When Elite Sports Inspire Business – Focus RH

While Paris hosts thousands of athletes from around the world competing for an Olympic medal, former elite athletes have chosen to leverage their skills in the corporate world. How do these former champions manage to transfer their discipline to a professional environment that is equally demanding? In what ways can high-level sports inspire executives and managers?

In this Focus RH article, Valérie Barlois-Leroux, former Olympic fencing champion and today Deputy General Manager at BCA Expertise, whom we welcomed during our roundtable

“Boost Your Athlete’s Mindset to Tackle Your Executive Challenges!” in July 2024, answers questions from Rachida Soussi.

Sports Qualities Transferable to the Corporate World

Elite athletes learn from the start of their careers to handle defeats, to recover from injuries, and to stay motivated despite obstacles. These are assets in the business world and essential qualities for success as a leader.

As confirmed by Enoch Effah, three-time world champion in Savate French boxing and founder of Nokefa, a company dedicated to supporting executives and businesses through training, conferences, and immersive coaching programs:

“Resilience allows me to overcome obstacles and stay focused on my goals. Discipline and perseverance are essential to maintaining a high level of performance and achieving desired results. Stress management and the ability to work in a team are also indispensable for facing the daily challenges of business.”

These are soft skills particularly sought after by companies.

“Not to mention humility, respect, agility, adaptability, boldness, a high level of requirement, performance culture, and a sense of responsibility,” adds Valérie Barlois-Leroux, former Olympic fencing champion and Deputy General Manager in charge of human development at BCA Expertise.

All of these skills allow former elite athletes to integrate effectively into the corporate world and contribute significantly to performance.

Read the full article on the Focus RH website.

Watch the replay of our event “Boost Your Athlete’s Mindset to Tackle Your Executive Challenges!”