Steffi Jones

Steffi Jones is a World Cup winning footballer, three-time European Champion, and FIFA ambassador who translates elite sporting success into powerful leadership insight. With 111 international caps for Germany and landmark roles including President of the 2011 Women's World Cup Organising Committee and national team coach, she has shaped women's football both on and off the pitch. Now managing organisational development at 5Minds whilst working with FIFA on youth talent development, Jones equips audiences with practical tools for building resilient teams, leading with authenticity, and championing diversity and inclusion in traditionally male-dominated environments.

When Steffi Jones lifted the Women's World Cup in 2003, she did so with a ruptured cruciate ligament sustained earlier in the tournament, a testament to the resilience that has defined her career both on and off the pitch. Over 111 international caps for Germany, she secured three European Championships and two Olympic bronze medals, establishing herself as one of the most decorated players in German football history. Yet her influence extends far beyond the silverware. After retiring in 2007, Jones became President of the Organising Committee for the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany, a role that positioned her as a counterpart to Franz Beckenbauer and demonstrated her capacity to lead at the highest levels of the sport. Her subsequent appointment as Director of Women's and Girls' Football at the DFB, followed by her tenure as national team coach, cemented her status as a transformative figure in women's football.

Jones' career has been characterised by her willingness to challenge institutional failings, particularly around gender equity. Her public criticism of the DFB's approach to women's football sparked necessary conversations that few others dared to initiate, and her decision to step away from the organisation reflected her commitment to principles over convenience. This courage stems from lived experience. Growing up in Frankfurt's Bonames district as the daughter of a German mother and an American soldier, Jones faced racial discrimination from an early age whilst navigating family hardship. She channelled that adversity into football, discovering early that she could outplay the boys and forging a path in a male-dominated domain. Her advocacy for integration and tolerance earned her the Hessian Order of Merit in 2006, recognition of her sustained voluntary work promoting diversity. Today, Jones manages organisational development at the IT services company 5Minds and oversees a FIFA project focused on nurturing young talent, combining her passion for the sport with her expertise in building effective teams and systems.

In her speaking work, Jones translates elite sporting experience into actionable insight for organisations navigating leadership, resilience, and cultural change. She draws direct parallels between the discipline required for competitive success and the qualities necessary for thriving in complex business environments, addressing themes including teamwork, authentic leadership, and recovering from setbacks. Her focus on diversity, integration, and women in leadership resonates particularly with audiences seeking to challenge outdated structures and create inclusive cultures. Jones equips leaders with practical strategies for building high-performing teams, fostering self-confidence, and championing values such as respect and fair play. Audiences leave her sessions with tangible tools for leading with integrity in environments where change is both necessary and difficult, inspired by someone who has consistently chosen principle over popularity and demonstrated that forging your own path, even in resistant spaces, creates lasting impact.