From the Field to The Boardroom: Leadership Through Sports

Success on the Field, Success in Leadership

Leadership requires a unique combination of skills: confidence, teamwork, time management, adaptability, discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure. Lauren Weinbaum, President and Founder of WMG, honed these traits as a collegiate softball player at Bradley University. "My experience as a student-athlete taught me invaluable lessons that have shaped my career," she shares.

Lauren’s story reflects a broader trend among women leaders. Research shows that 94% of women in C-suite positions played a sport, with more than half competing at the collegiate level, according to EY and espnW. Sports teach the discipline and determination needed to excel, fostering traits that seamlessly translate into effective leadership. These skills are especially valuable in industries like Construction Management, where leaders must juggle multiple priorities, adapt to unexpected challenges, and keep teams motivated to achieve shared goals.

Let’s examine the skills developed through athletics and how they prepare women for success in leadership roles.

Athletics: A Training Ground for Leadership Skills

Teamwork

Teamwork is a cornerstone of athletic success and is just as critical in leadership roles. On the field, athletes learn to unite diverse personalities and skill sets toward a shared goal. This ability directly translates to managing teams in professional settings, fostering collaboration and cohesion.

Lauren emphasizes the importance of teamwork in leadership. “Playing team sports throughout my youth provided a strong foundation for running a company. She explains that team sports mirror many dynamics in the workplace, particularly the need for a high-performing, positive culture to achieve top results,” she explains. “In sports, success starts with uniting players around a shared mission to achieve a common goal. Similarly, in the workplace, effective leadership requires motivating a team to stay aligned and engaged, even during challenging times.”

This skill is particularly relevant in Construction Management, where leaders must bring together teams of subcontractors, architects, and project managers to ensure projects stay on track. Collaboration among these diverse groups is critical to achieving timely, high-quality results.

Confidence and Performing Under Pressure

Confidence and staying calm under pressure are essential for leaders in high-stakes environments. Sports instill these traits by challenging athletes to perform their best in demanding situations. According to Deloitte research, women who played sports are more comfortable taking risks and making decisions under pressure, which are critical skills for leadership roles.

In professional settings like Construction Management, this confidence allows leaders to manage crises effectively, handle tight deadlines, and inspire trust in their teams. Whether it’s an unexpected change in a project’s scope or a logistical setback, leaders who remain composed and decisive under pressure ensure that their teams continue to move forward.

Time Management and Discipline

Being an athlete requires balancing demanding practice schedules, games, and academic responsibilities, teaching discipline, and exceptional time management skills. Lauren attributes her success in leadership to the habits she developed as a student-athlete.“Being a student-athlete demands extraordinary time management skills—you must balance your practice and game schedule alongside academic responsibilities,” she shares. “This experience directly translates into the time management required for success in my field, where completing projects effectively is critical. My time as a student-athlete laid the foundation for these skills, which gave me a significant advantage in excelling as a leader in this field.”

The discipline cultivated through athletics also fosters accountability, an essential trait for leaders managing large-scale construction projects. Leaders who balance competing priorities and deliver timely results are instrumental in maintaining client satisfaction and project success.

Adaptability and Determination

Adaptability and determination are other hallmarks of athletic training. Athletes constantly adjust strategies based on their opponents, unexpected injuries, or changes in the game. This ability to adapt quickly to evolving situations prepares leaders to thrive in dynamic and unpredictable industries.

Determination, cultivated through years of competition, is equally vital. Leaders with this trait are better equipped to persevere through setbacks and remain focused on long-term goals. In construction, where unexpected challenges like supply chain delays or budget adjustments are common, determination helps leaders stay committed to delivering successful outcomes.

Why These Skills Make Great Leaders

The connection between athletics and leadership is clear: skills like teamwork, confidence, time management, adaptability, discipline, and determination form the foundation for effective leadership. Research from organizations like the Women’s Sports Foundation shows that women participating in sports often carry these traits into their professional lives, attributing their leadership abilities to lessons learned on the field. These qualities empower leaders to navigate challenges, inspire their teams, and achieve outstanding results.

Lauren Weinbaum’s story exemplifies how being an athlete can translate into leadership success. From fostering collaboration to managing complex projects, the skills she developed as a student-athlete have shaped her approach to leading efficiently and purposefully.

As we consider athletics' impact on leadership, one question remains: How can we ensure these valuable skills are recognized and cultivated in future leaders? Resilience, collaboration, and adaptability are timeless and essential, whether in the boardroom, on a construction site, or elsewhere. By supporting and celebrating these traits, we can inspire the next generation of leaders to succeed both on and off the field.

Sources:
Women’s Sports Foundation
Deloitte
EY