25 women, 12 European countries, 17 different sports – the first cohort of Her Turn, the President Kaljulaid Foundation’s first project in sport, has completed its six-month programme. A new cohort will begin in early 2027.
Her Turn was created to give women working in sport the knowledge, support and international networks they need to take on a greater role in sports leadership. Why is this necessary? A 2025 analysis published as part of a joint project by the Council of Europe and the European Commission found that women remain significantly underrepresented in sports leadership across Europe. Based on data from 21 European countries, it found that women account for only around 12 per cent of presidents of national sports federations. At board and vice-president level, women’s representation stands at around 29 per cent.
The first group of ambitious women in sports leadership began their Her Turn journey in spring 2026. Over six months, the programme offered international training, personal development planning and mentoring. Participants explored leadership, strategic thinking, communication, personal branding and conflict resolution. They also had the opportunity to learn from leaders with experience across sport and beyond, including former IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho, former elite athlete Mihail Dudaš, Wolt CEO Marianne Vikkula and Chair of the Swedish Judo Federation Kristiina Pekkola.
The next Her Turn cohort will begin its journey in February 2027. The programme was created by the President Kaljulaid Foundation in collaboration with Miltton and Out of the Box International and is funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme.
Check out the project website: https://herturn.eu/