SHERIDAN, WYOMING - April 14, 2026 - FIBO, the international fitness, wellness, and health trade fair running from 16 to 19 April 2026 in Cologne, Germany, is hosting the Women's Leadership Summit on Friday, 17 April, as a dedicated full-day programme for women shaping leadership roles across the fitness, health, and wellness sectors. Developed in partnership with The Collective, the summit combines structured professional development, keynote programming, workshop sessions, and senior-level networking, with the aim of strengthening visibility and career advancement for women in the industry. The event also incorporates the fourth edition of the RX Female Award, which recognises outstanding contributions by women across the sector.
A Structured Day Designed to Move from Inspiration to Professional Outcome
The summit opens with a guided networking walk through Cologne, led by executive coach Martina Catherine Buchal, providing participants with a structured opportunity to build connections ahead of the main programme. A guided tour through the FIBO exhibition halls follows, giving attendees direct access to exhibitors relevant to their professional focus areas.
The morning session includes a workshop by Pinky Ghadiali, executive coach and mediator, addressing the challenge of converting self-doubt into decisive leadership behaviour. The session, titled "Imposter to Impact: Mastering Difficult Conversations," is positioned as a practical tool for senior professionals navigating high-stakes communication in leadership contexts. Speed networking and informal interaction points are built into the programme structure throughout the day, including morning walk conversations and wrap-up drinks in the afternoon.
RX Female Award and Ladies Lunch Anchor the Midday Programme
The FIBO Ladies Lunch, an established feature of the event, anchors the midday session and serves as the formal setting for the RX Female Award ceremony. Now in its fourth edition, the award recognises exceptional women in two categories - Youngster and Role Model - reflecting contributions at different career stages. This year's award patron is entrepreneur and investor Judith Williams.
The lunch programme includes a panel discussion between Judith Williams and entrepreneur Karo Kauer, addressing the evolving definition of female leadership in the fitness and wellness industry. The session is positioned to deliver direct strategic relevance for attendees in senior management and ownership roles who are shaping their organisations' talent and leadership cultures.
Afternoon Keynotes Address Investment Decisions, AI Application, and Leadership Wellbeing
The afternoon keynote programme brings three distinct professional perspectives to the summit audience. Judith Williams, widely recognised from the German investment television programme "Die Höhle der Löwen," presents on the decision-making frameworks that drive high-level investment outcomes, offering direct insight for industry professionals operating at the intersection of business development and capital allocation.
Karl Foster, Head of AI at Sport Alliance, addresses the practical application of artificial intelligence in the health and fitness industry, focusing on how operators can achieve measurable return on investment from AI deployment rather than exploratory or experimental adoption. The session is aimed at leaders evaluating how emerging technologies should be integrated into their operational and commercial strategies.
Anna Mathur, psychotherapist, author, and podcast host of The Therapy Edit, completes the keynote sequence with a session on the relationship between work pace, recovery, and sustainable leadership performance. The focus on deliberate deceleration and boundary management is framed specifically for leaders managing high-demand roles in fast-moving sectors.
Evening Programme Extends Networking into the FIBO Exhibitor Night
Summit participants are invited as VIP guests to the FIBO Exhibitor Night, which provides a continuation of the day's networking in an environment outside the exhibition halls. The format is designed to allow more informal relationship development among the senior professional cohort attending the summit, extending the business value of the day beyond its structured programming.
Industry Partnership with The Collective Shapes the Event's Professional Positioning
The summit is a co-production between FIBO and The Collective, a community platform focused on women in the fitness industry. The partnership reflects a broader organisational commitment by FIBO to increase the institutional weight given to gender equity and female leadership development within the sector's flagship annual event. The Collective's co-founder Jennifer Halsall has indicated that the summit is intended as the start of a longer-term effort to drive structural progress for women in senior positions across the fitness and wellness industry.
FIBO 2026 takes place from 16 to 19 April in Cologne, Germany, and is supported by industry organisations and media partners active across the fitness, wellness, and hospitality sectors.
For programme details and registration information for the Women's Leadership Summit and FIBO 2026, visit www.fibo.com.