We sit down with Jess Roper, two-time English kickboxing champion, to explore her evolution from elite athlete to motivational speaker, mindset coach, and, most significantly, mother. Jess opens up about her biggest transition yet: becoming a mum, and how that life shift shaped her clarity, purpose, and ambition.

Through her personal growth journey, Jess highlights how working on yourself isn’t just powerful, it’s essential. She shares the importance of identifying the tools you want to carry with you for life, and how self-awareness helped her gain direction and vision beyond her sporting career.

From the ring to the world of personal development, Jess talks about how sport instilled a mindset for success and why thinking big, and thinking early, can open doors you didn’t know existed. She encourages athletes and non-athletes alike to ask for help, seek out mentors, and never let fear dictate their decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Your biggest transitions may happen outside of sport.
• Invest in your growth.
• Harness the mindset sport gave you.
• Start early, dream big.
• Get support.
• Don’t let fear stop you.

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organizations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

If Jess’s insights resonated with you, here are a few more episodes you won’t want to miss:

Don Armand

Nick De Luca

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

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