For three years, Grainli® has been supporting former professional female athletes in their transition after an active sports career by providing scholarships at HPSI. One of them is Dilar Kisikyol – undefeated WIBF World Champion and International German Champion. Today, she is committed to promoting equal opportunities as a social educator and applies the values of sport in her daily work.
During one of the HPSI modules, we had the opportunity to speak with Dilar about her career path, her motivation, and her work. You can read the short interview below.
How does your professional sports career help you make a valuable contribution to educational work today?
Boxing has shaped me as a person and taught me important values that I can now pass on to children and young people through my work. Respect and perseverance play a central role in this. I am deeply grateful to the sport for that.
Which skills from your career are particularly helpful to you today?
Above all, resilience and discipline. Competitive sports taught me how to cope with setbacks, never give up, and consistently work toward my goals. These experiences help me today in my work with young people, in social projects, and in collaborating with leaders and executives.
I want to convey that talent alone is not enough – what truly matters are passion, persistence, and the determination to follow your own path.
Why did you decide to pursue the HPSI certificate?
At the end of a professional sports career, one question inevitably arises: What comes next? The HPSI certificate gives me the opportunity to develop new perspectives, expand my network, and continue growing both personally and professionally.
What I value most are the encounters with inspiring people, as well as the practical methods and tools that I can apply in my future responsibilities as a leader.
What are your key takeaways from the current HPSI module, “Values and Personality”?
The topic of values and personality is particularly close to my heart. The module once again made me realize how important the human aspect of leadership is. Of course, companies want to be successful, but sustainable success is achieved above all when people share a passion for a common purpose.
Humanity, appreciation, and attentiveness toward one another are especially important. To me, good leadership means taking people along on the journey and growing together as a team.
Why should more companies invest in scholarships and development programs for female leaders?
Programs like these create opportunities and enable women to grow, develop new competencies, and build valuable networks. Especially after an active sports career, many female athletes face the question of what comes next professionally.
At the same time, I often observe that women tend to doubt themselves more than men do. Support through scholarships and professional development programs can help build confidence and encourage women to pursue new paths.
Not only do the participants benefit, but companies do as well. They gain highly committed individuals who bring the values of elite sports and can transfer their experiences into new contexts. To me, this is a true win-win situation.
What advice would you give to young female leaders?
Be brave enough to be visible and to follow your own path. Don’t let anyone discourage you or make you feel small. Stay authentic, believe in your abilities, and seek out opportunities that you are truly passionate about.
Those who act with passion and conviction can make a real difference.
“Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Grainli® for its support. This opportunity is anything but a given. The scholarship and the experiences that come with it mean a great deal to me, and I am extremely grateful for them.” Dilar Kisikyol
