ALANA THOMAS "Listen First, Lead Later: Coaching Coaches and Building World-Class Environments"

Alana Thomas has walked in every pair of shoes in high-performance sport — as a player, a head coach, and now as High Performance Manager at Netball Australia. In this candid conversation with Dwayne Nestor, she opens up about the mindset shifts, hard lessons, and relationship-first approach that have defined her career.From juggling accounting and coaching to making the leap into rugby full-time… from navigating the culture of Fiji to stepping into one of the most successful netball programs in the world — Alana's story is one of curiosity, courage, and continuous growth.In this episode you'll learn:✔ What high performance actually looks like day to day✔ Why questioning is a skill most people underestimate✔ How Fiji changed the way Alana leads✔ What she looks for psychologically in a player✔ The difference in mindset between player, coach, and administrator✔ How to build a culture where values are genuinely livedIf you work in sport, lead a team, or simply want to perform better — this one's for you.🔔 Follow for weekly conversations with elite coaches, athletes, and sports leaders.