Inclusive leadership lessons from Sarina Wiegman

Sarina Wiegman arrived at the Lionesses’ training HQ in 2021 in a way that caught people off guard: direct, disciplined, Dutch. 

Fast‑talking sceptics whispered, “A Dutchwoman leading England?” Cue a 20–nil thrashing of Latvia, Euro 2022 glory at Wembley, and now Euro 2025, lifted on foreign soil. So much for migrants ‘coming over here and taking all of our jobs’. 

Dutch honesty meets cultural intelligence

Coming from the Netherlands - home of Dutch directness - Sarina exhibited a key trait of inclusive leadership: curiosity. She laid down clear expectations: no sugar‑coating, no hidden agendas. As forward, Alessia Russo put it, she’s “honest and up front … really respect[ed]”. These open conversations she fostered made a difference. 

She demonstrated what all leaders need to demonstrate today: cultural intelligence. She sensed England’s players thrived on clarity and fairness and delivered with unapologetic wit and compassion. That blend of blunt never-again mentality signposted a need to respect her, and built trust amongst her team. 

One-to-one: courage before performance

Sarina didn’t do blanket pep talks. She took the courageous step to visit players in their hometowns - sharing dinners and finding out who they were off the pitch. For office-based leaders that could be a version of ‘bringing your whole self to work’ - what Sarina wanted to know was who they were off the pitch. 

She held individual sit-downs in camp: “What’s working? What needs changing?” That kind of emotional groundwork paid dividends in the long term. Through one-to-one interactions she fostered the psychological safety needed to make a difference as an individual and collectively as a team. 

Trust, feedback & emotional safety

A big part of psychological safety is two-way feedback. Having a culture where feedback flows both ways challenges traditional hierarchy, but also fosters a more inclusive culture. “You don’t have to be rude to be direct … I ask the players and the staff, ‘You can be honest.’” Wiegman echoed it herself: “Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid of making mistakes … mistakes are part of your growth”.

That safety net helped create fearless performers. Keira Walsh and Michelle Agyemang spoke of “feeling loved” under her leadership - calm yet uncompromising on standards. That’s more important than ever, when leaders question whether inclusivity leads to performance. It 100% does when it’s done right - in a way where the business prioritises outcomes over optics. 

Crystal-clear roles: starting XI & beyond

At Euro 2022 she started the same XI in every match, which was a first. Everyone knew their job. Substitutes felt ownership. The squad mantra became: roles defined, execution trusted. Players like Alessia Russo and Ella Toone delivered - Toone even scored a final comeback goal seconds after stepping on. 

That consistency was key - having the right people, in the right seats, set the right rhythm and pattern for the whole team. In a world that is chasing short term gains and productivity, there’s a lot to be said for repetition and continuity. 

Cultural intelligence in action

Sarina’s Dutch directness brought clarity; her English warmth brought psychological safety. She celebrated mistakes as part of evolution. Wiegman herself said, “Inclusivity is not something that can be achieved simply by saying the right things. It requires meaningful actions” and the Lionesses saw that in action.

Inclusive leadership = continental glory

Inclusive leadership wins trophies. England backed up its 2022 success with a Euro 2025 victory on foreign soil, the first senior England side to do it abroad. ‘In Sarina We Trust’ wasn’t spin, it was performance.

Key inclusive leadership lessons

• Cultural intelligence is real: be honest, adapt to your team’s value system, even if it comes wrapped in bluntness 

• Prioritise personal connection: trust springs from real dialogue, not just drills

• Define roles clearly, then let players own execution

• Build emotional safety: mistakes are growth, not shame

• Lead by example: directness with humanity builds respect—and results

  
  

With a mix of Dutch pragmatism, English warmth, and unwavering standards, Wiegman transformed the Lionesses. She didn’t just coach - they all found their voices. Hats off to her for it.