How did you get into sport?
This is the “How did you get into sport?” podcast where we explore the ins and outs of working in high performance sport.
These are conversations with leaders in the industry about their journey and most importantly how they got to where they are. Working in professional sport is one of the most sought after yet highly competitive industries with limited professional organisations offering opportunities to work at the highest level of their respective sports.
This podcast was created on the back of countless conversations with a diverse range of experienced professionals overly frustrated yet still highly motivated to work in their dream role and asking the question “How did you get to work in professional sport and what did you have to do to get there?” Host Luis Resa is a Sports Physiotherapist who has worked in various elite professional organisation both in Australia and internationally.
In each episode, Luis has deep conversations with Sports Physiotherapist, S&C coaches, Head coaches, High Performance Managers and other leaders in the field of elite sport to discuss what it takes to excel in the world of sport as well as diving deeply into the intricacies of what got their foot in the door of some of the world’s most desirable roles.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. In the meantime, enjoy a deep conversation and learn the specific do’s and don’ts of both securing and surpassing expectations in the field of high performance sport.
How did you get into sport?
Kate Mahony - Executive General Manager Sydney Swans, AFLW
Kate Mahony has worked in the upper echelon on female sport for over 15 years. She's worked with some of the best female tennis players of this era in the WTA as well as head physiotherapist for Australian Women's Cricket team. Following this she became the Head of Performance Health for New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and is now in a executive role as General Manager for the AFLW Sydney Swans. In 2018, Kate was also awarded the Churchill Fellowship where she explored world best practice in sports science and medicine in female sport. This is a riveting conversation with someone who's not only an incredible example to females who are under represented in the industry but an example to ALL of someone who has been able to transition from physio to an executive in the world of high performance sport.
Highlights from the episode…
- After graduating Kate made the move to the UK with the intention to stay for a couple of years, which then led to a decade working in various elite sports.
- How Kate secured a converted role as physio with the WTA, touring the world and managing some of the worlds best female tennis players.
- "My time with the WTA was not a sacrifice but a choice”. Kate shares the challenges and highlights of touring full time.
- A detailed view of her WTA role and how services are set up and delivered.
- How Kate made the transition into Cricket Australia even though she had no experience and background in the game.
- We talk about the challenges of volunteering and ensuring we don’t devalue our role in the industry.
- Kate dives into the specifics of her role in women’s cricket and the growth of the Australian team to winning the Ashes and becoming world champions.
- The Churchill Fellowship and what she discovered, what are the barriers and how we can elevate women sport in general.
- Head of Performance Health at NSWIS and what the role involved.
- How Kate handles pressure, stress, long hours, limited opportunities to debrief etc. that often accompany working in sport.
- How Kate secured an executive role with the Sydney Swans, AFLW.
- How to not come across incompetent but continuing to be curious in the aim of increasing your knowledge in an area. Tip…its about asking the right questions.
- Kate shares her first day at the Sydney Swans and navigating the role, with a new club, in a new sport.
- Why Kate chose to do her MBA and the value she feels she gets from pursuing it.
- Kate provides some considerations and tips for anyone wanting to pursue executive suite role in high performance sport.
- How Kate has been able to overcome the barriers that exist for women in high performance sport and excel in the industry.
Kate Mahony contact details:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mahony-54064925/
- Churchill Fellowship report: https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/kate-mahony-nsw-2018/
People mentioned:
- Paul Ness: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ness-729168a/?originalSubdomain=au
- Dr Alex Kountouris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alex-kountouris-b2560a205/
- Damian Raper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-raper-5b212b23/
Host: Luis Resa
Contact me on:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
- Email: luis.resa@outlook.com
Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.
