Tears streamed down my face…

Tears streamed down my face as I walked through the streets…

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was January 1999, and I was in Granada, Spain, taking an intensive Spanish course. A few weeks later, I was set to begin my Erasmus programme at the Autonoma Universidad in Madrid.  

I was studying Business Economics, and all through secondary school, I had wanted to learn Spanish. Unfortunately, it wasn’t offered at my school. So, I chose an exchange programme in Madrid, fully taught in Spanish.

There was just one ‘small’ issue… I barely spoke the language.  

Yes I know - ambitious! So I decided to sigh up for a 4-week intensive language course in beautiful Granada. It was total immersion: four hours of group lessons a day, plus two hours of private lessons.  

On day three, our language school took us to see a movie, Gato Negro, Gato Blanco (Black Cat, White Cat). The next day, my teacher asked me to explain what the film was about. The best I could manage was, “There was a black cat... and a white cat...”  

That was it. I couldn’t say much more. (And funny enough, when I looked up the movie later, I discovered it was hardly about cats at all—just shows how selective our memory can be!)  

I remember walking back to my host family, crying, frustrated and thinking “I will never learn this language”

My biggest challenge? Vocabulary. Which, after just three days, made perfect sense 😂 Yet in the moment, it’s hard to see that. 

This memory came back to me recently, during my time in Colombia, where I was working as a Venue Manager for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at El Techo Stadium. Every morning we had our daily meetings, initially in Spanish and later partly in English when the FIFA team members arrived. I even welcomed the volunteers in Spanish at the briefings.

Was it perfect? No. But was it good enough? Absolutely! And that’s the key: getting better is all about taking that first step, even when it feels impossible.

So how do you become better?

First, you practice. Just like I did with Spanish, you’ve got to do it, even when it feels uncomfortable. Every day, step by step, it gets easier.

Second, find a mentor. While practice is essential, having someone who knows the challenges you’ll face can make a huge difference. A mentor helps you avoid unnecessary mistakes and accelerates your progress.

A mentor not only guides you but also challenges you to step out of your comfort zone. Most importantly, they see your potential—the gold within you ✨—that you often don't recognise yourself.

The same applies to personal growth and visibility. Whether it’s speaking with confidence or positioning yourself online, you can absolutely learn these skills. 

It just takes practice—and the right guidance.

That’s why I created the Winning Presence programme, which will run from 14 October 2024 - 31 January 2025.

An online group programme tailored for women in the sports industry and other male-dominated fields, focusing on Visibility, Personal Branding, and Networking.

This programme will empower you to show up authentically, consistently, and confidently in your career.

You'll break through the barriers that have kept you on the sidelines and unlock the confidence to present yourself as a thought leader—taking you from the reserve bench to a key player in your field. Opportunities will start coming to you effortlessly, so you no longer have to hustle to get noticed.

I will be your mentor throughout this journey, and you'll be part of a community of like-minded professionals, where we share our wins, support each other through challenges, and celebrate together 🥳

Interested? 👇

Click here for more info about the Winning Presence group programme

Or feel free to send me a DM if you still have questions.