From Sport to Strategy: Alison’s passion for building teams that win

How does a start in sports coaching result in a career in driving a business’s people strategy? That’s Alison’s story. From volunteer coaching, following the local Rugby League team, or getting on the netball court herself – it’s always been about the thrill of teamwork. The fascination around a group of individuals coming together to achieve something and the moments of grit and triumph that takes – that’s where Alison feels the fire: it is in the power of teams.

After studying sports coaching and later sports journalism, Alison stepped into the world of customer service management, where she found herself back in familiar territory. Coaching, motivating, and building teams. Here, in a haze of metrics, measures and statistics, she rediscovered the passion that sport had sparked years earlier.

The vital lessons Alison says she’s learnt? Success is never just about talent; it’s about the ability to keep showing up and to connect with people in meaningful ways. And when people feel supported, seen, and inspired, success and performance follows.

Today, Alison’s role as People Operations Manager at Katchr serves to align people and business in a way that makes both stronger. This means understanding the business needs while linking decision making back to people – then, shaping a strategy which attracts, retains and develops the talented team at Katchr.

Businesses are built to make money and be successful, but we’re so much more than that at Katchr and the People strategy is key. In People Operations, Alison needs to understand the language of profit and growth but translate it through the lens of people. By creating environments that don’t solely look at targets, but where individuals can flourish, we can make work fulfilling for everyone. Employees are whole humans with needs, ambitions, and potential – so it’s a passion for Alison that we lead with empathy, humility and fairness at Katchr.

So maybe sport and business are not so different? The is a common thread of needing vision, resilience, and above all, teams who trust each other. Whether on the field or in the workplace, Alison has always known that great outcomes come from bringing people together, giving them purpose, and enabling them to succeed.

This is the thread that ties Alison’s story together: a passion for people, a head for business, and the conviction that the best teams, in sport or in business, always win together.