We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Priscilla Loomis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Priscilla below.

Alright, Priscilla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Summer of 2021, I retired from athletics. After 26 years of being an athlete, I had finally hung up my spikes for good. Earlier that year I took a job at a local radio station; I became the morning show host while training for the Summer Olympics. (Quick backstory, In college, my professor who taught intro to radio told me to skip radio and go right to television, he always believed the world needed to see my personality and not just listen to it.)
The job was offering me a “promotion”, more work, less pay. I knew I would do the job well but I also knew how dedicated I would be and it would open me up to being taken advantage of.
As luck would have it, I was offered a “marketing” job for a liquor company, more pay, new experience, travel, company card, a whole upgrade! I left the radio station, on good terms, and became the Field Marketing manager of a new liquor company. Within 6 months, I realized, I had been bamboozled! Micro managed, mentally stressed and unhealthy, miserable waking up each day and coming home and complaining which put a strain on my marriage. Once I received a sexist comment, I quit 4 minutes later. I wouldn’t allow anyone to make me feel less than ever again.
I was jobless, stressed and upset. I didn’t want to put all the financial burdens on my husband and I didn’t have a coach telling how to approach the next steps. I knew I had so much to offer with my experience but I needed the right outlet. I started to question if I was a failure because I couldn’t make 2 jobs work.
I prayed that I would do something that I woke up happy doing, would uplift my marriage and be a way to give back everything I learned in my Olympic Journey. I wanted to inspire others to be their best selves and QUIT toxic environments.
I took a HUGE risk and bet on myself. In May of 2022, right after I quit my job, I started my own company, Priscilla Loomis LLC! I focus on bringing the Olympic Mindset of resilience, courage and commitment to everyday life; I also speak on leadership development, Women empowerment, and health & wellness.
I am the first entrepreneur of my family, so I was learning everything on my own, no mentors and no guidance. I was also broke and knew it would be a 2 year investment before I would be financially stable. A risk is the unknown outcome but I was investing in myself and putting my health and happiness at the forefront, that would never be a failure.
Becoming an entrepreneur was the greatest risk and reward because I didn’t shrink myself to make other people feel comfortable, I didn’t let fear of the unknown stop me in my tracks and I focused on being selfish so that I could be the example of prosperity, growth and courage. My company is being recognized, I am being spoken about highly in rooms I am not in and I wake up everyday filled with gumption!

Priscilla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey Hey! I am Priscilla Loomis, Olympian, retired track and field professional athlete, entrepreneur and non-profit founder!
I am the proud CEO of Priscilla Loomis LLC, speaking on my Olympic journey and providing powerful resources, engaging topics and expert knowledge to those seeking achievement, value and purpose. My unique Olympic story specializes in “The Rise of The Under Dog”- connecting with those who are hungry for success and determined to thrive . I spark the fire of passion, resilience and courage to be a champion in your life!

I have been public speaking since 2016, and came up with my company because I was tired of shrinking myself, given the narrative of “less than”, having no voice and being seen as “too much” in my prior work environments, including track and field. I wanted to be an example and mentor, especially for female athletes, of being unapologetically authentic, confident and bold; there is nothing wrong with being a badass warrior.
Since I was an athlete for 26 years, I experienced sexism, racism, hate, failures, set backs, injury and death. I was unsigned, unappreciated and cleaning toilets to make ends meet.
A lot of those situations were meant to break me and give me a mindset of defeat.
I know I am not alone in those experiences and feelings, so I stood up for every person who has ever handled difficult situations and became the light. My company is about empowerment, giving real solutions and better answers for when tough times arise. I am the tool in your toolbox of resources and the unbreakable brick in your foundation.
I speak as a guest lecturer for schools on topics such as mental health, catholic schools week & entrepreneurship, I sit on panels, am a keynote for corporate events and host my own ‘Unbreakable Series’ where guests enjoy evenings with music, refreshments and empowerment!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Lesson I had to Unlearn: Success is the opposite of failure

As a young athlete, I was terrified of failure, I wanted to be successful and growing up, if you wanted success you needed to avoid failure. Success meant always winning, everyone liking you, not making mistakes, almost like perfection. At the time, the biggest quote was ” Practice makes Perfect” but I had to unlearn this very early on in my career.
Everyone fails! Failure means you tried, Failure doesn’t mean end of the road.
I had to shift my mindset and realize that failure was a huge part of my journey because as a High Jumper, you always end on a failure. Let me explain,
In the High Jump, what I went to the Olympics for, you get 3 chances at a bar height, let’s say 5 feet 5 inches. You clear the bar, the bar rises to the next height, 5 feet 7 inches. This goes on until you can’t clear the bar anymore.
My best height clearance was 6 feet 3.25 inches. If I was the last competitor, I would always raise the bar to see if I could go higher. I got 3 chances. I was unsuccessful at clearing anything higher. Does that mean I am a failure?
HELL NO! It means I was resilient enough to keep trying to better myself, it means I wanted more, I challenged myself. Ending with the bar on the ground meant I gave it everything I had but that there was an opportunity for growth.
I took this with me in business, there will be things I try that don’t work but I was able to learn a positive lesson from that failure. Failure allows for prosperity and it sometimes leads you down the right path!

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

As I grow my business, the best advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to take the Olympic Mindset with you everyday. Olympians pour so much consistency, resilience and commitment into themselves that they become a symbol of empowerment. When you care about your health, your well-being and your personal growth, you attract like minded individuals. A team works well with great leadership, if you are the leader, model what you want your team to exemplify; dedication, effective communication, performance feedback, positive attitude, mental health breaks, continuing your education, engagement, embrace change when needed and be a good listener.
When these traits are a part of your foundation, your employees make this a part of their foundation and now your company is built on solid foundation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.PriscillaLoomis.com
• Instagram: @Priscilla_Frederick
• Facebook: Priscilla Eve Loomis
• Linkedin: Priscilla Loomis