Being a Disruptor has been a central theme in my life, particularly in my professional journey. Founding BYP Network was a direct response to the systemic inequalities I observed in both the corporate world and the sports industry.
I can’t describe how hard it was taking mood stabilisers and antipsychotics for five years whilst trying to train and compete on the national team (and being ridiculed for my poor performance at the same time).
Setting multiple British records and competing in three Olympic Games were achievements I never imagined possible. I am now working hard to qualify for my fourth Olympics, but I am already very proud of my journey.
I have always had the opportunity to be the first to do something that has never been done and disrupt the status quo. I was the first female footballer pundit on match of the day, the first sporting director of Angel City women's team in Los Angeles & the first black female owner of Como Women FC.
We are very thrilled to announce the launch of our Disruptors: Women In Sports special edition magazine-book which features some of the exceptional women who have challenged the status quo and redefined the world of sports.
I also remember how stress made it even harder to manage the pain. The worst part was knowing you wanted to perform but couldn’t, especially when losing a match you could have won.
For my first six years in the sport, we had to wear white trousers to compete. It didn’t matter what stage of my cycle I was in, the moment I put on those clothes I would start thinking “What if it happens today?”
I felt like I couldn’t openly explain the reason for my struggles, not only because of cultural barriers but also because discussing menstruation with male coaches and teammates was not very comfortable as a 17-year-old young girl.
I use the power of storytelling through the lens of sports to be a Disruptor. Creating stories from ideation to post-production, with underrepresented communities at the forefront, has been integral to how I use my voice.