Introduction to Leadership

You can't be what you can't see.

So much of my life has been motivated by this idea

of taking my own experience,

leading by example,

and helping provide pathways and opportunities to those who followed behind.

I hope so far you've had your eyes open to many different possible pathways to a career in sports,

from marketing to media to creative

and everything in between.

When I was growing up in Canada, it was hard to see a pathway to professional soccer.

There wasn't one.

At the time, there were few local opportunities, especially for women.

I moved to New Jersey for university to play at Princeton,

and then eventually to Norway to play professionally,

and then in the U.S. for the NWSL to continue my dream of playing the sport at the highest level.

In my career, I represented my country in more than 200 matches,

including three Olympic games and three FIFA Women's World Cups™.

But the feeling that there was greater potential for women's soccer in Canada never left me.

Canada was one of the few countries without a women's professional program,

so the potential was there.

Today, I'm co-founder of the Northern Super League,

Canada's top women's professional soccer league.

Along the way, I've learned invaluable lessons about how to be a leader,

To trust in you and your values,

to unite behind a common goal,

to try different things, and develop diverse skills.

In this course,

you'll wrap your time with the FC Academy, hearing from myself and four
other inspiring individuals on key lessons they've learned.

Hopefully, you'll hear something that you can apply to your everyday life to be a leader today,

whatever level you're at.

Let's get started.