For sixteen year old Imogen, sport has always been at the centre of her life. She coaches, umpires and plays both netball and basketball, and has tried her hand at a wide variety of sports growing up.
“Sport has been my whole life,” she says. “My passion came from the feeling of success, involvement and inclusion, being able to play with friends, succeed at high levels and push myself to be better. The fulfilment I feel when winning with friends, and that feeling you get when hard work pays off, is what has shaped my journey so far.”
That relentlessness and drive for success is something Imogen carries into every part of her life. “Whether it’s schoolwork, training, chores or even problem solving, sport has taught me to push myself to achieve things and get them done.”
A standout moment for Imogen came with her selection into the Under 18 Western Australian State Basketball Team. “The true highlights from that experience were the connections I made with the girls and the team staff, and the chance to play for my state and prove myself as an elite athlete.”
Beyond competing, Imogen has taken on significant leadership roles in her community. She coaches both netball and basketball, umpires games and mentors younger players. “Having these experiences has shown me that people require different types of feedback and interpret information differently. Some need broad, ongoing feedback, while others want smaller and more specific feedback. Learning how to adjust my approach has been such a valuable lesson.”
It was this desire to grow as a leader that led her to join the Empowered to Lead program. “I decided to join to improve myself and my capabilities to help and lead others in my community,” she says.
Her expectations at first were low. “To be honest, I didn’t really know much about the program, and my mum recommended it. I’d done other courses before and found them lacking and boring. But after completing this course, I can say it’s the best I’ve ever done. It was refreshing to be challenged by the workbooks, and even more so in the Zoom sessions. In the past, online courses have just been a presenter talking, but these sessions were incredible. You listen to others’ ideas, share your own and get challenged to answer questions on the spot. That was the highlight for me.”
Imogen describes the vision board activity as a key moment. “The variety of ideas and dreams people had was amazing. Some vision boards were inspiring and emotional, and it was incredible to listen to people share their aspirations and the way they presented themselves.”
Through the program, Imogen has seen her leadership skills and confidence grow. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had a fear of sharing my ideas, but this course showed me that what I have to say is valuable. Now I put myself out there more, I speak up, I value others’ thoughts and I encourage and support people.”
She now carries a set of tools from the program that she uses daily. “I’ve caught myself when I lose focus and my motivation drops. That’s when I use tools like Above the Line and Below the Line, or the 5 Whys. Asking myself why I wanted to do this in the first place always helps me find my drive again.”
For Imogen, leadership in sport means more than just taking charge. “True leadership is about setting an example, staying calm under pressure, lifting others up and holding people accountable. Sport has shown me that communication, trust and accountability are just as important during a game as they are in everyday life. Good leaders listen, support and bring out the best in others.”
Looking ahead, she has her eyes set on stepping into more roles. “The next step for me in leadership is to become a student representative or leader at school and to be a voice for my peers. I want to actively involve myself in local teams by coaching, umpiring, mentoring and continuing to step up in my own training.”
Imogen also has a clear vision for the future of women and girls in sport. “I’d love to see more equal funding, equal pay and media coverage. I want to see women’s games promoted, supported and celebrated, and I want female commentators calling women’s sport. I’d also love to see schools and communities encouraging girls to take up sport and leadership roles from a young age, breaking down stereotypes and building confidence, because too many girls drop out.”
When asked what Play Like a Girl means to her, Imogen does not hesitate. “To me, Play Like a Girl means playing with strength, skill and heart and never apologising for it. It’s about working hard and playing hard, challenging stereotypes, showing up with confidence and proving that girls can lead, compete and succeed at the highest level. It’s also about lifting each other up, creating space for others and showing resilience. Playing like a girl isn’t a weakness, it’s a powerful statement of courage, determination and pride.”
The opportunity for Imogen to participate in the Empowered to Lead program was proudly provided through Classic Sportswear. Together with Play Like a Girl, Classic Sportswear is creating fully funded opportunities for more young leaders to grow their confidence, build their skills and step into leadership.
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