Say It Skillfully® – Jillion Potter, Tough When It Matters Most

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 112, Molly is joined by Jillion Potter, captain of the 2016 USA women’s rugby team. When she was 5, Jillion’s parents split with a joint custody arrangement where her sister, twin brother and her moved each year. Adapting to different cities and different schools wasn’t an option. Jillion shares how sports were integral to her own groundedness, and an early, unpleasant example of how bias from her high school basketball coach—who kicked a player off the team for coming out—affected her emotionally. She recalls growing up very low income–living on food stamps, going paycheck to paycheck, standing by the oven for heat…all fueling her deep sense of empathy for others. Jillion shares her unique and unlikely rugby journey: being a complete beginner in college, meeting her wife Carol through the sport, and ultimately becoming an Olympic captain. As tough off the field as she is on, not only was Jillion able to recover from a career-ending type of neck injury, she also recounts her experience of overcoming cancer twice, not letting fear keep her from re-joining the Olympic team and deciding to raise a child despite her illness and uncertainty of the future. Jillion also dives into her transition to the corporate world, and what being a mother means to her. Tune in to hear how going with the flow and doing the absolute best she can led Jillion to succeed in multiple facets of life. Jillion inspires all to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves.