There was Brandi.

As always, I know you are thinking- what the hell does this have to do with your company or your job? Keep reading…

My relationship with soccer started as a young age, not as a player, but as soccer “sister”. My brother, who undoubtedly inherited the athletic genes in our family, spent a lot of time on the pitch. My gifts, of gab and feelings-- was perfectly suited to sidelines; this was before parents started getting crazy (I mean, they were crazy, but no one was putting it on Tik Tok) and I had the benefits of being a sibling so my "passion" could still be chalked up to teen angst. Plus, there was no Nintendo switch or an iphone to keep me busy back then. I actually watched the damn games!

So to make it abundantly clear, we are not new at this soccer fan thing. Ultimately, my brother played D1 college soccer-- and our family, on a visit to Japan to visit family, attended our first World Cup together in 2002 (Japan/ Korea). .. and we got hooked.

Before I got married in 2007, my husband and I talked about starting a family and I said, only after the 2010 Word Cup (South Africa).

In 2015, when I realized a US v. Japan final was going to repeat itself in Vancouver… I booked flight and hotels with every last reward point I had, made my dad pack his bags to get to the final game of the Women's World Cup. The whole time, I reveled in the fact that I couldn't lose with both of my teams in the final. (USA won the rematch this time)

2015 Women’s World Cup Final - Vancouver, BC. USA v. Japan
Final Score: USA 5 : Japan 2

And finally, last fall, me, my brother, Mom and Dad made it to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup-- a 20 year anniversary of our very first WC experience. I left my husband and kids for 10 days, told them to look for us on TV, and wished them a Happy Thanksgiving. What a blessing to be able to be with my mom, dad, and brother for 10 days and celebrate with the world.

But before ALL of this, there was the "sports bra" heard 'round the world. The 1999 Women's World Cup Final. USA v. China. Pasadena. Sell out crowd of 90,185.

***CREDIT: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images***

0-0 draw after extra time… led to penalties. GAH!

Each team made their PK's…until the 3rd PK for China was saved by US Goalie, Brianna Scurry. (also a legend!)

Brandi Chastain stepped up in the 5th position, drilled it in, ripped off her shirt, and unleashed one of the most iconic celebrations in soccer history, men's or women's… cemented her legacy in US soccer forever.

In the days after, she was criticized for being disrespectful, for showing skin, being too brash, un-woman like-- but for many, including myself, the image endures as badassery personified. The gall of everyone seeing your sports bra (!)

FUN FACT: FIFA created a rule the following year— penalizing any player, man or woman, who removes their shirt during a goal celebration.

Here's what you might not have known-- Brandi Chastain was not supposed to shoot in the 5th position. She was supposed to go 6th in the line up (if it came to a 6th).

Additionally, US coach Tony DiCicco, told her to take it with her left foot. To be sure, she was always considered a two-footed player, but she had NEVER taken a penalty with her left foot- EVER. He wanted her to use her left foot because he thought it would surprise the Chinese goalie.

He was Right.

When she was recently asked about the moment on the "Men in Blazers" podcast (so good and entertaining, BTW— check it out!)

She explained that DiCicco had brought her back to the National Team (post-injury), switched her position (from striker to the back line). And when he told her to take the PK with her left foot-- despite never taking a penalty kick with her left foot in her LIFE… she did it because she could and he knew the same.

““When he came to me with anything, I knew he would not put me in a position to fail.””

— Brandi Chastain, Men in Blazers Podcast 8.2.2023

Well, that quote stopped me in my tracks. I hit pause and played it back.

In a nutshell, that is leadership at work.

He believed.

He 100% believed in her ability to convert the PK. He believed in her confidence and trusted his own instincts as a coach. And he believed in her left foot.

She believed.

She believed she was made for that moment. She believed if her coach told her she should do it….that she could.

The intersection of trust, respect and ability— that is the magic that makes impossible things possible.

The World Cup is perhaps the most exaggerated example I could use, the biggest stage in the world, and yet, I KNOW from my experience, that leadership brilliance can be seen and heard every day, under any circumstance.

Imagine what we would be collectively be capable of if we all felt the same as Brandi and Tony at that time ...

we would be Unstoppable. on the pitch. Off the pitch. At home. In the office.

That is the power of trust and confidence.

The rest as you know, is history. The US Women’s National Team became the defining force in the women’s game, winning two more World Cups in 2015 and 2019, until two days ago, when it all screeched to a halt. (that is another blog post!)

As for me, I'm going to watch the rest of the tournament and cheer on my other team, Japan. (I promise you— they're going to be in the final.) And while the US women couldn't quite get the job done this time around, I know we'll be back-- because even the best in the world need a reset.

If you're not on the soccer bus, hop on! If you already are-- then you already know how special it all is, particularly if you've been to a World Cup.

Enjoy the rest of the Cup-- because we got next. #2026

Until next time my friends…Be well & stay well!

Jean

PS: a very special shout out to all of my World Cup friends I’ve made over the years…your enduring friendships are treasured!

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Before there was Believe…

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