It’s been 15 years since I stopped playing competitive soccer, but being an athlete is still a part of my identity.

From the age of 13, my life became about soccer. I started playing when I was really young, but at 13, something changed. I realized that I was good, and people started to tell me I could make something out of this. I sacrificed a lot, I trained a lot, and finally, I achieved my goal.

In 2005, I signed to play with USC, as one of the top 100 recruits in the nation. I was also selected to travel to Australia (where I am also a citizen) to join the U19 Women’s national team and represent Australia.

I lived out my dream for 2 years, until my “stumped” moment took my career into a massive turn. I tore almost all the ligaments in my knee, and was faced with the decision to end playing soccer–which I decided to do.

It took me a while to find a career that measured up to what drove me as an athlete, a path that led me around the world and across industries. In 2018, after 13 years as a marketing executive, I decided to shift and focus to Life Coaching. I became a Certified Life Coach, and have since been helping high performance individuals achieve their goals.

I started The Second Half in 2020 when something became very clear to me: We only ever talk about athletes in their prime. And while there are a wealth of stories about the glory, we rarely hear what happens after. We never talk about the single moment when our lives, as athletes, change, and therefore so does part of our identity. It is a powerful moment for some, and a harrowing moment for others. Some end up in places they never wanted to be, and others create a life equally as enriching as the first.

With all that is happening in the world, and the rise of athletes protecting themselves – inside and out – I’m here to help athletes on their journey, inspiring and championing every athlete’s identity so they can find purpose in life after sport.

Jess