Jennifer Hermoso has been named Culture in Sports’ 2024 Sports Leader of the Year in recognition of her exceptional leadership and steadfast commitment to demonstrating how leadership and culture can positively impact organizational success, team and athlete performance, and the short and long term mental, physical, and emotional health of athletes. Her pivotal role in transforming women’s football in Spain and globally has empowered athletes, especially women and girls, to challenge the status quo, advocating that every woman and girl has the ability and the right to redefine how athletes are treated, respected, and valued.

Asante Sefa-Boakye has been named Culture in Sports’ 2023 Sports Leader of the Year in recognition of his focus on building the first water polo program in Ghana, focused on growing water polo into a national sport in Ghana, and providing free swim & splash ball lessons for children of Somalian refugee families in San Diego, CA.

Odessa Jenkins has been named Culture in Sports’ 2022 Sports Leader of the Year in recognition of her exceptional leadership as the Founder and CEO of the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC). Jenkins is also President of Emtrain (HR Tech Platform designed to train inclusion and respect in the workplace!), and the Founder of multiple non-profits (Got Her Back, Elite Women’s Football Alliance of Dallas).