I say that I’m lucky a lot. No one is lucky that much. There’s a lot of hard work that goes behind this. Let’s start taking some credit for that, rather than dismissing it as luck
One of the main themes that run through many of my conversations on Sparta Chicks Radio is around the concept that “you can’t be what you can’t see”.
This week’s guest is on a mission to change what you can see - and by extension, be.
Mary Konstantopoulos is a lawyer who, in her “spare time”, is the force behind the “Ladies Who” media company - or dare I say growing empire - that advocates for, and shares stories of, women in sport here in Australia.
She hosts two podcasts on the ABC Grandstand radio network; Ladies Who League (about rugby league) and Ladies Who Legspin (about cricket).
Mary has also launched blogs called Ladies Who Leap (AFLW), Ladies Who Lineout (rugby) and Ladies Who Lunge (netball).
Mary’s passion for sport developed as a result of her desire to spend more time with her Dad who was (and remains) a passionate Parramatta Eels supporter in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition.
Yet she describes in this conversation a sense of shame she sometimes feels because it never occurred to her to ask if women also played the sport.
In this conversation, we discuss:
* what appealed to her about studying Law (hint: it involved arguing!)
* how her life has revolved around sport since she was a young child growing up with her two brothers,
* why she was motivated to throw herself into all sports as a kid (despite not being very good at any of them),
* what prompted her to launch the ‘Ladies Who League’ blog (which at the time was about the men’s competition),
* the evolution of the ‘Ladies Who’ media company,
* the importance, and impact, of using strong imagery for women in sport,
* her experience with the Imposter Complex,
* why it’s important to give yourself credit for your hard work and success, rather than attributing it to luck, and
* how she deals with online trolling and public criticism.
Mary’s is an articulate and passionate fan of women in sport and believes, as I do, that “you can’t be what you can’t say” and is on a mission to change what you can see in the media in Australia.
Click here to listen on iTunes.
Notes and resources:
To find out more about Mary or to say hello, you can find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or via the "Ladies Who" website at www.ladieswho.com.au.
Find the Ladies Who League podcast here and the Ladies Who Legspin podcast here.
You can also connect with Mary on LinkedIn here (send her a note and let her know you heard her on Sparta Chicks Radio!).
