Katie Leszycynski Reflection

I really enjoyed getting to hear from Katie Leszcynski, as she is the epitome of a badass woman in sports. Getting to hear how she essentially created her own brand for herself in order to get to a position that she enjoys was really inspiring. One of the biggest tips, though, that I gathered from her talk was to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Personally, I could not imagine getting pushed into a bowl riding series without being petrified. But, Katie’s willingness to be the ‘dumb one’ and ask questions was an authenticity that I really enjoyed hearing about. It is definitely something that will stick with me, since I sometimes get too caught up in how others may react; but in the end, as Katie projected, no one cares. She needed to do her job, and if it meant being awkward in the process, she was going to go through that. Another point that stuck out to me from Katie’s talk was what she has built for herself now. She rolled with the punches and took every opportunity that she could, which has been a common theme for success among our speakers. Her job now seems very tough and hectic, but she is single handedly creating so much productivity for the brand. I admire her willingness to jump right into that role and make it what she has, while continuing to advocate for herself in the process. I think it takes a special balance to be a respected individual as well as a respected professional, and Katie’s ability to connect with others showed me that it can be possible as a woman in sports.