144 | Nadalie Walsh: Embracing Change and Championing Mental Wellness in Gymnastics

About the Guest
Nadalie Walsh is a seasoned former NCAA Division 1 gymnastics coach known for her servant leadership style and transformative impact on athletes and teams. With a history of coaching at various universities like the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Ball State, Utah State, and the University of Illinois, Nadalie's coaching career is distinguished by dedication, resilience, and a commitment to mental wellness. As a coach, she has won a national championship, had multiple All-Americans and Big Ten event champions, and been honored as the Region 3 co-head coach of the year in 2022. Nadalie is now the owner and CEO of Timber Ridge Ventures and Events and BeREADY, focusing on coaching, mentoring, and the development of young athletes.

Episode Summary
In this enriching episode of "Becoming Undone," host Toby Brooks invites Nadalie Walsh, a distinguished NCAA Division 1 gymnastics coach turned entrepreneur, to share her inspiring journey of transformation, resilience, and leadership. From her early beginnings coaching due to unforeseen circumstances to leading programs at top universities, Nadalie's story is a testament to embracing change and leveraging past challenges as stepping stones to new paths. Her insights into how personal faith, servant leadership, and unyielding dedication have shaped her professional life create a compelling narrative.

The transition from a highly successful coaching career to entrepreneurship has opened new avenues for Nadalie Walsh, enabling her to pursue a calling closely aligned with her values and vision. By embedding mental wellness and identity-building at the core of her current work, Nadalie is filled with enthusiasm for the positive impact she can continue to have on individuals and organizations. This episode resonates with themes of reinvention, the importance of a growth mindset, and the vital role of mentorship in cultivating future leaders—all essential for navigating life's unexpected turns.

Key Takeaways

Servant Leadership: Nadalie emphasizes the importance of supporting and empowering others as a cornerstone for building trust and effective teams.
Faith in Transition: Leaving a long-term role was challenging, but Nadalie’s faith provided a framework to embrace new opportunities with optimism.
Championing Mental Wellness: Her commitment to mental well-being and preparedness in sports is pivotal, influencing her current business endeavors.
Rejecting Bitterness: Natalie highlights avoiding bitterness through reflection and reshaping experiences into positive growth for oneself and others.
Continual Learning and Growth: Nadalie's career and personal journey exemplify dedication to lifelong learning, as seen in her current business pursuits aligning with her leadership.

Notable Quotes:

"I wanted to make her better. So I got out of the wheelchair and I crawled and I helped choreograph on my knees."
"The ceiling that I was put under, it was a slow, like, kind of death to my spirit in a lot of ways."
"What the enemy means for harm, that God takes and turns around for good."
"As a leader, you have the most authority, but you have that authority given to you so that you can shift the atmosphere."
"This was the thing that brought everyone together…because community connection and transparency is what actually heals people's hearts."

Resources

Natalie's Website and Contact: NadalieWalsh.com
Kim Walker-Smith’s Music: “How He Loves” and “Where You Go I Go” are prominently featured as inspirational tracks.

We encourage you to dive into this insightful conversation with Nadalie Walsh for a deeper understanding of leadership, resilience, and the power of positive transition. Listen to the full episode and discover how to embrace change with courage and conviction while looking out for more inspiring content from the Becoming UnDone podcast series.