Inspira | Erika Mueller Chen

Erika speaks to Mercedes about her SDP insights across Latin America and the Middle East, and her goal as an IOC Young Leader to facilitate sports for protection activities for migrant children. Elena Mercedes Haro is a former member of the Women’s Saber National Fencing Team of Guatemala. She holds a Master’s degree in Sports Management and a Bachelor’s in International Relations. Her goal is to...

Erika speaks to Pauline about her experiences as an IOC Young Leader, and how she founded Beyond Sport_Kenya - a youth-led project in Rift Valley part of Kenya that works towards advocating for and promoting gender equality in and through sports. Pauline Msungu is a football player in the Kenyan Women Premier league and a youth ambassador for the Bundesliga Youth Ambassadors’ project in Kenya. She...

Erika speaks to Sophia about her experiences as an Olympian and IOC Young Leader, and how she founded Winds of Change - an initiative that aims to create the first bi-communal Cypriot sailing team that will sail around the divided island together. Sophia Papamichalopoulos is an Olympic alpine skier who competed at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, together with her brother. After graduating from t...

Erika speaks to Dr. Oscar about his experience inspiring the SDP movement in sub Saharan Africa at the turn of the century, the importance of education and knowledge sources, his positionality, and the need to decolonize SDP and higher education.  Dr. Oscar Mwaanga is an esteemed academic and activist with a long history of accomplishments in the fields of Higher Education, Sports Industry, and In...

Erika speaks to Nicole about democratizing philanthropy, gaming and esports, and how Women Win serves as a global multi-dimensional women’s fund guided by the vision of a future where every girl and woman exercises their rights. Nicole Matuska is the Global GRLS Director at Women Win, and has been working with Women Win in various capacities since 2011 in the U.S. and globally. Currently, Nicole h...

Erika speaks to Cathy about leadership, gender based violence in Papua New Guinea, and how sport can lead to multiple positive developmental outcomes in society.  Cathy Neap works for the National Rugby League (NRL) in Papua New Guinea managing the NRL-run, DFAT-funded League for Life sport for development program in PNG, and has worked for the program since 2014. Cathy has represented her country...

Erika speaks to Steve about building the sport for good organization Kick4Life, the potential of social enterprise as part of a balanced fund-raising approach, the importance of representation in the sports sector, and his book Radical Football.  Steve Fleming is co-founder of Kick4Life FC, a multi-award winning charity, social enterprise and football club based in Lesotho in Southern Africa. K4L...

Erika speaks to Sana about the relationship between sport and self-esteem for women in Pakistan, insights gained from a randomized data study at Right to Play, and how building community ownership may ensure program sustainability.  Sana Mahmud is a multi-sport athlete and sport-for-development expert, currently working as a Program Manager at Right To Play International in Pakistan. She is the fo...

Erika speaks to Samia about her experiences as a GIZ master facilitator building capacity of local leaders through sport on the topics of health, employability, and gender in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Central Asia.  Samia K. Khatib was a Peace and Sport Young Ambassador, holds a MSc in sport and exercise psychology from Loughborough University, and has used her background in psychology...

Erika speaks to Etsuko about the Sport for Development landscape in Japan, her experience working for UNOSDP in Switzerland, and the importance of bringing a business perspective into SDP programs. Etsuko Yamada earned a Master of Public Policy at Graduate School of Law, Tohoku University in Japan. From 2014-2016, she worked for the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP)...

Erika speaks to Dr. Rochelle about her experience entering SDP from a Nursing and Development Studies background, the missing literature in SDP from and for indigenous voices, whose voice counts as knowledge, and how we can indigenize the sector. Associate Professor Rochelle Stewart-Withers has tribal links to Ngāti Rāhiri Hapū o Te Ātiawa. Prior to academia she was a Registered Nurse for 16 years...

Erika speaks to Rahul about the importance of sustainable funding streams, social business, and enlisting leaders within the sector from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Rahul Bissoonauth is an experienced commercial director who has led strategy and fundraising projects for hundreds of diverse-led organizations and nonprofits across the UK and around the world. Clients have included the Laureus Sport...

Erika speaks to Suheil about creating the social enterprise Pro Sport Development, and how PSD has shifted mindsets in India through sport.   Suheil F. Tandon is the Director-Founder of Pro Sport Development (PSD), an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to utilizing sport for the holistic development of young people. Suheil specializes in the sport and development field, with particular expe...

Erika speaks to Joanne about how she has nourished professional relationships to open doors, what it was like to be on the front lines when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, and the role of professional athletes' voices to advocate for social justice. Joanne Pasternack is a philanthropic strategist who, over the past two decades, has galvanized community engagement with internationally recognized bran...

Erika speaks to Dr. Nico about becoming a SDP researcher when the sector was burgeoning, the importance of supporting students, benefits of co-design in programming, and the usefulness of events to achieve social development. Dr. Nico Schulenkorf is a Professor of Sport Management at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He is passionate about using sport as a vehicle for community devel...

Erika speaks to Dr. Lin about her experiences as a practitioner in Kenya, her global policy work, earning her Masters in Sustainable Peace through Sport in Monaco and her PhD in Preventing Violent Extremism Through Sport, and staying her authentic self whilst navigating these different spaces. Dr. Lin Cherurbai Sambili-Gicheha is the Project Manager, Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) within th...

Erika speaks to John Luke about the importance of MEL, migration and displaced populations, how sport has been used to traffic athletes, and reporting burdens in international aid. John Luke Chua hails from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and is currently a MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) practitioner in the counter-trafficking field. His academic background is in sport science and sociology....

Erika speaks to David about his experiences at the grassroots level in Africa and as a funder in Sweden, as well as what he views as the branding dilemma in the sector. David Given-Sjölander is a freelance consultant and strategic advisor specializing in social impact and in particular the intersection between sport and social change. Originally from Ireland, David has collected over 15 years’ exp...

Erika speaks to Lee about how his multi-cultural upbringing allows him to relate to diverse global communities, and why placing community voices at the center of Sport for Development is the key to sustainable impact. Lee Parker is a Sport for Development enthusiast with experience working with grassroots organizations globally to help build their capacity and impact, as well as working directly w...

Erika speaks to Dr. Sarah about her experiences building sport opportunities for women in Iran, the importance of clear and powerful verbal messages, and how the Center for Sport, Peace & Society aspires to change the world one high five at a time. Sarah Hillyer wants to live in a world filled with freedom of movement, innovative ideas, thoughtful people, and inspiring books, films, and creati...

Erika speaks to Gabriel about his experiences founding a Brazilian NGO that serves individuals with disabilities, how technology can be used to improve accessibility, and bridging South-North relationships in Sport for Development. Gabriel Mayr is a Brazilian Physical Education teacher who has worked in Sport for Development and Peace since the first year of university. Working with the Rio de Jan...

Erika speaks to Ivana about the role of basketball in her life, her Sports Diplomacy research, and why it is important to include youth at the decision making table. Ivana Pranjić is a former Austrian basketball champion who has experienced the power of sport at a very young age. Ivana is currently pursuing her PhD in Sports Diplomacy at the German Sport University Cologne, examining the topic of...

Erika speaks to Bruno about his experience moving from Mexico to the USA, and how Soccer Without Borders creates a sense of belonging for newcomers and refugees. Bruno Contreras came to Boston from Mexico City in 2016, arriving with beginner English skills and a wealth of experience building youth development programs for youth through soccer. Joining Soccer Without Borders right away, he quickly...

Erika speaks to Pharlone about athlete activism, healing-centered coaching, and the importance of specialization in Sport for Development. Pharlone Charity Toussaint has over 15 years of experience as an activist in using sports as a catalyst for social change. She has worked in community relations for several professional sports teams and in 2016 started her own consulting agency, working with at...

Erika speaks to Alessio about his experiences as a researcher in Sport for Development, and his PhD studies examining the role of football in the lives of refugees in Sicily. Alessio Norrito graduated in 2017 from the University of Westminster in International Business with Chinese, after spending one year in Shanghai as part of his studies. He then graduated from the University of Edinburgh in MS...