Michael Robichaud, Senior Vice-President for Global Sponsorships at Mastercard, has been handed the SIGA Special Recognition Award, the highest honour conferred for relevant services rendered in the field of Sport Integrity.
The ceremony took place during day 1 of the #SIGAWomen Summit on Female Leadership, organised by SIGA and hosted by Mastercard in Manhattan, New York City. With more than 50 attendees at the Mastercard Technology Hub, and hundreds following the event through live streaming, Michael Robichaud received the commemorative plaque from the hands of SIGA’s Global CEO, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros.
Michael Robichaud joins José Manuel Constantino, President of the Portuguese National Olympic Committee, as two personalities whose contribution to Sport Integrity made a difference.
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Emphasising that the attribution of this Special Recognition Award was approved by unanimity and acclamation by both the SIGA Council and the coalition’s supreme organ, the General Assembly, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros signaled the fact that Michael Robichaud committed to Sport Integrity from the first minute they spoke:
“My mother taught me at a young age that no matter how high you fly, how great are the achievements that you make, the victories that you earn, always remain humble. Because nothing is permanent. Nothing lasts forever. Why do I mention this? Because Michael Robichaud embodies these values. He did not want to be honoured. He was not even expecting this Award. However, this was a collegiate decision, democratically expressed, by unanimity and acclamation by the SIGA Council and General Assembly.
It was a must because we are an organisation of values. Values of Integrity, transparency, accountability. Values also of appreciation and recognition. It would be absolutely unfair not to render this expression of recognition to those who have served SIGA so significantly since the very first moment and contributed to to what SIGA is today. I am therefore very proud to attribute this SIGA Special Recognition Award to Michael Robichaud.”
Grateful for SIGA’s recognition, Michael Robichaud, made the connection between the award and the International Women’s Day, which Mastercard is hosting in their Technology Hub, in Manatthan, New York City:
“This is such a great opportunity to do the best we can, as I’ve also learned. To lead or get out of the way. I just want to say thanks for all that have helped us on this journey. I didn’t mean to have even a stage for a second on International Women’s Day. Since I am here, I would just say there are many of us that are trying. We’re trying to learn, we’re trying to be part of the solution. We expect that there’s a role we play. We’re going to mess up, but we’re trying. We’re going to ask questions. We’re learning to be uncomfortable. I can speak for myself: I’m learning to have this conversation, learning to use a different vocabulary, learning to know I’m going to walk in a room and say I really have the best intention, but I don’t know everything. I’m not alone in my journey. A few powerful women around me have no problem shutting the door and telling that I’m going in the wrong direction, or not even moving”.
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ABOUT SIGA
SIGA is the world´s largest coalition in the field of sport´s governance and integrity. Supported by more than 100 international multi-industry supporters, SIGA is an independent and neutral organisation whose mission is to bring about meaningful reforms and enhance the integrity of all sports through a set of universal standards operated by an independent and neutral body. SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.
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