331: The Amazing Race’s Joanna Lohman: Why Role Players Win Championships
Joanna Lohman, former professional soccer player, U.S. Women’s National Team member, author, and global keynote speaker, shares why the people who don't get the spotlight are often the ones who make winning possible. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and Joanna explore what happens when leaders focus too much on superstars, why playing not to lose holds teams back, and how to recognize the important work that often goes unnoticed. Drawing from her 16-year professional soccer career, Joanna also opens up about rebuilding her identity after hitting rock bottom, leading with authenticity, and why top performers don't always become great leaders.
Read the full breakdown of Joanna Lohman’s episode on Learnit.
Key Leadership Lessons from Joanna Lohman’s Journey:
Celebrate the Role Players – Learn why recognizing the people doing essential work behind the scenes creates stronger, more cohesive teams and keeps success from revolving around a few star performers.
Play to Win, Not Just to Avoid Losing – Discover why fear and an obsession with avoiding mistakes can limit performance, and how leaders can create an environment where people are willing to take smart risks.
Being a Top Performer Doesn't Automatically Make You a Great Leader – Understand why the skills that make someone exceptional individually don't always translate to leadership and why leaders need to make the path to success clear for everyone on the team.
Connect with Joanna Lohman:
Joanna Lohman is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team. During her 16-year playing career, she became the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired and built a platform for creating social impact through sport. Today, she is the author of Raising Tomorrow's Champions, a global keynote speaker, authenticity activator, and Sport Diplomat. She also competed on Season 39 of The Amazing Race.
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