EIGCA Member, Giulia Ferroni, graduates from The R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme
| Giulia Ferroni, Member, Patron, The R&A
Estimated reading time 3 min
Giulia Ferroni explains her experience attending The R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme
I first heard about this initiative when through Leeds Golf Design I joined the R&A Women in Golf Charter back in 2019, but it was not until Spring 2023 that I decided to apply to the programme. I heard great feedback from women that attended the course previously, so I submitted my application in June and in September 2023 I had the unique opportunity to start the R&A Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme on cohort 7.
I decided to apply because golf has played a central role in my life for the past 10 years, both personally and professionally and I’ve seen firsthand the importance of having strong female leaders in the sport. I wanted to work on my personal development while learning more leadership skills, so the R&A programme was an ideal opportunity to do just that, offering mentoring and guidance from experts who are leading the change.
One of the most significant aspects of the programme was the diversity of perspectives. The participants came from various fields of the golf industry, including marketing, managers, golf federations, public relations, human resources, and former athletes. This diversity made for rich discussions, where we could share challenges and solutions that transcended our individual experiences.
The course was structured so that we got to meet in person in St Andrews twice per year, with regular on-line group meetings and regular solo mentoring sessions. Cohort 7 was also split in two groups, and we presented a project during the last meeting this September in St Andrews.
I particularly enjoyed the mentoring part of the course where I focused on my personal development. We did some profile analysis and personality tests to understand which areas needed improvement. Those really opened my eyes, as I worked on developing my communication, my self-awareness and emotional intelligence in leadership.
In addition to the workshops, the programme also created a strong sense of community among the participants. I had the chance to connect with incredible women from across the globe, each bringing their own unique insights and experiences. These relationships have already become an integral part of my personal and professional growth.
The programme not only helped me develop my leadership skills, but it also inspired me to be a more active agent for a change in golf. The conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion were particularly powerful, reminding me of the responsibility we have to make the sport more accessible and welcoming to future generations of women.
I left the programme with an even stronger commitment to design and retrofit courses to be more enjoyable for everybody.
