Recorded at The All England Lawn Tennis Club on the eve of the 2024 Championships, Sally Bolton discusses life as Wimbledon's CEO.
In a wide-ranging conversation on Leaders in Focus, in partnership with IMG, she reflects on the varying leadership styles required to manage a two-week Grand Slam, a thriving year-round club and relations with a host of partners and global tennis stakeholders.
She also assesses the overall health of sport in the UK, 12 years on from London 2012 and after her experiences running the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the 2017 World Athletics Championships.
Bolton pinpoints Wimbledon's role in discussions over the future direction of professional tennis, as the four Grand Slams are working more collaboratively; shares how she motivates and challenges her team; outlines the pursuit of perfection and the art of making that look effortless; and shares some of the leadership traits - resilience, transparency - that are essential in one of world sport's most prestigious jobs.
0:00 - Introduction
1:58 - Sally's role and priorities as CEO
4:42 - Leading the team and managing the business in the run-up to the Championships
6:34 - Tradition vs modernity at Wimbledon
9:50 - Biggest challenges so far as CEO
11:33 - Building resilience during Covid
13:58 - Wimbledon’s role in the wider tennis ecosystem
15:51 - The current state of global tennis
14:43 - How to approach difficult conversations with stakeholders
17:38 - Sally’s career before Wimbledon
20:16 - The legacy of the London 2012 Olympics
22:22 - Sally’s approach to leadership and where to take inspiration
23:54 - Communication strategy to staff during the Championships
26:00 - Brand identity of Wimbledon
27:47 - Building the Wimbledon brand internationally
30:26 - Advice for her younger self
32:15 - Biggest longtime challenges for successors
34:45 - Monday after the Championships