Episode #22: Adrienne Leslie-Toogood

Adrienne knows that life is the one true sport that calls on all that we have and all that we are. When she works with someone, she sees it as her job to help them be whole and healthy and to love every step in their journey, both the good and the bad. Adrienne’s journey from high school athlete to university starter to Olympic/Paralympic advisor was turbulent at times. The circumstances she found herself in often required her to figure out how to make things work on her own. She did not have a back up plan. If she did not make it work, no one was going to make it work for her. Along the way the community of sport (coaches, teammates, and parents of teammates) showed up to help her. Without sport, and specifically basketball, she would not have gone to university and without an injury at the end of her fourth year, she may not have pursued grad school. Through her journey she learned to see value in all people. She has watched those close to her struggle with mental illness and learned to never judge a person by just one part of who they are. She often reminds us that you never know what people have going on at home. You never know what a person’s story is until you ask them. Now, a key advisor with many national team programs Adrienne brings her whole self to everything she does noting that, “If you want sustainable high performance, you have to create the space for people to be themselves and be able to bring their whole selves; to have the courage to invest their full selves.” Please joins us for our inspiriting conversation with Heroes In Our Midst Co-founder, Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood.