Team sports demonstrate some of the best aspects of human-centered leadership: every athlete plays a role that contributes to their shared victory. If there’s discordance, no amount of strategy can help on the field. People must learn how to rely on others to make a goal or cross the finish line.
Katelin Van Zyl is a former hockey player who has been immersed in the sports world since she was four years old. She explains, “[Sports] has taught me so much about teamwork, leadership, communication…it’s been the biggest blessing to carry these beautiful life lessons as I age and showcase them to my peers.”
Of course, just as athletes celebrate their wins, they endure their share of losses. It’s an up-and-down journey that requires self-compassion, patience, and resilience, just as it does for any emerging leader.
When reflecting on her past, Van Zyl notes:
“I’ve had many hurdles, both good and bad, throughout my career. I’ve had to work so much on my mental toughness and not allow an injury or setback to define me—instead, I deal with the situation and make plans to move forward and get the best out of it. So much of [resilience] comes down to your mindset.”
In this interview, she explores how certain milestones have shaped her commitment to empowerment through personalized strength training and injury support.
Currently, Van Zyl is a crossfitter, mindfulness coach, and mom of two, but I first saw her as a contestant on Physical Asia, a competitive fitness show featuring athletes from eight countries. Van Zyl was one of six Australians who proudly demonstrated their strength in the face of some of the most strenuous challenges.
Team Australia wore their confidence on their sleeve and—what I found most memorable—cheered for others just as enthusiastically as they supported their own. Their camaraderie was palpable, even amid tense moments.
Physical Asia demonstrated the importance of rapport and collaboration. Every contestant had to work with their strengths strategically, trusting that their team members would fill the gaps. Similarly, leaders must also put their faith in others, whether it be their associates or cross-departmental colleagues. Relinquishing control is terrifying, but it allows people to take ownership and shine or practice humility after making a mistake. Diverse experiences provide growth opportunities, and when teams continue to pursue a shared sense of purpose, success is never too far behind.
Van Zyl was a firestorm to be reckoned with. Her resilience shone during several team races and again when she and two others pushed a rotating 1200kg pillar. Although the outcome wasn’t what they expected, Van Zyl left the competition staying true to her spirit and inspiring audiences with her authenticity: amicable but fierce, vulnerable but unwavering, and humble, but unapologetically loud.
“My community inspires me to keep working on myself as I help the next generation to build confidence about themselves and their bodies,” says Van Zyl. “I love being able to change lives just by being me.”
Historically, women have minimized their presence and refused to take up space. We often undermine our achievements for the sake of humility, prioritizing other voices over our own. But self-assurance isn’t arrogance; when we trust our judgment and advocate for ourselves, we set an example to follow.
Be it an industry-disrupting technology or unprecedented organizational restructuring, adaptive leaders ground themselves first, knowing what to focus on and what’s outside of their control, then guide others in creating solutions. Adaptivity doesn’t falter amid crises and uncertainty, steadying teams that risk capsizing. And it’s not an innate skill, but something built by experience and accumulated wisdom.
“I want to empower others to realize they’re far more capable than they think,” says Van Zyl, “and that their resilience can carry into every area of their lives.”
As we embed adaptivity into our community culture, we must also consider its impact, even long after we’re gone. What do we want to leave behind for the next generation? How do we want them to learn from our mistakes while taking the best of our advice to be change-makers of their own right?
One leader’s confidence—and her steadfast commitment to building herself and her people—can be all it takes to turn the tide. No longer will women shrink; existing loudly will come naturally, and without a debilitating fear of rejection or scorn.
When asked about a leadership legacy strengthened by her trials, Van Zyl concludes,
“I’d like to be remembered as someone who changed the way people see themselves by improving their performance, and building a discipline and self-belief that positively impacts them and their loved ones.”
Read our full issue here.