In 2017, I became a varsity girls soccer first time head coach, inheriting a team that was far from strong on paper. 

I decided we would have two priorities that first year: fitness, because it takes no skill, and culture. I wanted the girls to be willing to fight for their teammates, no matter who we played against. 

So, we dedicated the first 30 minutes of every training session to culture, meeting in an unused classroom instead of the field. (And getting a lot of weird looks from the boys’ program.)

I drew up risky starting lineups to uphold our culture and call our best players up to a higher standard. 

And, the results? 

Our first season, we beat our biggest rival for the first time in almost a decade. 

By our second season, we were region champions.

But one of the very best parts came as we approached year three...

A couple months before tryouts, I was sitting in the lunchroom and two returning players slid onto the bench across from me, buzzing with excitement and ideas about the upcoming season. 

Two girls that would’ve never been friends had they not become soccer teammates, spending their off-season brainstorming for how to bring the team together to crush even more goals the next season. 

100% bought in. 

After seeing the transformative results of building a positive culture, I started to wonder how the concepts would translate at the highest levels of college soccer. 

In 2020 I began working with Division I college soccer programs, first as a volunteer until I created a full time role for myself as Director of Leadership Development and Team Culture.

I’ve led over 40 highly competitive female soccer players through my flagship leadership program, The Leader’s Pause, helping them ditch insecurity, find their voice, and be the impactful leader their team needs.

Will you be next?