Girls who play sports are 50% more likely to become workplace leaders, E.l.f. Beauty finds

New research from E.l.f. Beauty and women’s sports consultancy Parity has found that women who played sport during their youth are more likely to hold leadership roles, aspire to senior positions and negotiate their salaries.

The new research explores the relationship between girls’ sports participation and women’s careers, based on responses from more than 9,500 people across the US, Canada, Germany and the UK.

The study found that women who played sport for at least three years before finishing high or secondary school were nearly 50% more likely to hold leadership roles at work than women who played less or no sport.

Among those classed as “Everyday Athletes”, 37% were more likely to aspire to senior leadership and nearly 25% more likely to have negotiated their salary. Nearly 90% of those who had been promoted also said a skill they learned through sport had helped them progress professionally.

The research also found that 69% of Everyday Athletes who had worked for at least five years said the lessons they learned through sport were more important than ever in today’s workplace.

The study surveyed 328 professional women athletes and 114 men and women board members. Some 98% of professional athletes said sport had helped prepare them for life beyond their playing career, while 85% of board members said lessons learned through sport were important for future board members.

Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer at E.l.f. Brands, said the research “puts numbers behind what we’ve always believed”, adding that investing in women’s sport can help shape “a brighter future for the next generation of changemakers”.

Participation among younger generations is also increasing, with 70% of Gen Z women who started playing sports continuing through the end of high or secondary school, compared with 62% of Baby Boomers. However, girls in all four countries still participate in sport at lower rates than boys.

Parity CEO Leela Srinivasan said the benefits were “linked to participation itself”, rather than becoming an elite or professional athlete.

The research follows E.l.f. Beauty’s recent focus on supporting women’s confidence and opportunities. In July, El.f. Cosmetics partnered with RED Driver Training to give away thousands of UK driving lessons through its “Grip, Set, Go” campaign.

The data is based on surveys conducted between June and August 2026, alongside 21 qualitative interviews. The organisations note that the findings demonstrate correlation rather than definitive causation.