Where there are eyeballs, commercial interest follows – and right now, those eyeballs are fixed firmly on women’s sport. Following a 22% increase in sponsorship across women’s sport last year, we now sit on the cusp of an unrivalled year of action featuring UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 as well as Rugby and Cricket World Cups. The momentum is undeniable.
So, join us at our ESA Breakfast with The Collective, where we will delve into the unique and distinctive value proposition presented by women’s sport.
Driven by the insights of an esteemed panel (see below), we will explore how rights holders are creating new investment opportunities, discuss the innovative partnership strategies that can unlock new audiences for brand sponsors, examine the growing role that talent and private equity can play in powering this juggernaut forward, and much more.
This event will be hosted by The Collective’s European Lead, Victoria Monk, with an introduction from ESA Board Director Martin Prendergast.
About The Collective
The Collective is Wasserman’s dedicated impact and advisory practice – focused on advancing the unique investment opportunity in women’s sport and entertainment.
One of The Collective’s key focuses is research and insights – proprietary as well as with their client partners. They believe that by advancing the conversation the tide rises all boats and as, such, all The Collective research is free and available for all industry stakeholders to utilise.
They run a first-of-its-kind ‘Think Tank’ which is made up of more than 20 colleges and universities globally, conducting research and sharing insights into issues surrounding gender parity and diversity. The group publishes white papers and thought leadership content across various topics to raise awareness of issues among fans, consumers and participants.
They also work with brand, rights holder and talent partners to create strategies, ideas and activation solutions specific to women’s sport and women’s fandom. Some recent projects include repositioning the Netball Super League for its revised 2025 league launch, helping to launch the Golden State Warriors inaugural women’s basketball team and creating a talent strategy for Nike alongside Lioness, Lauren James.
Benny Bonsu
Director of Content, Olympic Channel Services
Benny is a pioneering leader in the sports industry, currently serving as Director of Content at Olympic Channel Services, a division of the International Olympic Committee (Olympics.com). Benny previously led the Women’s Sports Editorial team at GiveMeSportW, where she launched the first women’s-only sports platform. In a distinguished career spanning sports business, broadcasting and journalism, she has collaborated with BBC, Sky Sports, NBA, NBA Africa, Modern Times Group, LOCOG 2012, Basketball Africa League and Alibaba while making substantial contributions to premier sporting events including the Premier League, NBA, NFL Africa, and the London 2012 Olympics. She serves on the boards of Basketball England, the Sports Journalists Association and African Health Now, supports Global First Ladies Alliance and The END Fund, and is a UNESCO Fit for Life Ambassador. Through her non-profit organisation, Saint Benedict’s Foundation, she empowers young girls globally through sports. Benny also founded the Institute of Sports Africa (ISA).
Daniel Michelson
Head of Marketing, LG Electronics
Daniel is an accomplished Head of Marketing with extensive experience leading high-impact teams across various sectors, including consumer electronics, online gaming and digital services. Known for blending technical expertise with strategic insight, Daniel has a proven track record of delivering robust growth and market dominance. At LG Electronics, he managed a multimillion-pound budget across multiple business units, leveraging AI tools to drive revenue growth and operational efficiency. Under his leadership, LG.com saw triple-digit revenue increases annually and a substantial boost to the brand’s market presence. Passionate about utilising innovative technologies and data-driven insights, Daniel continues to develop marketing strategies that align closely with business objectives, driving dynamic and sustainable growth.
Victoria Monk (host)
European Lead, The Collective, Wasserman
Viki leads The Collective, Wasserman’s dedicated impact and advisory practice focused on advancing the unique investment opportunity in women’s sport and entertainment, across Europe. A passionate thought leader in this space, Viki has been working to advance the profile of women’s sport for 10+ years. Away from the computer screen, Viki recently returned from a record-breaking, 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic Ocean to shine a spotlight on the dropout rate for teenage girls in sport.
Claire Nelson
Managing Director, Netball Super League
Claire is a global industry award-winning leader who is recognised as one of the most impactful and influential women in UK women’s sport. Claire was appointed as the first Managing Director of the Netball Super League in June 2023 to lead the professionalisation of the domestic game in the UK. Specialising in business transformation, commercial, brand and marketing, Claire specialises in female fandom and campaigns with impact. A passionate advocate for equality and fairness, and on a mission to level the playing field through unlocking the indisputable power of women, Claire is a leader with purpose and an energy that never fails to inspire.
The webinar recording is available exclusively to ESA members in our website event resources.
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