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This week, Kavitha is joined by legendary pro-soccer player-turned keynote speaker and human rights activist Joanna Lohman. Together they discuss why Joanna says that she has “refired” rather than retired from professional sports, and why, as a Yale ELI Advisory Board member and upcoming cohort participant, she would encourage other ELI Fellows to do the same.
Join us to learn about Joanna’s journey from a celebrated career with the Washington Spirit and the U.S. National Women’s soccer team to her “second act” pivot into her current roles as a performance coach, sport diplomat, and author. In addition, Joanna shares why it takes a risk-embracing mindset to enact change, what it means to embrace transformation as a “human superpower,” and how she has embraced her identity as a lesbian athlete and public persona to serve as a courageous role model to others.
Transcript
Episode 2—Joanna Lohman Transcript
Links and Resources
Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education:
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
- Finding Mastery Podcast with Dr. Michael Gervais, who recently released episode 466: “How to Thrive in a Distracted World” featuring ELI instructor Emma Seppälä
- Atomic Habits, James Clear’s 2018 book on refining your focus and forming better habits
- Nelson Mandela speaking at the 2000 Laureus World Sports Awards, when he uttered the famous line, “Sport has the power to change the world.”
More Featuring Joanna:
- Raising Tomorrow’s Champions, Joanna’s 2021 book
- “Ignite the Human Behind High Performance,” Joanna’s keynote speech from July 2024
- “The Uncomfortable Ride to the Top,” Joanna’s talk at TEDxBeacon Street
- Joanna, her wife Melodie, and their daughter Luna featured on the news for Pride Month in June 2023
About Today’s Guest
Joanna Lohman - Global Keynote Speaker, Authenticity Activator, Performance Igniter
Joanna Lohman is a global keynote speaker, former pro soccer player, and performance coach who excels at unlocking human potential and authentic excellence. A member of the U.S. Women's National Team and Washington Spirit's first jersey retiree, Joanna has a rich background in leadership and social impact. She authored "Raising Tomorrow's Champions" and serves as a human rights activist and Sport Diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, using sports to address critical global issues.
With 20 years of experience applying elite sports lessons to business, Joanna helps organizations excel through transformational leadership and resilience. She has worked with top companies like Qualcomm and the Minnesota Vikings and has appeared on CNN and Sirius XM.
A Silver Spring native and Penn State standout, Joanna is a Springbrook High School and Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame inductee. Known for her blonde mohawk and authentic leadership, she is also a wife to Melodie, a parent to Luna, and a dog mom to Dewey.