A Tiny But Mighty NFL Force | Madame Founder with Dr. Jen Welter

One of the best phrases I’ve ever heard was uttered in this episode with Dr. Jen Welter , the first-ever female coach in the NFL! Simply put, she shared “we have all gone through hell, you just can’t stop there.”?

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This is such a truthful phrase and powerful practice for all of us – when it is your worst day and it feels like hell, just don’t stop there.? Work your way to purgatory, to earth, and then to...a Mai Tai on the beach. Jen’s idea of heaven!

She is an absolute powerhouse of resilience, grit and passion. Growing up in Vero Beach, FL, the epicenter of “Friday Night Lights,” Jen didn’t let her 5'2" frame stand in the way!? She wanted to play American football – a sport built on strength and size. In her mind, the football players were her superheroes, and she wanted to be one!? Time and again, like so many women, she faced “no” after “no,” but she transformed those rejections into FUEL for her fire!

?Like many of us, as a young girl, Jen was told all the things she couldn’t be or do – she would never be strong enough to play professional tennis, she would never be tall enough to play basketball, she would never be able to play football, that was a sport for men, but she looked to her real-life idols, “greek goddesses” as she put them, ?like Gabriela Sabatini, Stephi Graf, and Martina Navratilova.? They were DOING it; they were strong and powerful and competing!? It was that example that cemented in Jen all that a woman COULD be.? And boy am I glad they did.? The world is better for it!

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Eventually, Jen found her power not just on the field, but in the gym and through education.? Like the corporate world, she learned the incredible strength that comes from being on a diverse team and how important it is to surround yourself with the people who complement you best.? Her journey shows us that when we come together, we can achieve greatness beyond our wildest dreams!

As Jen passionately puts it, “I didn’t have to be everything; I had to be a really good part of something.” This got me thinking about our team at The Lumistella Company .? No one can achieve greatness by themselves, and the mindset is a GAME CHANGER.? The incredible people who work at (the Southern Branch of) The North Pole bring joy to millions and all of them are a really good part of something great.? ???? Do you feel like you are a really good part of something, if you don’t feel that way about what you do, is it time for a change?? It’s good food for thought.

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?She also had the most beautiful way of describing how every team doesn’t need to be filled with G.O.A.T.’s. ?WHAT?!? ??

She continued, if a team (your offense) is full of eleven Tom Brady’s, Peyton Manning’s or Aaron Rodger’s you are not going to win no matter how great that individual might be.? It takes diversity.? You need big, fast offensive linemen, a lighting quick running back. wide receivers with hands soft enough to cradle a baby and a tight end that run, catch and block!? As she put it, she wants the G.I.T.M’s the Greatest In The Moment!? I couldn’t agree more.

Listen to Madame Founder: https://christapitts.com/madamefounder

Dr. Welter didn’t just shatter the glass ceiling—she kicked it RIGHT through the goalposts. Her trailblazing spirit didn’t stop at becoming a coach; she’s on a mission to inspire and empower the next generation of female athletes through her Gridiron Girls camps. With every session, she’s instilling confidence and passion in young girls, showing them they belong in the game. And, as a bestselling author of Play Big and Critter Fitter, Jen’s message reaches far beyond the football field.

So, whether you're a die-hard football fan or just someone looking for inspiration to tackle life's challenges, this episode is packed with wisdom and heart. Jen Welter’s passion, determination, and humility are sure to leave you cheering for her—and ready to tackle your own obstacles! ???