MIES (Switzerland) - Having been launched earlier this year at the FIBA Mid-Term Congress, the FIBA NXT – Leaders Program, delivered through the FIBA Academy, is underway and showcasing FIBA’s commitment to empowering the global basketball community through world-class learning opportunities and personal development experiences. The initiative has been created to support current and emerging strategic leaders and executives of National Federations, Leagues, and Clubs, as well as former players, to help with their respective career transitions.
The FIBA Academy aims to use the initiative to boost professional leadership, nurture and develop talent, as well as supporting those on the Program across a range of essential sport management areas.
This forms part of FIBA's strategic priority to Empower National Federations, with the first goal focused on boosting professional leadership.
Designed in an accessible format to attract and engage a worldwide audience, the FIBA NXT – Leaders Program is combining online sessions with unique face-to-face events held in a number of iconic world hubs. The program has commenced online, with FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis on hand to both welcome and congratulate those taking part.
"The Leaders Program is at the heart of the FIBA Academy and forms part of our strategic objective to Empower National Federations," FIBA Secretary General said.
The future of basketball depends on great players, coaches and officials on the court, as well as great leaders off the court.
"Following the endorsement of the FIBA Mid-Term Congress, we are committed to investing in improving the skills of current and future leaders of our sport with the Leaders Program. And we do so alongside our World Cup hosts in Qatar, which we thank for their support of a worldwide initiative bringing the global community closer together," Zagklis concluded.
Throughout the nine-month course, which incorporates approximately 115 hours of learning time, participants will benefit from the insights of both FIBA and external experts. The 25 participants are also set to attend the first in-person session next month in Doha, with the Qatar Basketball Federation showing outstanding levels of support for the Leaders Program. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 hosts are providing premium venues to ensure the best possible experience for delegates, with activities set to take place at the Qatar Basketball Federation Headquarters, at both the Lusail Sports Arena and the Al Janoub Arena, and at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. The second and third in-person events will take place during March 2026 in Miami, USA and then during August 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Leaders Program offers rich and diverse content designed to develop basketball leadership expertise. Its curriculum spans the evolution of basketball leagues, FIBA national team competitions, European and North American sport models, 3x3 basketball and emerging areas like eFIBA.
Participants will also explore FIBA's structure and global strategy, the work of the FIBA Foundation, and key aspects of event hosting, digital marketing, and the fan experience journey. Additional modules cover ticketing strategy, sponsorship, media rights and streaming, marketing plan creation, strategic planning, corporate operations, stakeholder management, governance models, sustainability in basketball, and the role of artificial intelligence in the sport.
FIBA