Indonesian rowing coach Dewi Yuliawati has completed the residential week of the Women in Sport High-Performance Pathway (WISH) Cohort 7, an important milestone in a 21-month leadership and mentoring programme designed to strengthen the pathway for women coaches towards the highest levels of sport.
The five-day residential programme took place in the United Kingdom from 31 August to 5 September 2026. It brought together women coaches from different sports and countries to learn, exchange experiences and reflect on how they lead within high-performance environments. Sessions explored leadership, communication, confidence, empowering others, reflective practice, professional networks, courageous conversations, and the development of goals and action plans.
Delivered by the University of Hertfordshire and supported by Olympic Solidarity, WISH combines self-assessment and 360-degree feedback with residential learning, online leadership sessions, leadership mentoring and sport-specific mentoring. The programme develops leadership competencies, confidence and sport-specific capability so that women coaches are better equipped to progress towards major events such as World Championships and the Olympic Games.
Learning from an international coaching community
For Dewi, the opportunity to learn alongside coaches from different countries was one of the strongest features of the residential week. The experience reinforced that effective coaching is shaped not only by technical expertise, but also by relationships, trust and the ability to support athletes as people.
“The most valuable experience for me was meeting and learning from coaches from different countries. I learned that every coach has different experiences and ways of leading, but we share the same goal: supporting our athletes to become better. I also learned a lot about leadership, especially about communication, building trust, and empowering athletes. The experience made me realize that being a good coach is not only about technical knowledge, but also about understanding and supporting people. It was valuable for me because it gave me new perspectives and made me more confident in my role as a coach.”
Creating pathways and visible role models
Dewi’s participation demonstrates the importance of continuing to create opportunities for coaches from countries and rowing communities that may have less regular access to international high-performance development. Broad geographical representation helps ensure that knowledge, networks and leadership opportunities are not concentrated only in the largest or best-resourced rowing nations.
It also helps strong role models remain visible and active within their own communities. When coaches such as Dewi develop their skills internationally and share their learning at home, their progress can influence athletes, other coaches and the wider development of rowing. This local impact supports the global growth of the sport and creates a clearer pathway for more women to see coaching and leadership at the highest level as achievable.
A shared commitment to women in high-performance coaching
Opportunities of this kind are possible through sustained collaboration. World Rowing acknowledges the Indonesian Rowing Federation, the NOC and the wider rowing community for supporting Dewi’s development and enabling her to represent her country through the programme. World Rowing also recognises the Asian Rowing Federation for its continental backing and continued commitment to developing rowing across the region.
Olympic Solidarity is gratefully acknowledged for providing the WISH scholarship, while World Rowing’s consistent investment in women in high-performance coaching supports the residential, mentoring and sport-specific elements of the pathway. Together, these contributions give coaches such as Dewi the opportunity to strengthen their skills, expand their networks and become visible leaders who can create lasting impact within rowing.
World Rowing congratulates Dewi on completing the Cohort 7 residential week and looks forward to supporting the next stages of her journey and the contribution she will continue to make to rowing in Indonesia and internationally.
PHOTO CREDITS: WISH OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER; WISH PARTICIPANTS AND FACILITATORS
