What do 94% of female C-suite executives have in common?
They played sports.
On the Leadership Lab Podcast, I sat down with Bonnie Bernstein: Emmy Award-winning sports journalist, founder and CEO of Walk Swiftly Productions, and creator of The Champion's Edge to unpack why the lessons learned on the field often become the foundation for exceptional leadership.
After spending three decades covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, and college sports for ESPN, ABC, and CBS, Bonnie noticed a powerful pattern: many of today's most successful women leaders first learned resilience, confidence, and teamwork through athletics.
But this conversation goes far beyond sports.
Bonnie shares the decade-long journey of bringing The Champion's Edge to life, how she persevered through years of rejection, and the mindset shifts that kept her moving forward. She also opens up about a personal health scare that forced her to rethink burnout, ambition, and what sustainable success really looks like.
In this episode, Bonnie shares:
• Why 94% of female C-suite executives have a background in sports -- and what that means for leadership.
• How she stayed committed to a vision despite hearing years of "no."
• Why rejection can become one of your greatest leadership tools.
• The career lessons every woman can learn from athletes -- even if you've never played a sport.
• How a personal health scare changed the way she approaches ambition, burnout, and self-care.
• The simple weekly practice she uses to reconnect with her purpose.
• Why coaches, mentors, and community are essential for long-term success.
Ready to hear the conversation?
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
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