As a Division 1 athlete, sports broadcaster, entrepreneur and mother, executive speaker Lea B. Olsen has spent her life learning about the benefits—and costs—to Winning.
Lea was raised in a blended family in South Minneapolis. Growing up in poverty, with parents and siblings who all looked they came from different families, created social dilemmas for Lea from a young age. Lea learned early that when your family doesn’t fit the mold, you have to be comfortable breaking the mold. This was one of Lea’s first Wins in life.
Introduced to sports relatively late, Lea began her basketball career her junior year of high school and after only two years, went on to play Division I basketball at the University of Minnesota. Sports changed Lea’s life for good. Surrounded by coaches and teammates and doing what she loved, Lea found her place in the world. Playing sports gave Lea a deep appreciation for the important role “process” plays in success. Whether you win or lose, success lies in your process for getting there.
Lea transformed her success on the court into a sports journalism career. She broadcasted basketball on ESPN’S national WNBA coverage, as a game analyst for the Minnesota Lynx, and as a television sideline reporter for the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with numerous college and high school games. Throughout her sports journalism career, Lea has interviewed dozens of Winning athletes, from high school to pro, about what it takes to Win.
Lea’s experiences playing and covering sports, and seeing the pressure youth athletes face to Win at all costs, lead her in 2015 to found Rethink the Win. Rethink the Win is an organization dedicated to preserving the fun in youth sports while teaching kids how to apply lessons learned in sports to the real world.
Lea’s unique perspective on Winning in sports, in business and in life has given her a game plan on how to Win with purpose and passion. As a speaker and thought leader, she thrives on helping people and businesses find their Wins while staying true to their values and beliefs.
Ready to inspire your team to Play to Win? Get in touch today to learn about opportunities to have Lea B. speak.