Welcome to our new blog series, GIRLS WHO LEAD. We are kicking off this monthly collection with the author for the next 11 months: Lead Intern Ellie Friedlander! Ellie joined our team in the summer of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic and ahead of what would’ve been her third Lead Summit. As the Lead Intern, Ellie supports the communications team by creating some of our favorite motivational content, curating quotes, reminders, and videos that inspire both our team and our community.

I was so excited to chat with Ellie about her experience as an intern as well as her goals for the upcoming year. Be sure to tune into the blog for Ellie’s first interview next month!

-Courtney, Communications Director

CR: How did you originally learn about Lead?

EF: I first found out about Lead through Instagram. I was following Kara Lynn Joyce (Lead’s Founder) and Missy Franklin when I noticed they both posted about the 2018 Summit, and I knew it was an event I wanted to be a part of!

CR: What is the biggest lesson you've learned from attending Lead Summits?

EF: The biggest lessons I've learned from the Summits is that my hard work towards my training and my confidence will pay off. Coach Christen's keynotes about confidence taught me the best ways to flip around my doubtful thoughts with WOLF. And in Elizabeth Beisel's keynote where she talked about her swimming career, she said that every time you go to practice or eat well or spend time recovering, it's like putting money in the bank and at the end of the season you get to go and spend all you money and have a really great meet.

CR: How has your experience as an intern been?

EF: My experience as an intern has been amazing and has taught me so many new things, like social media management! For my usual tasks, I create 3-4 weekly posts for Lead Sports Co's social media accounts. I use Canva to create the posts, and I schedule them using Later. Every other week, our communications team has a meeting to see what everyone is doing and to discuss new ideas. I am also very excited about the beginning of this blog and that becoming a part of my job as an intern.

CR: What's your favorite part about working with the Lead Team?

EF: Working with the Lead Team these past couple months has been incredible. I love that it is made up of women with different backgrounds in sports and we are all working towards helping teenage girls like me have the best experience they can in sport.

CR: What are your favorite things to do outside of Lead and swimming?

EF: My favorite things to do include yoga, spending time at the beach and walking for ice cream, playing with my cats, and hanging out with my friends.

CR: What are your short term goals for the next year?

EF: My short term goals is to qualify for Pennsylvania State swim meet in March and to start talking to colleges in the fall.

CR: Any long term goals?

EF: Some of my long term goals are to break the 200 free record at my high school which is the oldest record on the board and to be able to go to and swim for the college of my choice.

RAPID FIRE

CR: Starbucks order?

EF: Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher

CR: Favorite event to swim?

EF: 200 free

CR: Favorite event to watch?

EF: 4x50 free relay

CR: Who is your female role model?

EF: Kara Lynn Joyce and Missy Franklin

CR: Motto or mantra to get motivated or inspired?

EF: No specific mantra, I like to remind myself of everything I've done to get me to wherever I am.

Do you know a Girl Who Leads?

Nominate them to be featured in our blog series!