women and indigenous communities in the trekking industry. In 2019, Marinel also founded the non-profit organization The Porter Voice Collective and works with it to promote human rights.

Since 2017, the "It's Great Out There Coalition" (IGOTC) has wanted to encourage more people in Europe to get active in nature. Margo de Lange has led the non-profit association of various initiatives as Secretary General since 2023. The IGOTC's projects focus in particular on inclusion and environmental education. Margo is considered a luminary in environmental protection and embodies the idea that access to nature is a fundamental right, with which she has already initiated some positive changes. She is a woman who fights every day for one of the most important issues of the future, improving the world one step at a time.

Majken Gilmartin's goal is to "find every opportunity to involve girls and women in the world of sport and keep them there." For example, she was the organizer of the world's first soccer training and tournament for refugees in Denmark. As a role model and driver of change, she has made an impressive contribution to developing, promoting and strengthening women's participation in sport, for which she was honored with the IOC Women and Sport Award in 2016.

She made her debut as a professional tennis player in 1991, but soon had to stop due to an injury. But even if her tennis career didn't pan out, Sophie continued successfully. Sophie Goldschmidt is currently head of the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding in the United States. She previously served on the advisory board of the World Surf League (WSL). In 2018, she was included in the Forbes list of "Most Powerful Women In International Sport".

The celebrated drag queen and environmental activist champions inclusivity and diversity in the outdoor world. She combines her passion for environmental protection with outdoor activities such as climbing and hiking. Pattie co-founded the Outdoorist Oath with a community of over a million people. This brings BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and women into the outdoors. She also created the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board to increase diversity in environmental jobs. Patty's work and projects demonstrate her commitment to an inclusive and sustainable outdoor culture. She has raised over 1.5 million dollars for non-profits and raised awareness for environmental crises. She also made history as the first person to speak in drag on the TED main stage in October 2024. Wow, what a powerful woman!

From world-class rower to chair of UK Sport, Katherine Grainger's career is impressive. She has won six world championship titles, four Olympic silver medals and one Olympic gold medal. Today, she brings her experience as an athlete to the British high-performance agency UK Sport. In November 2024, she made history as the first female Chair of the British Olympic Association in 119 years and continues to champion the development of British elite sport.

A heroine of female empowerment! Since 2019, she has been fighting for women and girls at Women in Sport to give them the chance to experience the joy of sport and draw strength from it. She believes that sport develops fundamental skills such as resilience, leadership and teamwork - which girls and women all over the world should have equal access to.

Nicole Lynn is an American sports agent and the first black woman to represent one of the National Football League's top three draft picks, defensive end Quinnen Williams. She is also President of Football Operations for the US-based Klutch Sports Group, which represents both NFL and NBA athletes. Nicole Lynn worked her way up from a poor background to become a financial analyst on Wall Street, later became a lawyer and is now a top agent for top athletes and entertainers.

For 30 years, she conquered the American financial services industry as a director of various companies. She then devoted herself to philanthropic endeavors. Until 2024, Susanne Lyons chaired the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and led the organization through one of the most turbulent periods in its history. In light of the war in Ukraine, she spoke out in favor of Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Today, Susanne Lyons focuses on her work on various committees, including as a member of the Board of Trustees of Vassar College, as well as on her philanthropic commitments.

She saved the lives of almost 20 people when she fled to Germany in 2015. As part of the Refugee Team, the Syrian then took part in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. At the end of 2022, a movie about her life was released on Netflix. But Yusra Mardini is not just a professional swimmer, as a UN Special Envoy she is an encourager for millions of refugees around the world.

In February 2018, Marshall became the first black female CEO in the history of the National Basketball Association. The managing director of the Dallas Mavericks is a true leader: "There is a difference between doing things right and doing the right things. Leaders do the right thing." She has big plans for 2023: "In 2023, no negativity, no pessimism and no bad things will be tolerated. Positivity, optimism and productivity are the things that will lead to an abundance of good and blessings. We are about to change some lives, save some children and make the world a better place." She stepped down in 2024 and is now a consultant and advisor for the Dallas Mavericks.

History was made in 2022: Sandra Douglass Morgan became the first black woman to become president of an NFL club. And this shortly after head coach Jon Gruden was sacked for racist and misogynistic remarks, among other things. "I look forward to carrying this team's spirit and commitment to excellence on the field to all areas of this organization."

The game between the Raiders and Panthers on September 22, 2024 made history - it was the first game in NFL history in which both teams were led by female presidents, namely Sandra Douglass Morgan and Kristi Coleman.

She is an entrepreneur, speaker and one thing above all else: an energetic campaigner for more diversity in sport. In 2021, Johanna Mühlbeyer founded her consulting firm with a focus on sports business. She supports companies and sports organizations in implementing a diversity strategy. "Because a lack of inclusion costs a lot of money," says the power woman. And in the Sponsors podcast (now Spobis podcast), the Equalate boss emphasizes that "diverse teams not only generate higher turnover, but employees are happier and companies are less affected by staff turnover". This also saves costs.

She has been one of the most influential women in sport for years, but she had to wait many years to get a position at the top of Major League Baseball. In November 2020, the time had finally come: Kimberly J. Ng was appointed General Manager of the Miami Marlins, making her the highest-ranking female baseball manager. And she really is a professional: she played softball herself and started her career with the Chicago White Sox in the 1990s. In July 2024, she joined Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball as a Senior Advisor and is now committed to developing the sport at the highest level.

Muditambi Ravele is the founder and chairperson of the South African Women and Sports Foundation. Since around 2008, with the establishment of SAWASF, Muditambi and her foundation have been the only effective voice for women in sport in South Africa. Muditambi also uses her foundation to lobby for changes to existing laws to make it easier for women in sport.

Since the beginning of 2024, Erin Sprague has been the first female CEO of the climate protection organization Protect Our Winters (POW), an initiative launched in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones. With over 20 years of experience in the outdoor industry and a strong commitment to climate action, Erin is determined to strengthen POW's impact in the climate movement. "The fight against climate change is our life's work. POW is at the forefront of this movement thanks to its diverse community of athletes, artists and scientists. I look forward to strengthening our ranks with more outdoor enthusiasts," Erin explains with motivation.

As Head of CSR and Sustainability at the European Outdoor Group (EOG), Katy Stevens plays a key role in promoting sustainable initiatives in the outdoor industry. As a driving force for protecting the environment, she is also a mentor, helping EOG member companies to adopt greener and more ethical practices. Katy's commitment to the planet inspires innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and the community. She skillfully bridges the gap between environmental activism and its practical implementation. In this way, she becomes an indispensable inspiration for a greener future for the outdoor industry. Katy Stevens is an important shaper in the outdoor industry with a clear focus on sustainability. It remains exciting to see what other positive changes she will initiate.

Since April 2022, Heike Ullrich has been the first woman to hold this position at the German Football Association. The sports economist has been working for the DFB since 1996 and started her career in the match operations department, focusing on women's and girls' soccer. Promoting women in soccer is still important to her: at the World Cup in Qatar, she was in charge of the DFB workshop "Future Leaders in Football", which was a female edition. A total of 20 young women from 14 different countries in the Arab world took part.

"It's time to radically rethink training! It's time for a holistic approach to physical performance. It's time for ease and enjoyment in training and movement." This is how Luise Walther describes the paradigm shift she wants to introduce with neuro-centered training. In her own words, it is not about self-optimization, but about a balance of tension and relaxation of the nervous system. Neuro-centered training has been on the DFB's agenda since 2019.

Hedvig Wessel lives and breathes freestyle skiing. With difficult tricks, outstanding jumps and unique acrobatics, she revolutionized big mountain freeriding and took part in the 2014 Winter Olympics. To bring snowboarders and freeskiers together and promote femininity in outdoor sports, she launched Sister Summit - and infects other enthusiasts with her passion at the competition and networking event. In March 2024, she also became freeride world champion in the women's skiing category.

The 2017 World Coach of the Year is still coaching a women's team, but perhaps she will also take over a men's national team at some point - some would believe she is capable of it. But until then, the former international will continue to shake up the women's soccer scene. In 2017, she led the Dutch national team to victory in the European Championship and in her current role as coach of the English national team, she also won the European Championship in 2022. A record! This makes her the first female coach to win a European Championship with two different national teams. Her mission: to make female soccer even more attractive.

Claire Williams was Motorsport Manager and Deputy Team Principal of the Williams Formula 1 team and is now making a comeback. She is returning to WAE Technologies as a brand ambassador. There she plans to support the company in its mission to decarbonize the heavy-duty transport industry. A fighter for a sustainable future.

Stefanie Mirlach's path took her from the limelight to behind the scenes. As a former professional footballer, she not only won the DFB Cup, but also became U20 World Champion. Today, she is responsible for the women's strategy at sports broadcaster Sky and is also committed to the visibility and development of women's sport. Sky takes an exemplary approach to the topic, especially with the slogan "Women on and behind the screen". A prime example of this is the program #GameCHANGERINNEN.