Jennifer Thomas, England Netball
As a former England 400m hurdler, sport has always been close to Jennifer Thomas’s heart. Even while she forged a successful career in the private sector as a diversity and inclusion champion and communications leader, she could not escape the pull of the sporting world.
“I always had the intention to get back to it,” says Jennifer. “I spent my childhood competing as an athlete and it played such an important part of my career by developing me personally and professionally. I wanted to give some of that back.”
Jennifer realised that a governance role with a sporting organisation could provide the best of both worlds and allow her to take her skills from the private sector and bring them into sport.
She entered the Diversity in Sport Leadership programme with Sport England and Perrett Laver, a leading international executive search firm serving ‘purpose-driven’ sectors, to better understand the sporting industry and what a governance role would entail.
“The programme really helped me understand the structure of sporting organisations and gave me valuable exposure in the inner workings of sports governance. There are so many nuances and differences that would be difficult to navigate if you came straight into the role from a full-time private sector position, but the programme prepared me for that.”
Jennifer says that the programme also allowed her to best understand where she would best fit in a sports governance role. “The Sport England and Perrett Laver teams gave me a chance to bounce my skills around and work out how they might be best be used in sporting governance. It was great having those internal touch points and a guiding hand through the process.”
After completing the programme, Jennifer took on a board role with England Netball in January and has been able to leverage her different perspective on the board. “You want a real mix of mindsets on a board in order to challenge processes and organisational thinking. Often a sporting board will have a whole table of sportspeople, so I have been able to bring a different perspective from a corporate background.
In her role with England Netball, Jennifer has also transferred her skills as a diversity champion and provided crucial expertise. “The board team really encourages a hands-on approach and there have been opportunities to work on some amazing projects. I have offered myself as a sounding board for diversity and inclusion, and hopefully given some insight that will help drive diversity throughout the organisation.”
Jennifer sees this as an important role for her on the board going forward. “We really need to look at the demographics of our players and athletes and understand how we can create structures that encourage participation from all.”
Despite taking on her role in January and helping England Netball through the pandemic, Jennifer says that it has already been a rewarding challenge. “Sport is a passionate place. If you can hone into your passion and combine it with your skillset then is it is a hugely rewarding environment to be in.
“Sport has given me so much over the years and developed me so much personally and professionally. Giving some of that back in this role has been an amazing experience that I would recommend to any private sector leaders with an interest in sport.”
“Sport has played such an important role in my professional and personal development, and I reached a point in my career when I wanted to give something back.
The Diversity in Sport Leadership programme with Sport England and Perrett Laver has given me the opportunity do that. It has allowed me to transfer my professional experience into a governance role and begin to drive the change I want to see in sport.
The board team at Sport England really encourages a hands-on approach and there have been opportunities to work on some amazing projects. I have offered myself as a sounding board for diversity and inclusion, and hopefully given some insight that will help drive diversity throughout the organisation.
I would highly recommend that any private sector leaders with an interest in sport pursue Sport England and Perrett Laver’s Diversity in Sport Leadership programme.”