Level Up: Women in Sports Series launches at Selhurst Park
Today (Sunday, 8th March) marks International Women’s Day – and Crystal Palace, in collaboration with Motorsport UK - Race for Diversity and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), were delighted to celebrate at Selhurst Park this week with an inspiring launch event for the Level Up: Women in Sports Series.
The Level Up: Women in Sports Series is set to support 30 women between the ages of 16 and 24 in progressing their early careers in sport, providing exposure to careers across the industry, behind-the-scenes insights, and workshops delivered by different partners.
The inaugural intake of the Series was selected from over 220 applications, 39% of which were from women of colour – above sport industry standards.
Monday’s event saw the 30 programme participants come together to celebrate the launch of the series, joining invited guests from across sport for networking, career coaching and introductions to the industry as a whole.
Numerous organisations were in attendance at Selhurst Park, including the Premier League Foundation, Association of Black and Ethnic Engineers, Jabari, Motorsport UK Inclusion Hub and Futures in Sport.
Following the launch, the programme will consist of monthly workshops until July, including sessions with our collaborators, culminating in participants spending a day at the cricket at Lord’s – the ground owned by MCC – this summer.
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At the heart of the launch event was an inspiring panel discussion, opened with an empowering speech from Crystal Palace Chief Executive Officer, Sharon Lacey, who discussed her journey to becoming the only female CEO in the Premier League.
The panel featured anecdotes and experiences of, and discussions of opportunities to, work in sport, as guests heard from Kassandra Farzavandi (Programme Planner at Mercedes-AMG Petrones F1 Team), Charlotte Marshall (London Spirit Marketing Manager at MCC), Gemma Staple (Female Engagement Officer at Palace for Life Foundation) and Charlotte Carter (General Manager – Women’s First Team at Crystal Palace).
The panel was moderated by Palace for Life’s Head of Pathways and Learning, Susan Patterson Smith, and was concluded by an inspirational talk from Polly Dedman (Director of Marketing at Motorsport UK).
Topics discussed included the non-linear nature of modern-day careers, particularly in sport; the benefits of embracing gender diversity across the industry; and the importance of supporting, empowering and celebrating one another’s success in doing so.
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Hear from some of the attendees of the launch below!
Programme Participants
- “It’s been an amazing honour to be here tonight. I’m currently doing my A Levels, so a very busy, stressful time! But this opportunity is opening many doors for me, and it means I’m exposed to the industry that I want to get into.”
- “I want to have a job where I can enjoy it more, and these kind of events are opening those doors – I’m just going to grab any opportunity that comes!”
- “I made loads of notes about ways to get into a career and how to present my skills in a CV. I’m networking, getting loads of contacts on LinkedIn – so I feel like I’m definitely more prepared for going into sport!”
- “It’s just really special getting to be surrounded by other women who are looking to have a career in sports, and hearing the stories from successful women in the industry. It's really inspiring.”
- “I think it's something that is really important to have and to experience: to be given a space where we can come together and learn from other people.”
- “To see all of these inspiring women come together is just something incredible.”
Sharon Lacey – CPFC Chief Executive Officer
“There's a plethora of people from all different walks of life and backgrounds in sports, so for me it was really nice to share that experience today with the participants, and let them know that actually there are no barriers – you can do whatever you want if you work hard and you put your best foot forward.
“I think if we can make a difference to these 30 young women and beyond, then I think we’re helping the future of sport, and certainly making it more diverse.
“I hope people take away a different perspective on how to look for roles within sport. I hope they understand that there's no such thing as barriers – they've got to break them down. Hard work pays off, and there are a load of women on the panel today who have shown just that.”
Dana Tohme – CPFC Inclusion and Wellbeing Officer:
“Our Level Up: Women in Sports Series was created in collaboration with Motorsport UK - Race for Diversity and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
"Looking at the data, we realised that across sport, women are much less likely to apply for jobs. But there are so many people and organisations that want to create a better space for women of all backgrounds.
“We wanted to work together to create this series to help women feel more supported, see what kind of careers are out there for them, and empower them to apply for these roles.
“The 2026 Level Up cohort is full of young women who are so passionate about sports. By offering them this opportunity, we can help them reach their goal.”
Erin Corrigan - CPFC Event Sales Manager
“We had an exceptional panel of various industry workers, all women working in sport and across different sports, just giving their insight, their background, their journeys and their advice to the cohort.
“We’re just showcasing that there is support, there is love, there can be collaboration and there can be networking and connection – hopefully everyone can take something from that.
“It’s all about putting yourself out there, collaboration, and just supporting each other.”
Julie Brown – CPFC Chief People Officer
“The whole idea is to inspire young women to have the confidence to look at jobs in sport, and also to realise there are so many different types of jobs in the industry. That's not just what’s on the pitch – it’s right across the business. Anything you want to do in sport, you can.
“Career paths don’t have to be linear. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do when you’re 15 or 16. You can go into a career in sports at any stage of your career.
“I was told a lot of times that you weren't right to be there, you shouldn't be here, and things like that. That, now, I think, has changed dramatically, and the fact is that the support and the allyship in this room tonight shows how much things have changed.
"It's great, I think it's really inspiring, and I think it's only going to change for the better.”