For Alex, sport has always been more than just participation. It’s been the foundation for how she thinks, leads and shows up every day.
“Growing up, sport was always something I was surrounded by, and it quickly became where I learnt some of my most important life lessons.”
From Softball to Golf to Olympic Weightlifting, each experience challenged her in different ways.
“Softball built my teamwork and competitiveness, golf taught me patience and mental discipline, and weightlifting pushed me to develop resilience and trust in myself under pressure.”
But what stands out most is the mindset she’s carried forward.
“It gave me the mindset to keep showing up, back myself and continue striving to improve, which is something I carry into my career and leadership every day.”
Like many athletes, Alex has had moments that shaped her perspective.
“One that has always stayed with me was being selected to play for the Victorian Softball team… and choosing not to pursue it.”
“It’s one of those decisions that has stayed with me, and there are definitely moments where I think ‘what if’.”
Rather than holding her back, that moment sharpened how she approaches opportunities now.
“It’s made me far more aware of the importance of backing myself, leaning into discomfort and not letting short term distractions get in the way of long term growth.”
Today, Alex is intentional about how she leads, both in her career and in her community.
“Leadership isn’t defined by a title. It’s about how you show up, the impact you create and the way you support others.”
In her work in finance, and through running financial literacy sessions at her old school, she focuses on making a real difference.
“It’s about meeting people where they’re at, creating a space where they feel comfortable asking questions and helping them build confidence through understanding.”
Joining the Empowered to Lead program was a deliberate decision to continue growing.
“I genuinely believe there is always room to grow, both personally and professionally. I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone.”
For Alex, that meant leaning into areas that didn’t come naturally.
“If I’m being honest, a big part of that was working through my struggles with public speaking. The idea of standing up, using my voice and backing my own advice didn’t always come naturally to me.”
“I knew that if I wanted to grow, I couldn’t avoid those uncomfortable areas. I had to lean into them.”
What she experienced through the program went beyond what she expected.
“The biggest impact for me was the network and the group of women I went through it with.”
“Being surrounded by so many strong, supportive and different women really shifted my perspective. It made me realise that leadership doesn’t look one way. Everyone leads in their own authentic way, and that’s what makes it powerful.”
One realisation stood above the rest.
“There is no perfect way to lead.”
“I came into the program thinking I needed to develop into a certain type of leader, but what I learnt is that leadership isn’t one size fits all.”
Since completing the program, Alex has experienced a clear shift in how she shows up.
“One of the biggest changes for me has been backing myself.”
“It’s given me the confidence to step forward, speak up and trust my own judgement, even in situations where I previously may have held back.”
More than anything, it’s changed how she sees herself as a leader.
“I now have a stronger belief in my ability to lead in a way that’s authentic to me, while still creating meaningful impact for others.”
The lessons she’s taken from sport continue to shape her every day.
“Consistency over motivation. Resilience through setbacks. Backing yourself under pressure. Growth comes from discomfort.”
“These lessons have shaped how I show up, not just in how I work, but in how I lead, support others and continue to push myself to grow.”
For Alex, this is just the beginning.
“This program has given me a strong foundation, but I see it as the starting point, not the finish line.”
“I’m focused on continuing to step into bigger opportunities and backing myself in ways I might not have before.”
Her vision for the future is one many women will relate to.
“I would love to see a world where women and girls don’t feel like they have to change who they are to be taken seriously. A world where leadership looks different for everyone and that difference is celebrated.”
“To me, playing like a girl means showing up with confidence, backing yourself and owning your space without hesitation.”
“It’s about being unapologetically you.”
“Because when you truly play like a girl, you don’t just keep up, you change the game.”
We thank our partnership with Intuitive Finance, who make stories like Alex’s possible and help us continue to provide opportunities for more women and girls to grow, lead and back themselves.
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