More than 250 influential leaders gathered inside the Roberto Cavalli Boutique on the Croisette for an evening where leadership, integrity, creativity and female empowerment took centre stage.
During Cannes Lions, the Boulevard de la Croisette becomes a living runway of creativity, influence and global ambition.
Between the legendary hotels, private brand houses and invitation-only gatherings, one of the most distinctive conversations of the 2026 Festival unfolded behind the doors of the Roberto Cavalli Boutique.
For one evening, the Italian fashion house became more than a destination for couture, jewellery and Mediterranean glamour. It was transformed into a vibrant salon of ideas, welcoming influential leaders from sport, business, media, technology, fashion and the creative industries for the inaugural SIGAWomen Lounge.
Surrounded by the sculptural silhouettes and unmistakable glamour of Roberto Cavalli fashion, guests gathered over champagne with DJ as the boutique filled with conversations about leadership, opportunity and the future of women in sport.
The atmosphere was elegant but purposeful.
Fashion provided the setting. Sport provided the energy. And women’s leadership became the central message.
More than 250 senior leaders joined the inaugural event, creating one of the most dynamic and influential gatherings focused on women’s leadership during Cannes Lions 2026.
A New Platform for Women’s Leadership
Created by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) through its SIGAWomen Programme, the SIGAWomen Lounge was designed as an exclusive thought-leadership platform bringing together leaders from sport and the creative industries.
Its ambition extends beyond conversation.
SIGAWomen promotes gender equity, good governance, inclusive leadership and greater representation of women in decision-making positions across the global sports ecosystem. Through mentorship, leadership development, networking and direct access to senior industry decision-makers, the programme has already supported more than 1,000 aspiring female leaders worldwide.
The next ambition is even more ambitious: to double participation and empower a new generation of women to reach their full leadership potential.
At Cannes, this vision became visible.
Inside the boutique, leaders from international sports organisations, global brands, media companies, football clubs, technology businesses and cultural institutions exchanged perspectives on how women can strengthen their influence—not only within sport, but across society.
The message was clear:
Women should not compete for a limited number of seats at the table.
They should unite their knowledge, networks and leadership power to build a larger and more inclusive table.
The Power of Leadership
The evening opened with Katie Simmonds, Global Chief Commercial Officer of SIGA and Chair of the SIGAWomen Council, alongside Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Co-Founder and Global CEO of SIGA.
Their opening remarks established the tone for an evening focused on purpose, integrity and meaningful cultural change.
Simmonds showcased the power of SIGAWomen’s Global Mentorship Programme and galvanised the audience around the concept of each leader represented in the room being an agent of change for transformational leadership in Sport, from Cannes to the World.
Macedo de Medeiros spoke about the growing relationship between sport and the creative industries, highlighting the responsibility of brands, sponsors and rights holders to place integrity, transparency and accountability at the centre of their investments and partnerships.
The conversation moved beyond traditional ideas of sponsorship.
The question was no longer simply: What can sport deliver commercially?
It was also:
What values does sport represent—and what kind of future are organisations helping to create through their investments?
During the evening, SIGA also presented its SIGAWomen 2030 Vision—a roadmap designed to develop the programme into a comprehensive global leadership ecosystem built around mentorship, executive education, research, leadership events, strategic retreats and an international alumni network.
Shelley Zalis Receives the Inaugural SIGA Leadership Award
One of the most inspiring moments of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural SIGA Leadership Award to Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient.
The award recognised Zalis’s outstanding global leadership and her pioneering contribution to advancing gender equity, inclusive leadership and meaningful cultural change across business, society and sport.
The distinction was presented by Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros following their fireside conversation, “Chief Troublemakers: Rewriting the Rules of Sports Governance, Gender Equity & Global Leadership.”
The conversation explored the importance of courageous leadership and the need to create environments where women can lead, influence decision-making and reshape organisational culture.
Zalis shared insights drawn from her work as one of the world’s most influential advocates for gender equality in business. The discussion also examined how collaboration between sport, business, media and the creative industries can accelerate meaningful and lasting change.
In a room filled with women who are already shaping international organisations, brands and cultural institutions, the award became more than a personal recognition.
It was a symbol of collective progress.
Women United by Leadership
The SIGAWomen Lounge brought together an exceptional group of speakers and industry leaders representing some of the world’s most influential organisations.
The programme included:
Aleena Khan, Co-Founder of CTZN Cosmetics and host of the Full Disclosure with Aleena podcast; Anya Dawkins Johnson, Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Strategy at TNT Sports, Warner Bros. Discovery; Christina Tsiligkiri, President of the European Multisport Club Association; Erica Kerner, Managing Director and Global Head of Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships at Standard Chartered Bank; and Jayathma Wickramanayake, Senior Policy Advisor at UN Women.
The speaker programme also featured Jennifer Chase, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of SAS; Julia Green, CEO of FORMULA AFRICA™; Julie Stewart-Binks, NHL Reporter and Host, who also served as Master of Ceremonies; Kameryn Stanhouse, Vice President of Global Sports and Entertainment Partnerships at IBM; and Kate Theobald, Global Commercial Director of Liverpool Football Club.
Other influential voices included Kelly Ryan, Global Head of Brand at Tata Consultancy Services; Laura Cordingley, CEO of Chelsea FC Foundation; Lauren Funke, Vice President of Advertising at The Athletic; Marketa Haindlova, President of the Czech Footballers’ Union and Board Member of FIFPRO Europe; and Roddy Campbell, Director of Partnerships and International Business at Tennis Australia.
The conversations were further enriched by Sarah Solémalé, sports executive and SIGAWomen mentor; Vida Cornelious, Senior Vice President of Creative and Strategy, Advertising at The New York Times; Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer of WSL Football; and Edward Odofin, Global Business Resilience Lead at the BBC.
Together, the speakers represented the growing power of women across sport, media, technology, commercial partnerships, governance, culture and global business.
From the Playing Field to the Boardroom
The discussions explored some of the most important questions facing women’s sport today.
In “Levelling the Playing Field: Female Leadership in Sport,” leaders examined how women are shaping the future of sport—from the playing field to executive leadership and the boardroom.
The panel “Purposeful Partnerships to Drive Social Change” focused on the ability of brands, commercial partnerships and cross-sector collaboration to create positive social impact.
The session “SIGAWomen: The Power of Mentorship” highlighted the importance of mentorship in supporting professional growth and preparing the next generation of female leaders.
Meanwhile, “The Intersection between the Creative Industries and Sport” explored the increasingly powerful relationship between sport, media, entertainment, fashion and culture—and the influence these sectors have in shaping public attitudes.
The final discussion, “Commercialising Women’s Sport,” examined investment, audience growth, commercial opportunity and the essential role of media in increasing the visibility and long-term value of women’s sport.
Champagne, Conversation and a Shared Vision
As the formal discussions came to an end, the Roberto Cavalli Boutique returned to the rhythm of Cannes.
Champagne glasses sparkled beneath the boutique lights. Guests continued their conversations among the fashion collections and jewellery displays, while a live DJ created the soundtrack for an evening of networking and celebration.
Yet the atmosphere was about more than glamour.
The most valuable luxury of the evening was connection.
Leaders exchanged ideas, experiences and contacts. New collaborations began. Mentors met future leaders. Women from different industries discovered shared ambitions.
The closing SIGAWoW – WE RISE session offered a forward-looking call to action: to continue building a more inclusive, responsible and sustainable future for sport—and to create a meaningful legacy for the next generation.
The New Power of Collaboration
The inaugural SIGAWomen Lounge demonstrated that the future of leadership will not be created by one industry alone.
Sport needs the creativity of fashion. Business needs the courage of cultural leaders. Media needs diverse voices.
And women’s leadership becomes more powerful when experience, influence and opportunity are shared.
Against the glamorous backdrop of the Croisette, surrounded by Roberto Cavalli fashion and the energy of Cannes Lions, SIGAWomen created a new kind of luxury gathering—one where the most important statement was not worn. It was spoken.
And the message was unmistakable:
When women unite their leadership, knowledge and influence, they do not simply change the rules of the game. They redefine the future.
