As we pull together (and try to put into practice) our career and health goals for the upcoming year, advancing through the workplace ranks and playing more sport may be two resolutions we consider. But did you know playing professional sport can actually put you in good stead for success in the working world?

94% of women who hold C-suite positions are former athletes and 80% of female Fortune 500 executives played competitive sports at one point in their lives, according to research by Ernst & Young.

So why is this? EY's report found that the benefits of sport include “social, emotional and moral competencies, as well as resilience, a sense of teamwork and the ability to connect with a community”. These are all incredible attributes for gaining confidence, success and thriving in the workplace.

“With their problem-solving skills and team-building experiences, women who have played sport are uniquely positioned to lead in the corporate world,” the report reads. It adds that the way to “speed up the clock” when it comes to our advancement towards gender equality in the workplace is by considering other areas of social gender equality that can help – like encouraging and championing female representation in the sports world.

“With their problem-solving skills and team-building experiences, women who have played sport are uniquely positioned to lead in the corporate world,” the report reads. It adds that the way to “speed up the clock” when it comes to our advancement towards gender equality in the workplace is by considering other areas of social gender equality that can help – like encouraging and championing female representation in the sports world.

Adele Johnston, former champion bodybuilder turned corporate trainer and menopause coach, found that there were many attributes that she transferred from the competitive sports world to the business world. “Training as a bikini athlete and bodybuilder taught me more than just sport, it taught me to be fierce, lead my way and to respect everyone as a team player in a world where most people are only out for themselves,” she says.

Women in Sport's chief executive Stephanie Hilborne OBE agrees that experience playing sport puts women in excellent stead if they are looking to advance in the ranks at work. “Sport can give women and girls resilience, courage, self-belief and a sense of belonging, putting them in a stronger position to excel at work,” she says. “On top of that, girls and women can learn vital life skills, such as leadership, through sport. This is just one of the reasons that such a high proportion of female executives played sports when they were younger.”

She adds that playing in a team, in particular, can help prepare women for working life. “Those formative moments of playing with a team can set women up for a future where they know their strengths, weaknesses and most importantly, their worth. The joint endeavour of team sport teaches you to take risks for the team and to forgive those whose risks don’t pay off.”

Considering the additional roadblocks women may face in the workplace in the form of harassment, pay gaps and patriarchal norms, having a sporting background could arguably help to navigate these tough issues. “Being a sports person certainly set me up personally for navigating the workplace environments whereby facing tough decisions, managing multiple personalities and having fierce tenacity and resilience,” Adele recalls, adding that her ability to look past “rank” in business hierarchies has served her well.

“I learned quickly never to underestimate anyone. I appreciated that everyone's time was important no matter the hierarchy format in the organisation,” she says. Everyone was a team member in my eyes no matter that ‘rank'." 

Of course, an increased likelihood of climbing the rungs of the corporate world also often leads to an increase in earnings. Historically, women who have been athletes in school generally earn more when they enter the working world, according to US research by economist Betsey Stevenson. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has even described sport as “a powerful platform to foster gender equality and empower women and girls”. And with the success of female sports teams like the England women’s football team – and their goalkeeper Mary Earps winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2023– it feels like a promising time for women in sport and a movement towards parity.

According to Adele, the prominence of female sports teams like the Lionesses and the England’s women's rugby team should inspire young girls to “dream big” in and out of the sports world. “In the workplace, the success of these teams challenges preconceived notions about women's capabilities, encouraging women to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields,” she says, giving tennis champion Billie Jean King’s work in the business world as an example of “underscoring the importance of breaking barriers and demanding equal opportunities”.

Last year, King launched a fellowship – with fashion designer Tory Burch – that will support and mentor female sports entrepreneurs. She also invests in sports media platforms and women-led businesses that are looking to reduce gender inequality in the world of sport.

Earlier this year, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that prize money between the men's and women's World Cups could be equalised by the next cycle of tournaments in 2026 and 2027 if there was added investment. These conversations are integral, and can directly influence how inequality is viewed in the sports world and the workplace.

“The fight for equal pay in sports has gained prominence, with female athletes and teams pushing for parity,” Adele says, adding that “sports teams and players advocating for gender equality in sports have a profound impact on cultural perceptions and attitudes. 

“Their influence extends beyond the sports arena, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive workplace where women can advance and thrive.” 

If we are seeing acknowledgement of female contributions and achievements in the world of sports, particularly financially, this “profound impact” could be reflected in how women feel about asking for what they need to become more empowered in the workplace. For instance, they may feel more comfortable asking for a pay rise, or a more senior position – and a shift in public perception may alter how workplaces respond.

Therefore, an increase in female representation in sport can benefit working women beyond their competing years. “We need to start at the beginning,” Stephanie says. “We must stop the stereotyping and invest in our girls so that they have a fair chance in sport.”

The more women who are able to compete, and then succeed, in sport can encourage seismic wider change. According to researchers at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the success of elite female athletes at events like the Olympics can create a “virtuous cycle” of enhanced perceptions of women, which in turn can contribute to changes in public policy.

“When sport includes women and girls, it helps to tackle gendered economic and health inequalities, allowing women to advance in both sport and the workplace,” Stephanie says, pointing out that change needs to be substantial and tangible. “Unless these moments of excitement are met with on-the-ground opportunities for girls to get involved, they’re almost meaningless.”

Adele adds that this movement and effort needs to come from many different areas. “Achieving more female representation in sports requires a comprehensive effort involving sports organisations, media, sponsors, policymakers and the broader public to not only get on board with it all but to drive it,” she says.

This shift will bring even more female role models into the sports world, and more women who can move comfortably into the higher levels of the workplace with the skills they’ve honed.

“Positive changes in sports can contribute to cultural shifts that promote equality and inclusivity in the workplace,” Adele says. “This isn't an isolated incident, it will significantly support change in multiple areas, not just in sport.”