Mentor Program for Future Healthcare Leaders in Elite Sport

Move from quietly hoping you are 'leadership material' to feeling genuinely ready to step up, without having to wait for a title or a promotion.

Apply for Mentoring

Who is this Program for?

You are a healthcare professional in elite sport who wants to step into leadership in the next few years

You might recognise yourself in some of these:

  • You love the clinical side of your work, but you are also curious about how teams are led and decisions are made.

 

  • You can see gaps in how your department runs, yet you are not sure how to influence change from your current role.

 

  • You want senior staff to see you as someone they can trust with more responsibility, but you are not sure how to show that you are ready.
  • You sometimes feel overlooked in meetings or case discussions, even when you have something valuable to add.

 

  • You would like to build skills in communication, mentoring and managing conflict before you are suddenly responsible for a whole team.

 

  • You want guidance from someone who understands elite sport, not generic leadership advice that ignores the realities of travel, fixtures and pressure.

If this sounds familiar, you are exactly who this mentoring is designed for.

What we work on together

This 12 week mentoring program is built around ten pillars of leadership for high performing healthcare teams in elite sport.

We focus on the areas that matter most for you now, so you are ready when opportunities arise.

For future leaders like you, we typically spend time on:

Leadership Identity

Exploring the kind of leader you want to become, how you naturally show up, and how to build calm confidence before you are in the hot seat.

Department Culture

Understanding what healthy culture looks like, and how you can positively influence it from any role, not just as the person in charge.

Mentorship

Learning how to support junior staff, students or peers in a way that builds trust and capability, even without formal authority.

Stakeholder Management

Practising how to communicate with coaches, performance staff and senior clinicians so your perspective is heard and respected.

Athlete Relationships

Strengthening your ability to build trust with athletes through connection, clarity and consistency, so they engage with your care plans.

Clinical Oversight

Building good habits in documentation, decision making and reflection so your clinical work is safe, consistent and leadership ready.

Clinical Governance

Understanding the frameworks that sit behind safe, defensible practice, and how leaders use them to protect both athletes and staff.

Systems and Automation

Using simple systems to stay organised and reliable, so people experience you as someone who is on top of details, not scrambling.

Medical Networks

Learning how to build and nurture a trusted network of specialists so you are already connected when you need to refer or collaborate.

Change Management

Developing the skills to navigate and support change, so you are someone who helps steady the group rather than getting swept up in the chaos.

Throughout the program we keep an eye on your workload and wellbeing, so your growth towards leadership feels exciting, not exhausting.

How the mentoring works

This is a structured, supportive mentoring program designed around the realities of elite sport.

Duration:     12 weeks

Format:        One-on-one 45 minute video call each week, supported by online learning modules

Delivery:      Online video calls, scheduled to suit your timezone and competition calendar

Resources:   Leadership modules, templates and tools inside the course platform

Support:       Email support between sessions for questions and reflections

A typical journey looks like this:

Week 1: Clarity, goals and baselines

We map your current role, strengths and ambitions, then set clear, realistic goals for the 12 weeks.

Weeks 2–11: Deep dives into the pillars

Each week we focus on one key area. You bring real situations, and we work through practical approaches you can apply straight away.

week 12: Consolidation and next steps

We review your progress, capture what is working, and create a simple plan for the next 3–6 months.

The aim is not to give you more theory to remember. It is to give you calm, clear next steps each week so you feel steadily more prepared for future opportunities.

Your mentor: Karen Finnin

You will be mentored by Karen Finnin, a human performance specialist who has spent her career supporting healthcare teams in elite sport.

  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy
  • Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
  • MBA in Innovation and Leadership
  • Leadership experience in global elite performance environments, including a performance medicine leadership role with Cirque du Soleil

Karen’s mentoring style is warm, calm and practical. You can expect a peer level conversation where your challenges are taken seriously, and you leave each session with clear, realistic actions.

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Investment and Value

Investment: $1297 USD

This includes:

  • 12 x 45 minute one to one mentoring sessions over 12 weeks
  • Access to leadership modules, templates and tools inside the course platform
  • Email support between sessions
  • A structured framework built specifically for healthcare teams in elite sport
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For many future leaders, the return on this investment shows up as:

  • Greater confidence in speaking up, taking initiative and being seen as leadership potential
  • Clearer understanding of how high performing healthcare departments actually run
  • Stronger relationships with athletes, colleagues and senior staff
  • A more direct path towards the next step in your leadership career

If your organisation is funding your development, this program can be invoiced or reimbursed as professional development.

Apply for Mentoring

Burnout, confidence and sustainable leadership

In elite sport it can feel as though you must “prove yourself” endlessly before anyone will trust you with leadership. At the same time, the work is already demanding.

This mentoring is designed to:

  • Help you grow without burning out, by giving you a safe space to think, debrief and plan
  • Build your confidence through small, consistent wins in your current role
  • Equip you with boundaries and systems now, so when you do step into leadership you already have sustainable habits in place

You do not need to wait until you have a leadership title to ask for support. Support is how you get ready for it.

What Others Say

“I was fortunate to develop my leadership skills under Karen’s mentorship. She promoted a fun and approachable environment based in effective communication and mutual trust. Her vision was clear and always inspiring. Her empathy, courage and commitment to personal growth provided a strong foundation where I felt both empowered and cared for.”

- Perfomance Medicine Leader

How to get started

The mentoring program is offered by application so that we can make sure it is the right fit for you and your current stage.

Step 1: Submit your application

Complete a short form sharing your role, your team context and what you would like support with.

Step 2: Free 15 minute call

You will be invited to a brief call to discuss your needs, ask questions and confirm whether the program is right for you.

Step 3: Enrol and schedule your sessions

If we both agree it is a good fit, you will receive your enrolment link and we will schedule your first session.

Apply for Mentoring

Interested but still have questions? Schedule a free 15 minute call to discuss your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apply for Mentoring

Interested but still have questions? Schedule a free 15 minute call to discuss your needs.

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