Eliany Escalante, Chiara Bacigalupo, Lorena Cuevas, and Sandra Mulendema have been selected to receive academic scholarships awarded by Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit, an initiative designed to support the development and leadership of women professionals in the football industry.
Following a competitive selection process, four outstanding professionals have been chosen to enroll in different academic programs at Johan Cruyff Institute. Through this initiative, the scholarship recipients will continue advancing their careers while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact on the sports industry.
These are this year’s recipients of the Johan Cruyff Institute and WFS scholarships:
Eliany Escalante Luis
With more than eight years of experience in sports marketing, Eliany has worked with organizations including the Venezuelan Football Federation and CONMEBOL. She currently specializes in sponsorship management and brand activation within the sports industry. Reflecting on the scholarship, she described it as a defining moment in her professional journey:
“Receiving this scholarship from Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit is both an honor and a turning point in my professional career. Reaching this milestone thanks to the experience I have gained in the Venezuelan sports industry is deeply meaningful to me.”
Eliany Escalante Luis has been awarded a 50% scholarship to enroll in the Master in Sport Business Online.
Chiara Bacigalupo
Chiara Bacigalupo began her career on the pitch as a player for Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers. She later transitioned into the professional side of the game at Unión Española S.A.D.P., where she served as Head of Commercial & Marketing. She currently specializes in the management of major sporting events.
In her message of appreciation, she highlighted how this opportunity will help her continue growing professionally: “Receiving this scholarship is a tremendous boost that will allow me to continue developing professionally in the sports industry and contribute practical tools to projects that strengthen our football. Thank you to World Football Summit and Johan Cruyff Institute for believing big.”
Chiara Bacigalupo has been awarded a 60% scholarship to enroll in the Master in Football Business Online.
Lorena Cuevas
With a background in communication and advertising, Lorena Cuevas currently works as a Global Account Manager at Havas Media Group, collaborating with international brands such as Puma.
In her message, she described the scholarship as an opportunity to continue learning while contributing to the future of sport: “Receiving this scholarship is a wonderful surprise. It is a powerful source of motivation that encourages my curiosity and allows me to continue growing both personally and professionally. Learning from leading experts is incredibly valuable, and I hope this experience will enable me to transform that knowledge into meaningful development and lasting impact for sport, and football in particular.”
Lorena Cuevas has been awarded a 50% scholarship to enroll in the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona.
Sandra Mulendema
Sandra Mulendema is the first woman in Zambia to be registered as a FIFA football agent, paving the way for more women to pursue careers in this field. She is also a lawyer and is actively involved in event organization and fundraising initiatives.
In her words of appreciation, she said: “Winning this scholarship is truly life-changing. It is a major step toward my vision of becoming a leader in sport-driven economic growth across Africa. I am incredibly grateful to Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit for this amazing opportunity.”
Sandra Mulendema has been awarded a 60% scholarship to enroll in the Master in Football Business Online.
In addition to the scholarships awarded to the four recipients, finalists in the program will receive a 30% tuition discount on any academic program offered by Johan Cruyff Institute, while all other applicants will receive a 20% tuition discount. Through this initiative, Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit reaffirm their shared commitment to fostering female talent and leadership across the sports industry.
