How it all started
and where we aim to go

Our story

The SLI origins go back to the idea of starting the Nyenrode Sports institute and the renowned sports leadership program in 2014.

Nyenrode Sports was launched with a mission to inspire and empower the next generation leaders in sports. The programs were designed to support elite coaches, sports directors and entrepreneurs with the next step in their career in the world of sport. Participants received the possibility to develop their leadership skills and broaden their knowledge so that they will not only be able to achieve their own goals at the highest level, but also those of the sportsmen, sportswomen and sports teams they are coaching, as well as the sports organizations they are working for. Leaving their mark upon the world!

In 2019 the philosophy behind the ram SLP programs and institute merged into the new independent, not-for profit, Sports Leadership Institute. In partnership with the Amsterdam University of Applied Siences, multiple international universities and the commercial platform SPORTSINQ it offers high end sports education programs including the new sports leadership programme.

Our mission

Making a profound impact on the world of sport through the generation and application of path-breaking sport leadership education.

Nurturing critical and creative thinking for the next generation sports leaders. For the sake of the world.

Making a profound impact on the world of sport through the generation and application of path-breaking sport leadership education.

Nurturing critical and creative thinking for the next generation sports leaders. For the sake of the world.

Our goals

2.

Lead the public conversation: through agenda-setting research, public engagement, and expert technical advice, drive new and innovative ideas which have a significant influence on industry, government, regulation, or societal views, or which have an impact on how data science and artificial intelligence research is undertaken.

1.

Advance world-class curiosity in sports education and apply it to real-world problems: innovate and develop world-class knowledge in sports leadership that supports next generation theoretical developments and is applied to real-world sport problems, generating the creation of new businesses, services, and jobs.

3.

Train the sport leaders of the future: train new generations of leaders with the necessary breadth and depth of technical and ethical skills to match the worlds growing sports and societal needs.

1.

Advance world-class curiosity in sports education and apply it to real-world problems: innovate and develop world-class knowledge in sports leadership that supports next generation theoretical developments and is applied to real-world sport problems, generating the creation of new businesses, services, and jobs.

2.

Lead the public conversation: through agenda-setting research, public engagement, and expert technical advice, drive new and innovative ideas which have a significant influence on industry, government, regulation, or societal views, or which have an impact on how data science and artificial intelligence research is undertaken.

3.

Train the sport leaders of the future: train new generations of leaders with the necessary breadth and depth of technical and ethical skills to match the worlds growing sports and societal needs.

Driving forces behind SLI

Bartel Berkhout

Founder

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Bartel Berkhout

Founder

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Thomas Tichelman

Program and
curriculum design

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Thomas Tichelman

Program and
curriculum design

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Conny Wenting

Leadership
development

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Conny Wenting

Leadership
development

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Marcel Hoes

Marketing and
communication

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Marcel Hoes

Marketing and
communication

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Trusted partners

Collaborations

The SLI collaborates with a numerous amount of sports organisations, governmental bodies, NGO’s and academic institutions in order to create the perfect mix of knowledge, experience and inspiration in our leadership programmes and courses. We bring the right people together for every occasion. Do you feel like you have something to say about leadership in sports? We invite you to join the table. Please grab a seat and drink a coffee with us to chat about your thoughts and ideas.

Isn’t it amazing to leave your mark upon the world and help others do so as well? That’s exactly how we feel.