For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by “super high achievers.” Whether it was entrepreneurs like Anita Roddick and Richard Branson, pop icons like Madonna, or sporting legends like Linford Christie and Sally Gunnell (yes, I realise I’m completely aging myself with those examples!), I was always intrigued by what made them so exceptional.

 

After years of studying peak performance, I came to a single, powerful conclusion - success is all about mindset.

 

But I didn’t just learn this from books. I experienced it firsthand through my own journey as a competitive fencer. From the age of 10 to 19, I trained and competed nationally and internationally, dreaming of making it to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Yet, despite my talent and ambition, I made choices that, looking back, held me back.

 

Like when I turned down the chance to represent Wales - simply because I didn’t like their tracksuit. Or when I refused to switch from foil to epee because I believed success only counted if the path was hard. And worst of all, when I quit fencing altogether at university, just because I was too proud to ask for help finding a way to get to training.

 

Regrets like these don’t fade with time - they grow. I’ve often wondered, what if I’d had someone to guide me - someone who could’ve helped me build mental strength, push past my doubts, and make better choices?

 

That question hit me harder than ever in January 2012, when I had my sliding door moment. I had the chance to hear Katherine Grainger speak - before she became the first British woman to win medals in five consecutive Olympics. At that time, she’d won three silvers in rowing and was preparing for London 2012, determined to turn silver into gold. As she spoke, her mindset and mental strength radiated from her. Her unshakable drive and determination hit me like a tonne of bricks.

 

I walked back to my office afterward and burst into tears. I realised then why I hadn’t “made it” in fencing. It wasn’t talent, ability, or opportunity - it was my mindset. I simply hadn’t developed the level of drive and mental resilience required to reach the top. That realisation stayed with me.

 

My passion for performance led me down a corporate path in Learning and Development, coaching ambitious business leaders and entrepreneurs. But when I became a sports parent, everything clicked into place.

 

Both of my children, Lewis and Sophie, are aspiring athletes - Lewis plays rugby, Sophie does sprinting. Supporting them through the highs and lows of competitive sport, I saw firsthand the mental and emotional challenges young athletes (and their parents) face. The pressure to perform. The struggles with confidence. The fine line between encouraging and over-pushing.

 

I realised that if I wanted to help, I had to become the support I wish I’d had.

 

So, after 25 years in corporate coaching, I pivoted into the world of sport. Now, as a mindset coach for athletes and parents, my mission is simple; to help athletes develop their mental fitness - so they don’t have to look back with regrets like I did.

 

I want sports parents to feel equipped and confident, knowing they can help their child navigate setbacks, pressure, and self-doubt. I want them to have the tools to support not just their child’s performance – but their overall well-being.

 

And I want coaches to feel empowered with the knowledge and skills to nurture mentally strong athletes, knowing how to build trust, support resilience, and communicate effectively. I also want to help clubs create environments where athletes feel valued as people first – where character, effort, and growth are celebrated just as much as results.

 

Because when it comes to success in sport - and in life - mental fitness isn’t just an advantage. It’s everything.