A new movement advancing women’s leadership in the Sporting Goods Industry

London, 07 July 2025 — The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) proudly endorse the official launch of Global Game Shapers (GGS) — a first-of-its-kind international leadership network committed to accelerating gender equity, empowering women leaders, and fostering collective leadership across the sporting goods industry.

Today, leaders, innovators, and allies from across the global sporting goods sector gathered in London for the inaugural Global Game Shapers launch event, marking the beginning of a transformative movement designed to break down systemic barriers, create real leadership opportunities for women, and drive long-term, sustainable change with the active support of male allies.

Endorsed and Supported by Industry Leaders

The Global Game Shapers initiative was sparked after a pivotal gathering at ISPO in December 2024, where the urgent need for action became clear. The initiative was co-founded by Charlotte Cox, former President of Pentland EMEA, Emma Zwiebler, CEO of WFSGI, and other senior industry leaders committed to driving systemic change in a sector where women still occupy only 8.5% of CEO roles.

“We realized the need for a dedicated platform and took action so women in our industry can connect, support each other, and drive real change,” said Charlotte Cox.

Emma Zwiebler added, “This isn’t just about representation—it’s about unlocking the full potential of our industry. Global Game Shapers provides a space for mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development to ensure the next generation of women leaders can thrive.” 

The full-day launch event, held at Pentland Brands Office in London, offered an interactive program designed to spark bold conversations, forge powerful connections, and lay the foundation for future action. This included a Keynote Talk by Laura Youngson, CEO at IDA Sports, offering insights into inclusive leadership and impact, a Spotlight Session hosted by McKinsey, educational panels and workshops, and networking activities — all designed to forge powerful connections and lay the foundation for lasting change.

1Source:  SGI Europe, Women in Leadership in the Sporting Goods Industry 2024 

About WFSGI 

At the heart of Global Game Shapers is a simple but powerful mission:

• To connect and support female leaders
• To empower through mentorship and knowledge-sharing
• To drive meaningful, lasting change with the support of male allies
• To build a global movement rooted in collective leadership

Guided by six core values — community, empowerment, knowledge-sharing, inclusivity, future leadership development, and purpose over profit — GGS provides a global platform for thought leadership, mentorship, and community building.

WFSGI and FESI: A call to action

As founding members, Emma Zwiebler (WFSGI) and Ariane Gatti (FESI) have helped shape the vision behind GGS. Both the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) proudly endorse the initiative, aligning with their shared commitment to promoting gender equity and empowering women across all levels of the sport and sporting goods ecosystem. WFSGI and FESI encourage all members, partners, and industry professionals to get involved and help drive lasting impact.

Let’s continue to rise together and reshape the future of leadership in our industry.

• Join the Movement – Follow us on LinkedIn and amplify the conversation – https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-game-shapers/
• Engage & Share – Use #GlobalGameShapers to tell your leadership story
• Support the Future – Uplift the next generation of female leaders

About WFSGI: The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) is the global voice of the sporting goods industry. Representing brands, manufacturers, retailers, and national federations, WFSGI advocates for policies and initiatives that foster health, sustainability, and economic growth through sport and physical activity. For more information, please visit wfsgi.org.

About FESI: Founded in 1960, the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) is the pre-competitive platform representing the interests of the sporting goods industry in Europe, advancing its members’ priorities and promoting initiatives that benefit the sector, EU citizens and society as a whole. FESI represents the interests of approximately 1.800 sporting goods manufacturers (85% of the European market) through its National Sporting Goods Industry Federations and its directly affiliated member companies. 70-75% of FESI’s membership is made up of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. In total, the European Sporting Goods Industry employs over 700.000 EU citizens and has an annual turnover of some 81 billion euro.

About GGS: Global Game Shapers (GGS) is the first-of-its-kind network uniting female leaders across the global sporting goods industry. Founded on the belief that women are vital drivers of progress in sport, GGS exists to amplify their leadership, champion mentorship, and create tangible opportunities for the next generation. Our mission is clear: to connect and empower women in the sporting goods business while engaging male allies as collaborators and advocates for equity. Through community, action, and innovation, GGS is shaping a more inclusive, diverse, and forward-thinking industry—one where all talent can thrive.