205. Navigating Mental Health in Sports Leadership with Fulham Football Club’s Director of Safeguarding and Inclusion, Eleanor Rowland (Part 1)

Prepare to be captivated by our two-part episode, where I had the pleasure of chatting with Eleanor Rowland, the Director of Safeguarding & Inclusion at Fulham Football Club. For many of us here in the States, Eleanor's job title might sound unfamiliar, but that's exactly why this episode is a must-listen!

Eleanor opens up about the intricacies of her role, delving into the challenges, the triumphs, and the inherent pressure that comes with her position. It's a rare glimpse into a critical aspect of sports management that often goes unnoticed.

But there's more—Eleanor also shares her strategies for maintaining mental wellness, both for herself and her team. She reveals the importance of regular check-ins with a psychologist, a practice mandated for her team, underscoring the club's commitment to mental health.

And you won't want to miss part two, where Eleanor gets even more personal. She talks candidly about living with General Anxiety Disorder while navigating the high-stakes world of sports as an executive. It's an enlightening conversation that sheds light on the balance between managing mental health issues and achieving professional success.

This two-part episode is not just an exploration of a unique career path; it's a testament to resilience, mental health awareness, and the unseen challenges faced by those behind the scenes of our favorite sports organizations. Tune in—you're in for an inspiring journey.

 

Free Resource | Empower Your Career: Mastering the Art of Advocacy for Promotions and Raises: https://rb.gy/3qpump

 

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Connect with Eleanor:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-rowland-77060855/ 

 

Eleanor is the Director of Safeguarding and Inclusion for Fulham Football Club. She is currently the only female member of the Club’s Management Board and is the only Director across the Premier League who holds this area of responsibility at the Board Level. Eleanor is passionate about Gender Equality and is working hard to promote females into coaching, operations, and senior leadership positions within the Club whilst also educating the workforce on the impact of violence against women and girls. She has recently commissioned a bespoke ‘Bystander in the workplace’ training, delivered by Kindling Interventions which is tailored specifically to focus on noticing and intervening in sexism, gender stereotyping, gendered microaggressions, and gender-based violence against women and girls. Fulham FC is the first Premier League Club to have embarked and committed to ALL staff receiving this training. Without these conversations, we can’t begin to make societal changes!

Prior to this, she worked within the inspection team at the UK’s largest child protection agency, the National Society for the Prevention of Child Cruelty (“the NSPCC”), and a number of different crime prevention and substance misuse charities. Her skills and expertise are in safeguarding, inclusion of underrepresented groups, and community work.

Chair of the Union Jax Foundation (UJF), the UK charitable arm of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Eleanor also provides oversight and support on the strategic direction of UJF and the growth of the grassroots game of American Football in the UK.

She also has a passion for matters relating to equality and belonging, health, social justice, and how we continue to create a sustainable future in our professional and personal lives.

 

Music By:  Quanzaa