From flipping across gym floors as a child to leading one of Victoria’s busiest gymnastics clubs, Rebecca Tilley’s journey in sport is a story of passion, growth, and bold leadership.
Rebecca’s love for movement started early. “I started sports acrobatics as a six-year-old. My mum enrolled me because I wouldn’t stop jumping on the couch,” she laughs. It was the start of something special. As a young athlete, she competed at state and national levels and even travelled to China for a two-week training trip. By age 10, she had transitioned to artistic gymnastics and trained until she was 16. Later, she returned to the sport through adult classes and Masters competitions, proving her love for gymnastics never really left.
In her early twenties, Rebecca discovered coaching. “I learned that I would get free classes if I coached at the gym, so I started teaching Saturday mornings outside of my full-time job as an accountant,” she says. That one small decision sparked a complete career transformation.
“I loved coaching, teaching kids new skills and seeing their ‘a-ha’ moments.” Before long, Rebecca stepped into the role of Operations Manager at her club, left her accounting career behind, and eventually opened her own gymnastics club, Reach Gymnastics. Ten years later, Reach is thriving with over 600 gymnasts and a team of 35 coaches.
“I don’t train in gymnastics anymore, but I keep active through regular aqua aerobics classes,” she adds.
Rebecca says gymnastics captured her heart because it’s never ending in the best way. “There’s always something new to learn. You’re never done,” she says. “The feeling when you achieve a new skill, especially one you were scared of, is indescribable.”
Sport taught her persistence, resilience, time management, public speaking, and how to deal with a wide range of people. These are skills that have deeply shaped her as a leader and business owner.
She still remembers the joy of performing with her team in the Moomba Parade. “Cartwheeling down the street, handing out lolly bags, and being on TV… it was so exciting!”
Running a club isn’t just about managing rosters and routines. Rebecca leads a team, shapes a culture, and holds space for hundreds of young athletes to thrive. That’s not without its challenges.
“I’ve had to learn how to have difficult conversations, how to sell myself and my story, and how to public speak. It does get easier the more you do it,” she reflects.
Over the years, she’s learned a powerful lesson. “I can’t be everything to everyone, and my gym is the same. I need to focus on what my values are and make sure the gym follows that.”
Despite owning a successful club, Rebecca wasn’t always confident in her role as a leader. “I felt like I wasn’t doing a good job leading,” she says honestly. “I’m in the position because I own the gym, but I needed to learn how to actually lead, not just own.”
The Empowered to Lead program gave her that opportunity.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect since I’d never done leadership training before, but it absolutely blew me away. I learned so much in such a short time and got to connect with so many amazing women.”
One of the most meaningful moments for Rebecca came when she learned to lead with authenticity. “I discovered that I have my own individual strengths and values to bring to leadership, and that it’s okay if they’re different from someone else’s. In fact, it’s great.”
Since completing the program, Rebecca has felt a shift in her confidence. “Now that I’ve learned so much, I feel more confident making decisions that reflect my values. I’ve had some great conversations with my coaching team about things I’ve learned and shared some real nuggets of gold with them.”
Rebecca now leads with greater awareness of how she shows up. “I’ve been more aware of the need to be assertive but not aggressive,” she says. “I have a D profile and can come across as overwhelming to some. I was frustrated with a staff member’s behaviour one day, but I knew I wasn’t in the right headspace to have a calm conversation. I waited, and the next day, I used the feedback technique we learned in the program. It worked.”
She’s also taken on new habits, inspired by Atomic Habits, one of the recommended reads from the course. “I’ve added meditation to my daily routine. It’s been a game-changer.”
Rebecca would love to see the media step up and play a stronger role in growing women’s sport.
“The reason women and girls in sport don’t get paid comparably is due to the lack of commercial opportunities. The more media attention female athletes get, the more normal it becomes for people to watch and support them. Maybe the government needs to legislate to make it happen.”
“I want to keep learning, taking on new challenges, and getting outside my comfort zone. I’ll keep reading, listening to podcasts, attending workshops and conferences, and learning from awesome people.”
“Play Like a Girl means to live your life the best way you can. Don’t let the haters get you down. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Keep learning and don’t forget where you came from.”
Rebecca’s story is one of quiet strength, lifelong learning, and fierce commitment. She leads from the heart, backs her values, and creates spaces where others can thrive. We’re so proud to have her as part of our community.
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