I was recently listening to a Brené Brown podcast featuring an interview with Abby Wambach. Abby is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA World Cup champion, and the highest all-time international goal scorer for any soccer player, regardless of gender. After retiring from professional sports, Abby discovered a new passion for public speaking, leadership development, and social advocacy. I was so inspired by the podcast that I had to purchase Abby’s book that they were discussing – Wolfpack.
In her book Wolfpack, Abby shares the leadership lessons she learned throughout her career and encourages readers to embrace their strengths by showing up as their most authentic selves. Although the book is geared towards women, the leadership traits she discusses are applicable to any reader. She challenges outdated cultural norms and redefines leadership in a way that is inclusive, empowering, and accessible to all.
“There is a wolf inside of every woman. Her wolf is who she was made to be before the world told her who to be. Her wolf is her talent, her power, her dreams, her voice, her curiosity, her courage, her dignity, her choices – her truest identity.”
Abby explores different styles of leadership, including one that may be less visible but just as impactful: leading from the bench. After spending most of her career as a starting player, her final tournament found her in a supporting role. Rather than seeing this as a setback, she chose to lead through encouragement, motivation, and team spirit. Her message is clear: at any point in our careers or lives, we may feel "benched," but that doesn't mean we stop leading. She teaches that “Leadership is taking care of yourself and empowering others to do the same.”
One of my favorite takeaways from the book is her emphasis on leading with vulnerability and authenticity. She reminds us that everyone on a team has valuable input and deserves a voice. Leadership isn’t about fitting a mold—it’s about making space for others and recognizing that there are as many authentic ways to lead as there are people.
“Real leaders don’t mimic a cultural construct of what a leader looks, sounds, and acts like. They understand that there are as many authentic ways to lead as there are people… [Leadership becomes] less about making pronouncements to everyone and more about eliciting ideas from everyone.”
Throughout the book, Abby encourages us to find our “pack”—the people who support us, hold us accountable to our greatness, and remind us of our worth. Whether you're leading a team, managing a project, or simply trying to navigate your career with integrity, Wolfpack offers inspiration and practical insight for anyone looking to lead more boldly and collaboratively.
In the end, the book is a quick, motivating read that challenged and inspired me. It reminded me of the power we all have—not just to lead, but to uplift others and change the rules for the better.