Editor’s note: Roswitha Stadlober – President Ski Austria & Vice President NOC Austria
Stadlober, under her maiden name Steiner, was one of the world’s best slalom skiers in the 1980s. 1986, she won the Slalom World Cup, at the 1987 World Championships in Crans-Montana, she won the silver medal in the slalom. 1986 she was voted Austria’s Sportswoman of the Year. October 2021, she was appointed President of the Austrian Ski Federation (Ski Austria), the first woman to hold this position. March 2025 she was appointed Vice President of the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC)
Your journey into sports industry: What inspired you to pursue a career in sports industry, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced along the way?
Sport has dominated my life so far. As a ski racer, I was a successful athlete in the 1980s, winning 8 World Cups and the slalom discipline ranking twice. My husband was world champion and vice world champion in cross-country skiing. Our son was also a cross-country skier and our daughter is Austria’s most successful cross-country skier, she will be taking part in her fourth Olympic Games next year. All four family members have competed in the Olympic Games.
Professionally, I was concerned with the compatibility of sport, education and professional integration and was therefore also very close to sport and the athletes. It made sense for me to stand up for the needs of athletes. My first step into the official track was my role as Vice President of the Austrian Ski Association, which then led to the role of President in 2021. It was challenging to have my work recognized and, above all, to be taken seriously as a woman.
Your current role and impact: As a leader in the sports industry, what are the most rewarding aspects of your work, and how do you see your role contributing to the development of women in sports?
My passion is to create the best possible conditions for the association and its athletes. When this is rewarded with the sporting successes of our athletes, then the joy is immense. As president, I am the face of the association and that is an achievement after 116 years as a male president, so I definitely see myself as a role model.
Work environment and leadership: How would you describe the culture and dynamics in your professional environment? Have you seen positive changes regarding gender diversity and inclusion in the industry?
The presidency is an honorary position and I am only sporadically involved in day-to-day operations. Taking on the role of a woman has certainly brought about a cultural change. Primarily in terms of communication and the way we look at things. For example, we carried out a brand launch that really took off two years later and has become indispensable. The discussion at the presentation and beyond was very exciting and showed once again how strong the Ski Austria brand is.
The positive change is also having an impact on gender diversity and inclusion. For example, this year for the first time at the Nordic World Championships in Trondheim there was a cross-country race and normal distance races for men and women on the same day in the same stadium.
Balancing professional and personal life: Managing a high-profile career in sports can be demanding. How do you balance your professional responsibilities with your personal life and well-being?
As we are very much rooted in sport as a family and there is a mutual understanding, my job is characterized by passion and joy and is therefore not a burden. It is important to me that I keep physically fit. I like to go running, cycling, do fitness training, find balance in gardening and in winter I enjoy cross-country, alpine and touring skiing.
Personal motivation and advice: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis, and what advice would you give to young women who aspire to leadership roles in the sports industry?
There should be interest. Opportunities that arise along the way should be accepted, because there are usually no second chances, even if the moment may not seem right. There is no such thing as the perfect moment anyway.
