Impact of sport on women in business

Report findings

The research uncovered interesting insights. Teamwork (90%), confidence (86%), and self-belief (63%) were all cited by those surveyed as some of the top skills they had developed through their participation in sport that are transferable to a career.

Seven in ten (69%) of those surveyed meanwhile believe that they perform these skills better in the workplace due to their participation in sport.

Speaking about the release of the research, Rio Howley, partner in KPMG said: “KPMG is delighted to be involved in carrying out this research. We have seen first-hand the impact that sport has on the lives of women in this country through our sponsorship of the KPMG Women's Irish Open in 2022 and previous Women in Sport initiatives like the 20x20 campaign.

We’re thrilled to see how sport has influenced the careers of so many women in business, and we hope that those who see these results will be encouraged to participate in sport - regardless of standard or level - so that they, too, can advance their careers and reach their full potential.”

Additional findings include:

• 58% believe that participating in sport has positively impacted their professional career.
• 94% of women in business would encourage a female relative to participate in sport, with
  • 87% stating it builds confidence,
  • 86% stating it is a great way to meet new people,
  • 69% believing it builds communication skills, and
  • 64% believing it builds leadership skills.
• 45% of those surveyed stated that they look to see if participation in sport is included on a CV when hiring a new staff member.
• 3 in 4 women surveyed say sport is useful for networking or business development, while
• 56% of women believe sport is important when trying to achieve a good work-life balance