GURO ASKHEIM JOHNSEN
"Take every opportunity you get. Don’t overthink whether it’s too early in your career or if you’re good enough. Use each opportunity to learn from those who have been there."
Meet Guro, a Norwegian living in Switzerland. After holding various executive positions in sports and the corporate world, she founded her first company, AG Johnsen AG, in 2007, followed by Johnsenskillz AG, which owns the platform SheSkillz Global.
GURO’S LEGACY
"I hope to have made a meaningful impact on former athletes through the Athlete's Career program. Additionally, I aim to contribute to closing the gender gap in sports through SkeSkillz Global, by fostering cooperation with various sports organisations."
WHO HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN YOUR SPORT JOURNEY?
“I’ve been fortunate to have mentors and role models who shaped my path in sports. My sports teacher, Tone Døvre, inspired my decision to study sports. Bjørge Stensbøl, my former manager at Olympiatoppen and the Norwegian Olympic Committee (NOC), was the best manager I could have hoped for. He constantly challenged me, assigning me one responsibility after another, which led to my role as a marketing manager. Gerhard Heiberg, a former IOC board member, was invaluable as a discussion partner when I negotiated the agreement between the Adecco group and the International Olympic Committee for the Athlete's Career Program. After stepping away from the sports world for some time, Kari Fasting brought me back by inviting me to contribute to Women Sport International and Safe Sport International.”
(From the left) Pedro Alejandro Yang Oly, Guro Askheim Johnson, Claudia Bokel, Susana Feitor Oly
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN SPORT
"The historical exclusion of certain groups has led to underrepresentation in leadership roles such as coaching, management, and governance. Sport provides significant visibility and power, with more power concentrated at higher levels of the organizational hierarchy. Understandably, few are willing to relinquish that power. To address this, partner with us at SheSkillz Global and actively 'walk the talk' by implementing gender equality and equity strategies."
“To make gender equality changes in all level of sport, you need female role models. We need to put more focus on female athletes and leaders.”
FOCUS ON BEING YOURSELF
"From my first day working in sport at the Norwegian Olympic Committee/ Olympiatoppen to my last, I never felt that being a man would have given me faster career opportunities. For me, the positive impact was that I only needed to focus on being myself, knowing that I was enough."
Dagmara Gerasimuk (left), Guro Askheim Johnsen (right)
SHESKILLZ GLOBAL
SheSkillz Global is an innovative platform dedicated to connecting skilled professionals with career opportunities. Our mission aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality. We recognise that diversity is a key driver of success, and by providing companies access to untapped female talent, we address workforce challenges while fostering inclusivity.
Our vision is simple yet transformative: A world where talent has no gender. To realise this vision, we offer resources to help women thrive in their careers, including mentoring programs, skill-building webinars, and relocation support.
While our primary mission is to empower women in the workplace, we warmly also welcome men to explore job opportunities on the platform. In professions where women/men are underrepresented, this effort is especially critical. The World Economic Forum estimates it will take more than 130 years to achieve global gender equality—an issue SheSkillz Global is committed to addressing. Women using our platform can trust that the companies posting jobs are genuinely committed to hiring female talent and fostering inclusive work environments.
Our platform unites a diverse global community of talents, mentors, companies, and entrepreneurs spanning over 40 countries. Through our mentoring network, professionals from various industries and cultural backgrounds share insights, foster growth, and create meaningful connections. Men are also encouraged to participate as mentors, contributing their expertise to help women advance their careers. This collaboration cultivates a rich exchange of knowledge and builds stronger, more inclusive networks.
SheSkillz Global is more than just a job platform—it’s where careers are built, ambitions are realised, and barriers are broken. We support professionals at every stage of their journey, whether thriving in their current role, seeking new opportunities, or pursuing personal growth.
Together, we are shaping a future where workplaces are defined by diversity, innovation, and equality. Join us and be part of the movement to create a world where work- and hiring processes are driven by talent, personality, experiences, in fact what you can bring “to the table”, not gender.
For more information, visit www.sheskillzglobal.com or contact us at info@sheskillzglobal.com.
