Behind the Her Turn programme are women who believe deeply in the power of leadership, community, and sport to create lasting change. Meet the three project coordinators shaping the programme from different angles.
Auguste Taruskaite is a Project Development Coordinator at Out of the Box International. With a background in European projects and programme development, she is the coordinator from partner organisation Out of the Box International.
Triin Adamson leads the sports programme at the President Kaljulaid Foundation. With a background in communications and a long-standing personal connection to sport, she is responsible for developing and coordinating the Her Turn programme.
Khris-Marii Pruunsild is an Organisational Development Consultant and Psychologist at Miltton, working with leaders and teams across the public and private sectors. In Her Turn, she is the coordinator from partner organisation Miltton.
What motivated you to become involved in the Her Turn programme?
Triin:
Sport has always been part of my life in one way or another. While the sports themselves have changed over the years, being active has always stayed with me. When we began thinking about what the President Kaljulaid Foundation could focus on, sport felt like an obvious and natural choice. Luckily our leaders in the Foundation are also very keen on sports and active lifestyle.
At the same time, female leadership is something I care about on a very practical level. Like many women, I’ve encountered stereotypes — especially as someone who is ambitious, young, and outspoken. Combining sport and leadership in one programme simply made sense to me.
Khris:
Through Her Turn, I can amplify the leadership development work we do at Miltton every day. Bringing psychological science into organisations improves people’s quality of life — for leaders and their teams — which is deeply important to me.
As a woman, I also find it meaningful that Her Turn focuses on empowering women and building confidence and professional networks. A fun connection for me is that I’ve taught psychological skills training in sport at the University of Tartu, so this programme brings several parts of my professional life together.
Auguste:
Having worked on several initiatives related to empowerment, participation, and sport, Her Turn combines all of these elements in a way that feels very coherent. I strongly believe in the programme’s objectives and its potential to support future female leaders in sport.
On a personal level, I hope Her Turn creates space for women to step into roles that once felt difficult or out of reach — something I experienced myself earlier in my career.
From your perspective, what is the biggest challenge women currently face in sports leadership?
Triin:
The challenge is still the numbers. Sports leadership remains male-dominated, which shapes organisational culture and who gets encouraged or recognised. Across Europe, women still hold only a small share of leadership roles in sport.
The issue isn’t capability — it’s access and opportunity. When women are given real chances to lead, they perform just as well as anyone else.
Khris:
Because leadership roles are mostly held by men, women have fewer female role models. As a result, leadership behaviours may feel unfamiliar or even “wrong” for women. In some cases, women are perceived as arrogant simply for not conforming to traditional expectations.
This discomfort needs to be addressed both internally — by women themselves — and externally, within organisations and communities.
Auguste:
There isn’t a single challenge, but rather a combination of visible and underlying issues rooted in a historically male-dominated sector. Women often feel they must perform significantly better than their male counterparts while facing limited support or community. This can lead to discouragement, added pressure, and overcompensation.
What kind of change do you hope participants will experience by the end of the programme?
Triin:
I hope participants leave feeling inspired and supported, with strong connections to other women working in sport across Europe. Peer learning and shared experiences can be incredibly powerful.
I also hope they gain clarity, confidence, and the courage to take their next leadership step.
Khris:
I hope participants gain courage, fresh energy, new ideas, and meaningful connections that last beyond the programme. Often, it’s these relationships and shared stories that become catalysts for real change.
Auguste:
My hope is that participants leave with both strengthened capacities and a strong sense of community — a foundation for a wider, more active network of support.
Was there a moment in your own career where support, mentorship or training made a real difference for you?
Triin:
A few years ago, I was at a career crossroads and unsure about my next step. Speaking with someone outside my usual professional environment helped me reflect more honestly. Those conversations weren’t always comfortable, but they were incredibly useful.
Khris:
I regularly seek advice from people with similar experiences or longer professional paths. I’ve also experienced leadership that felt like true mentoring — especially when someone helped me recognise strengths I hadn’t yet seen in myself.
Auguste:
Many of my career decisions have been shaped by support and mentorship, particularly during moments of self-doubt.
What would you say to a woman who is considering applying but is unsure whether she is “ready”?
Triin:
There’s rarely a perfect moment to feel fully ready. Growth often begins before certainty does. If the programme resonates with you, that’s worth listening to.
Khris:
You don’t need to be ready — the programme can be where readiness develops. Many participants discover possibilities they hadn’t even imagined before.
Auguste:
Stepping out of your comfort zone is often the key to growth. Doubt and hesitation are normal — and shared by many, even if it’s not always visible.