A new study from e.l.f. Beauty and business consultancy Parity has found that women who participated in sports early in life are more likely to be successful later in life.
The study questioned 9,500 people across the United States, Canada, Germany and the U.K. ages 18 to 65 who worked full time during the past five years. The study found that respondents who identified as "Everyday Athletes" (women who played a sport for at least three years before finishing high school) were 50 percent more likely to be working in leadership positions than those who hadn't participated in sports at an early age.
Many of the women who identified as Everyday Athletes said that they had found an advantage in life due to insights gained during their time training and competing. Fully 70% of those respondents said those lessons learned from sports are incredibly important in today's employment and business environments.
“The findings are clear and consistent: women who played sports in their youth are more likely to become workplace leaders, are more likely to aspire to senior leadership and are more likely to negotiate their salaries,” a report on the survey results said. “These women also credit skills learned in sports with helping them advance professionally.”
Other findings from the study include:
- Nearly 90% of Everyday Athletes who have been promoted say a skill they learned in sports helped them move up.
- 69% of Everyday Athletes who have worked at least five years say the lessons they learned in sports are more important than ever in today’s workplace.
- Everyday Athletes are nearly 50% more likely to hold leadership roles at work than women who played less or no sports.
- Everyday Athletes are 37% more likely to aspire to senior leadership and nearly 25% more likely to have negotiated their salary than women who played less or no sports.
- 80% of women leaders who were Everyday Athletes say sports were an important part of growing up.
The study doubles down on these findings by talking directly to pro women athletes and men and women board members from all four countries:
- 98% of the pro women athletes surveyed say sports helped prepare them to compete in life beyond their playing career.
- 85% of men and women board members surveyed say the lessons learned in sports are important for future board members.
"This research puts numbers behind what we’ve always believed. Building pathways for women in sports by investing in the players, leagues and their fans helps shape a brighter future for the next generation of changemakers,” said Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Brands. “At e.l.f., we are committed to democratizing access to the playing field and to the boardroom so every legendary female has the access and the opportunity to change the e.l.f.ing game.”
