This module focuses on the development and implementation of modern HR strategies in professional sports organizations, including clubs, federations, and sports-related companies. The emphasis is on attracting, developing, and retaining qualified employees in a highly competitive, emotionally driven, and publicly visible work environment. Topics include structural characteristics of HR management in sports, recruitment and employer branding, employee development and retention, leadership culture and change management, HR operations and personnel controlling, as well as new work models in the sports context. Practical examples and benchmarks from sports organizations are also included.
- Analyze structures and specific characteristics of HR in sports organizations
- Apply strategies for recruitment and employer branding effectively
- Design measures for employee development, retention, and succession planning
- Shape leadership culture and change management approaches in sports organizations
- Apply HR operations, KPIs, and personnel controlling systematically
- Evaluate new work models in sports and integrate them into HR concepts
- Reflect on best practices from top organizations and transfer them to their own HR challenges
Hon. Prof. Dr. Michael Groß
Prof. Dr. Michael Groß is best known as an Olympic swimming champion. Today, he advises companies on change management and talent management, for example, through executive training programs. He maintains diverse ties to sports, not only through his consulting work but also through volunteer efforts, such as his former role as a board member of Deutsche Sporthilfe. Groß is an honorary professor at Goethe University, where he teaches courses on organization and leadership in the digital age. Furthermore, he is the author of several professional books, including “Digital Leader Gamebook” and “KI-Revolution der Arbeitswelt”.
Christine Thoma
Christine Thoma has been Director of People & Corporate Culture at Eintracht Frankfurt since September 2024. She has led the transformation of the function from an administrative support role into a strategic driver of performance and club development. Previously a Senior Project Leader in McKinsey & Company’s People & Organizational Practice, she combines expertise in strategic HR, organizational development, and culture. As a former Bundesliga player for Hamburger SV, she brings first-hand insight into elite football, inclusive leadership, and high-performance teams.