The CMAE is delighted to announce that executive coach and leadership expert Sarah Brennand will deliver a Keynote at this year’s European conference, presenting “Modern Leadership: Mastering the Balancing Act.”
Taking place from 25–28 October 2026 in St Andrews, Scotland, The European Conference on Club Management brings together general managers, club executives, and industry leaders from across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond for one of the most influential gatherings in the global club management calendar.
Leadership within today’s club environment is increasingly complex. Managers are expected to deliver strong commercial performance, maintain exceptional member experiences, lead teams, and oversee operations — often while navigating significant demands on their own time and capacity.
Brennand’s keynote introduces a leadership approach grounded in the framework presented in her book Balancing Act: Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing: The Calibration Model. The model explores how leadership effectiveness is shaped by the interaction between Money–Mission, Mental–Physical Health, and Work–Life balance.
When these areas fall out of alignment, leaders often experience increased pressure and a loss of focus. When calibrated effectively, leaders operate with greater clarity, energy, and direction.
Drawing on two decades of experience working with senior leaders across demanding sectors, alongside insights from performance psychology and real-world leadership environments, delegates will leave with a practical framework for navigating the realities of modern club leadership. More importantly, the session challenges leaders to think differently about how performance, energy, and direction are managed — ensuring success is shaped with intention rather than left to chance.
Sarah Brennand is an executive coach, international keynote speaker, and strategic educator. She is the author of Balancing Act: Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing and creator of the Calibration Model, a leadership framework designed to help professionals sustain performance while maintaining clarity, resilience, and wellbeing.
As Founder of L7 Executive Coaching and Co-Founder of Illuminare Executive Education, Brennand advises senior professionals, executive teams, and organisations navigating growth, pressure, and change. Her work integrates Emotional Intelligence, Skilled Communication, and The Resilience Advantage within the Balancing Act Calibration Model, now used by clients worldwide.
Torbjörn Johansson, CEO of Club Management Association of Europe, said:
“Modern club leaders operate in increasingly complex environments where expectations are high and pressures are constant. Sarah’s work speaks directly to the realities our members face — balancing performance demands with personal leadership sustainability. Her Keynote will set a powerful and practical tone for the conference, equipping leaders with tools to perform at their best while maintaining clarity and resilience.”
Registration for the conference is now open, with limited Early Bird places available for the first 100 delegates. For more information and bookings see https://cvent.me/3xvB4Z
