"You need to be seen": Sandra Spitz on trust, teamwork and making leadership visible

Sandra Spitz does not always see herself as a leader, "but people tell me I am one," she says with a smile. It is a typically modest assessment from someone who has spent more than 20 years at FIS, rising from media coordination in Cross-Country to her current role as Sport and Event Director, while also becoming one of the first women appointed as a FIS Ski Jumping judge along the way.

A graduate of the FIS Women Lead Sports program, her leadership style is built on trust, patience and a willingness to let people learn by doing. "My strengths are encouraging communication between people, trusting them with their work and giving them opportunities," she tells Inside FIS in a conversation where she reflects on the benefits of a varied career path, the importance of teamwork, and the growing presence of women across FIS in governance and technical roles.

Inside FIS: You've been at FIS for two decades and seen snow sports from many different perspectives. What were the key skills that took you from having opportunities to taking them, and to eventually becoming a leader across different areas?

Sandra Spitz (SS): It’s helped that I’ve been lucky enough to see FIS from many different angles, both professionally and privately. I qualified as a FIS Ski Jumping judge and as a Technical Delegate in Cross-Country and Nordic Combined, and on the business side [of snow sports] I’ve held a number of different roles, which have all turned out to be really helpful for me to learn and grow. I’m very thankful for the journey I’ve been on with FIS!

And it's interesting, because I don't always see myself as a leader, but people tell me I am one. I see myself as part of a big team and my strengths are encouraging communication between people, trusting them with their work and giving them opportunities. There may be someone who’s further ahead and someone still in the middle, but without everyone on board and without the right environment, we won't make it. We all grow together.

Inside FIS: You mention trusting people and fellow FIS Women Lead Sports graduate Gro Eide also spoke about the importance of giving people the freedom to make mistakes. Is that something you've seen during your own journey?

SS: Yes, of course. Nobody’s perfect, every one of us makes mistakes - whether they’re big or small - every single day! I always say that if you don't do anything, you won't make mistakes, but you also won't get any results.

I think it's important we let people learn by doing, while also being there to support them if needed. And of course you should listen to advice, but I think every one of us has had an experience where someone tells you a path isn't right, and you still need to try it for yourself.

Inside FIS: We've now interviewed several people from the WLS program, and many graduates - including FIS colleagues Madeline Nappey and Bell Berghuis - have said it’s important to see women in technical and leadership positions, that it's hard to aspire to something you can't see. Were there women you looked up to in the early days of your career?

SS: Well, when I started over 20 years ago, I was quite unique. I was in a very different role, in a man's world, but I have to say they treated me very well - I was well taken care of and given the chance to grow.

Since then, year after year more women have come into snow sports via different routes, and I think there's a huge opportunity for women contribute to a better system. The Women Lead Sports program has a part to play in that and it was great to belong to a fun group of women from all different backgrounds, all working together and enjoying the seminars.

Inside FIS: You mentioned going from a male-dominated environment to seeing far more women join FIS in positions of responsibility. Do you feel there's been progress, and where would you like to see more?

SS: There's been significant progress, but it's also taken a long time. When you look at the new FIS Council, I think there are nine women, and it wasn't that long ago we had no women, or only one woman, on the Council. That's a huge step forward, having so many capable women, who hold leadership roles in their National Ski Associations, now represented in our governing body.

We've also done a lot of work on the technical side, with several disciplines seeing a tremendous increase in women in technical roles - especially Technical Delegates and judges. In 2003 I was one of the first women to be a FIS Ski Jumping judge, but now there are a lot and that growth is great to see. What I would like to see is more women on FIS Committees as that number has dipped a little, which isn't the direction we want to go.

Inside FIS: As Sport and Event Director, your role spans a wide number of events, disciplines and stakeholders. How do you manage to juggle everything?

SS: I have a good team behind me who support me a lot. There are a wide range of responsibilities, but I’ve had time to learn it. It’s not like I was thrown in at the deep end and told “this is your job, get on with it!”

I’ve had real time to build on all the experience I’ve gained since I started, all the way through to getting this role. It was a slow-burning journey of learning and experience that is part of the job I do now, and I think that's actually a very safe way to grow.

Inside FIS: One final question, as we know how busy you are! When you're talking to colleagues, men and women, who you think have leadership potential, how do you encourage them to go after more responsibility?

SS: Well, I believe we should let people be themselves. If someone doesn't feel comfortable or doesn't want to take the step into leadership, we need to respect that - we shouldn't push them. For me, motivation is about trying to bring people with me, giving them a platform and then taking a step back, so I can support them if things don't go well while still letting them do it on their own and be seen.

That's something I've learned, and I'm not always good at it myself, but you need to be seen. You can be a master at everything, you can deliver perfectly, but if you’re not at the office, you’re not at events, you can get overlooked. You need to make yourself visible.