We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tracey Leinen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tracey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

Separating business from personal has been a challenge for me. I’m an empath with high expectations that everyone should care in the same ways I do. My entire life I’ve given more to others than I’ve given to myself. In the work environment, it has created the biggest obstacle for me, creating letdown time and time again. As I move through my career, work with each client or set goals for my next project, I’m learning how to see things from an alternative perspective. I have become more subjective and choose what allows me to give back and provide support to those I want to work beside. I’ve remained true to myself, through the lessons I’ve learned, to keep being my authentic self with the knowledge and understanding that colleagues may have their own agenda.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

After a successful career in the NFL, I created TEAM Management, an event planning company, focused on hosting meetings and events for high profile individuals and companies. Recently, TEAM Management pivoted into a sports and entertainment marketing company, focused on rebranding athletes/celebrities. I enjoy finding a creative approach to show my clients life outside of their comfort zone, proving they can make an impact and create a legacy they can be proud of and beyond their dreams.

In addition to TEAM Management, I founded the Griffin Gives Foundation which provides opportunities and experiences to military families, those with a debilitating disease and supports the health and wellness of children. We’ve been able to give back and provide support to those in need since 2010. In 2022, the Griffin Gives Foundation unveiled the One Hope Ribbon. This ribbon symbolizes the collective effort to create awareness and support for every cause. I truly believe everyone has the ability to make a difference. Smile at a stranger, share your story, pay it forward by creating positivity in spaces where it’s most needed. Understand that kindness is contagious, and we can all make an impact, big or small. You can get someone off the couch just by being present and sharing positive energy with them. Griffin Gives strives to find ways to make an incredible impact on those in need.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There have been many setbacks along my path, yet through each setback I’ve made an incredible comeback. Whether it in my personal life or in business, it certainly has not been a smooth road I’ve travelled. My greatest accomplishments have been celebrated and my toughest obstacles have been a time to stop, breathe and focus on pushing forward.

Through the setbacks, I’ve learned how to tell the story – without negativity and with the strength to show how I’ve overcome them to make a greater impact because of my experience. My resilience has been tested but ultimately no one, including myself, will gain from seeing the negative within the story.

When I lost my house to a fire, and we lost everything, the focus shifted to – it was just stuff, and this was a teachable moment to rebuild and help others. When I received my breast cancer diagnosis, I saw it as an opportunity to support others because now I understood what it felt like to hear those words “you have cancer”. Resilience, for me, is knowing that each thing I’ve had to overcome, has been a moment I can share my story and help others. I truly understand and I’ve come through things with my head held high, finding ways I can share, support and find the strength to help others to keep moving.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

After leaving the NFL, I had to learn how to use my name and my company differently. It was simple to pick up the phone and ask for things when I had a powerful, well-established, exciting company behind me. I found myself lost and knocked down because TEAM Management or the Griffin Gives Foundation did not carry the same weight as the Philadelphia Eagles or the NFL. People were less likely to call back or fulfill my request, although it was still me seeking the support. I had to learn how to build my brand, my image and my credibility outside of that safe platform I was once on, learning how to not take it personally but to thrive in my new space, challenged to prove myself without the prestigious support I had behind me. I’ve become successful in doing so; however, it took time, effort and confidence to push through.

I’m able to relate to athletes and celebrities who were once at the top of their career and are now faced with finding a new path in their career journey. I show them a life outside of sports and entertainment and a place filled with purpose and expectations they can resonate with. My experiences have been parlayed into the success stories I’ve provided to countless colleagues, clients and anyone who chooses to listen and allow me to support them. I’m thankful for the opportunity to turn my lessons, setbacks and ultimately my achievements into an advantage I can provide to my network.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teammgmt.org www.griffingives.org
• Instagram: tracey_leinen
• Linkedin: tracey-leinen

Image Credits
Gina Myers