What does it really take to lead at the highest level, while at the same time being true to who you are?
In this episode of There Were Signs, Cassie sits down with Shannon Winzer, a trailblazer in the world of high-performance sport. From her early days immersed in athletics to her evolution into a national team coach and now a High Performance Director, Shannon shares a deeply personal and professional journey of resilience, adaptability, and growth.
In this episode, Cassie and Shannon explore the challenges of being a woman in leadership, the weight of decision-making in elite sport, and the often-invisible work of balancing career ambition with family life. Shannon opens up about the importance of never closing the door on an athlete’s potential and how her own identity as a coach continues to evolve.
Whether you're a coach, a parent, a leader or simply someone navigating career transitions this episode is a powerful reminder that growth often comes in the spaces between roles, titles, and expectations. This episode is much more then volleyball!
In this episode, you'll hear about:
00:00-Early Sports Memories
02:54 – Peaking Late in Sports
06:13 – The Shift to Coaching
09:01 – Coaching Challenges and Building Empathy
13:19 – Balancing Family and Coaching Commitments
18:40 – Taking Risks and Saying Yes to Growth
28:00 – Arriving in Canada and Starting Over
28:35 – Confidence, Support & Mentorship
29:14 – Gender Bias in Coaching Roles
31:45 – Struggles with Work-Life Balance
32:59 – Evolving Coaching Standards and Expectations
34:52 – Navigating Identity in Leadership
38:08 – Staying Grounded in a Demanding Role
48:21 – Full-Circle Reflections
51:05- Embracing Uncertainty and the Journey Ahead
Connect with Cassie:
Instagram:@cassiehawrysh
Facebook:Cassie Elise Hawrysh
Website:cassiehawrysh.com
Connect with Shannon:
Instagram: @shannon_winzer
