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Molly Meech has been operating at an elite level in sailing for a decade and she's now being exposed to it in the business world after being named as one of 15 women worldwide selected for the Ernst & Young Women Athlete Business Network 2022.
The WABN programme was created to support female athletes who have outstanding leadership potential and to provide guidance on their transition into the business world.
Meech is the only New Zealand athlete selected in 2022 and follows on from Dame Sophie Pascoe's involvement last year. It also comes on top of Meech's participation in a new Prime Minister's athlete scholarship internship pilot programme running in 2022, not to mention her new partnership in the 49erFX with Jo Aleh as the pair work towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"It's going to be a pretty busy year, but it's also really exciting," Meech admits. "It’s just an awesome opportunity for me to learn from these amazing female mentors and also learn and get inspired from the other athletes because it looks like all of them are doing incredible things internationally.
"It’s just going to be a great opportunity for me to explore my career pathway and also expand my network."
Each of the 15 athletes in the programme is paired with a mentor who works in their area of interest. Meech is studying for a masters in environmental sustainability so has been linked with Geri Ward, EY's New Zealand climate change and sustainability services director.
The pair connect on a regular basis and the entire group within the programme have also met virtually to talk about their own pathways and experiences.
"I feel like I’m stepping out of my comfort zone to be involved but I think that’s also going to be good for me in the long term," Meech said. "It’s going to open me up to a different network of people, which will help me transition into a future career.
"It’s becoming more apparent, and people have said it before, that the experience we gain through Olympic campaigning translates across to the business world. Until you have those conversations and get your foot in the door, you don’t entirely know what those skills are and how they can translate. The conversations I have been having now give me a lot more confidence.
"Yachting New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand have really helped support me into these different opportunities, which has been really great. Luckily I also have a supportive helm who is backing my decisions as well."
Meech and Aleh will next month head to Europe for a series of regattas as they build up to September's 49erFX world championships in Canada.
- Pic: Jo Aleh and Molly Meech competing in last month's 49erFX national championships. Photo: Adam Mustill Photography.
