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Melanie Mitchell

@poppysports

922

followers

3343

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Helping women endurance athletes grow wildly successful careers.
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👋 Hey there, new and familiar faces!⁠
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I’m Melanie, founder of Poppy Sports—where our mission is to support women athletes in building their professional careers through mentoring, coaching and practical planning.⁠
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Sport has given me so much: confidence, motivation, grit, a strong community, not to mention boosted my mental health. Whenever I met challenges in my career journey, it was natural to tap into my peer athlete group.⁠
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Here’s a bit about me:
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☕ As the photo suggests, I’m a coffee lover. I love the buzz of an espresso, but it’s the pause of ‘coffee time’ that really sets my day in motion.
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🏊‍♀️ Swimming is my place. I meditate staring at the black line. Some might call that crazy, I call it peace ✌️
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🌸 ‘Poppy’ comes from my daughter, who at six created an alter ego named Poppy, a confident soul who helped her find her own voice.
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💪 My goal is to empower 10,000+ women through mentoring, coaching, and community. If you haven’t yet, join us by hitting FOLLOW! ⁠
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On this account, you’ll find inspiration, career advice, and updates on our latest coaching programs. Everything at Poppy Sports is designed for women athletes advancing their careers and collegiate athletes stepping into the professional world for the first time. 🚀⁠
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Let’s build a thriving community of women who are ready to GSD. Thanks for being part of this journey. I’m excited to get to know you better and be part of YOUR career journey.⁠
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Let’s swim, bike, run, and go! 🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️ 🚀⁠
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#ironmantriathlon #marathon #triathlon #careercoach #mentorship #executivecoach⁠ by @poppysports

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2 years ago

Rolling into the high country on another training block. Proud to say I’m smarter (thanks to my coach @jnedaylucore ) and still getting stronger. It takes more effort at my decade, but the motivation is still there. Why? Because moving is how I feel alive and how I keep my mind in check. And, duh, I really need to get to the mountains more regularly🙄. taken in Evergreen, Colorado by @poppysports

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a year ago

🏅 Athletes, your career network needs training too.⁠
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As athletes we are uniquely positioned to stretch our skills beyond training and racing, and into our career journeys to build a modern professional network.⁠
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Just like racing, success in building a professional network doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a blend of preparation, execution, and embracing the process. 🏋️‍♀️ ⁠
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👉 Head over to the Poppy Sports Blog (LinkinBio) to read our Five Tips For Athletes Building a Professional Network. We share: ⁠
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✅ 5 actionable tips to build a professional network.
✅ How to leverage your athlete mindset to connect authentically.⁠
✅ Why now is the time to take your networking game seriously.⁠
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Don't miss out on these strategies to be proactive in your career, make meaningful connections, and learn that networking can actually be fun (yes, it can 😛), natural and an extension of who you are as an athlete. ⁠
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#WomenAthletes #NetworkingTips #CareerGrowth #PoppySports⁠ by @poppysports

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Cracked out the red happy pants to celebrate the close of the year.

The Poppy Sports mission remains to impact the lives of 10,000 women athletes through career coaching and more.

👏And we’re on our way!

Progress ebbs and flows (just like we teach in our coaching) and overall we’re heading in the right direction. 📈

2025 will see me out and about more with groups, clubs and 1:1s. I’m also adding more partnerships and thoughtful collaborations; we can have more impact together.

If you’re looking to start the year on the right foot:

🧠 Book a focused 90 min Mindset Coaching session with me this January to dial in the first quarter 📖
👑 Invest in weekly 1:1 sessions with me for my 8-week signature coaching program where we dig into your roots as an athlete to create a career plan to help you bloom. 🌸
🎓We can bring Poppy Sports coaching to your collegiate athletes, preparing them to embark on their lives post graduation feeling confident of their skills and less alone on the journey.

Find out more in our LinkInBio and get in touch! by @poppysports

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2 years ago

🚴 What can a bike ride teach you about career growth? Quite a lot!⁠
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As athletes, we know the power of shifting gears—whether it’s powering through a tough climb, enjoying the speed of a downhill, or coasting and enjoying the ride. No surprise, these same energy outputs can also help you navigate the ups and downs of your professional life - and who’s kidding, life in general. ⁠
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In the latest blog post, I dive into how cycling taught me to (eat a lot of humble pie, but also): ⁠
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➡ Adjust to career challenges like gearing down to tackle a climb⁠
➡ Build momentum to propel yourself forward when it counts⁠
➡ Avoid burnout by "shifting down" when needed⁠
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✨ Click the link in bio to read more and start using what you know as an athlete to push your career forward. by @poppysports

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2 years ago

💡 Leadership is Everywhere 💡⁠
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"If you're not a leader on the bench, don't call yourself a leader on the field. You're either a leader everywhere or nowhere." – Abby Wambach⁠
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True leadership isn’t about titles or being in the spotlight. It’s about showing up with integrity, purpose, and impact—no matter where you are.⁠
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💬 Are you embracing leadership in the quieter moments?⁠
💬 Are you leading with resilience, trust, and action even when no one’s watching?⁠
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Whether in your career, training, or life, leadership starts from within.⁠
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👉 Lead from wherever you are; that's where the power truly lies.⁠
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#LeadershipMindset #LeadFromTheBench by @poppysports

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2 years ago

📣 Leadership Isn’t a Title—It’s a Mindset 📣⁠
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Not all leaders stand at the front. Some lead with confidence from where they are—on the bench, with or without a formal title. In an ever-changing world, you don’t need permission to lead.⁠
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✨ Leading from the bench is about:
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✔️ Trusting yourself to take action⁠
✔️ Believing in your capacity to make an impact
✔️ Contribution and collaboration ⁠
✔️ Fostering growth for yourself and others⁠
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You don’t need permission to lead. Start where you are and prove that true leadership begins within. 💡⁠
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🌟 Click the link in bio to learn how to lead with purpose, wherever you are.⁠
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#MindsetMastery #WomenAthletes #CareerGrowth #LeadFromTheBench #ControlTheControllables by @poppysports

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2 years ago

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a year ago

As athletes, we know that competition can be a powerful motivator, and part of the equation that can lead to higher performance levels—but not all competition is healthy. 👀 ⁠
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Healthy competition inspires us to grow while celebrating others’ wins. Unhealthy rivalry, though? It can can undermine both personal and collective well-being. ⁠
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Keep swiping to consider the fine line between the two, the key traits of healthy competition, and how to identify the signs of an unhealthy rivalry.⁠
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Athletes, let’s look out for one another; time marches on and so do we, and better we go forth in support of each other 💪⁠
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🔎 Tap the link in bio to learn how to turn competition into a tool for growth.⁠
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#WomenInSport #CareerGrowth #HealthyCompetition by @poppysports

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2 years ago

In training, we track every workout to see how far we've come and where we’re headed. Small steps make big differences 🏃‍♀️💪 The same goes for your career: commit to documenting your wins—big and small. These achievements are your career milestones, the proof of your growth, and the story of your impact. 🌱📈⁠
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Recording these moments builds confidence and helps you showcase your progress when it’s time to level up. 📊⁠
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Celebrate your journey, track your wins, and let your career story shine as bright as your athletic journey. ✨ ⁠
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#CareerGrowth #AthleteMindset #CelebrateYourWins by @poppysports

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2 years ago

From Sweat to Success: Ready to take a new approach to your career? As an athlete, you can use your sports mindset as the perfect template for both your professional growth and race goals.⁠
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💪 Consistency & Grit: Just like in sport, consistency and step by step progress towards a goal are also the foundations for career success⁠
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📊 Track Your Progress: In training, we track workouts. In your career, document your wins—big and small—and use them to track and showcase your career progress.⁠
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🤝 Find Your Coach: Just as we rely on coaches in sports, a mentor (or manager) can guide you toward success.⁠
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🎯 Stay Focused on Your End Goal: Whether you're eyeing a promotion or a leadership role, approach your career with the same strategy you bring to race season.⁠
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Resilience, strategy, and grit aren't just for sports—they're the keys to breaking through professional barriers.⁠
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If you're ready to tap into your athletic perseverance for career growth, DM me to learn more about my Mindset Mastery Coaching to help you to leverage your resilience as an athlete for professional success. 🏅⁠
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#WomenInBusiness #AthleteMindset #CareerGrowth #Resilience #Grit #MindsetMastery #WomenWhoLead #ProfessionalAthletes #EnduranceAthlete #CareerDevelopment #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #WomenInSport #GoalSetting⁠ by @poppysports

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2 years ago