"You can't have 'amazing' without hard." It's the mantra Donna Lamar learned on the track and the leadership philosophy that's guided her entire career.

The former Texas Tech sprinter has built an award-winning creative and production career, leading teams at Spotify and Twitter while shaping campaigns for iconic brands like Nike and Gatorade. One of the biggest influences on her success? A winding journey as a student-athlete that took an unexpected turn.

In this week's conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, Donna explores how sports gave her the confidence to take risks, the resilience to reinvent herself, and the empathy to bring out the best in every colleague. Candidly reflecting on the end of her track career, she reveals why the moments that don't go according to plan often become the ones that shape us most.

Whether you're transitioning out of sports, navigating a career pivot, leading a team, or simply wondering if the hard work is worth it, this episode is your reminder that resilience isn't built when everything goes right, it's forged in the moments that challenge who you are.

Show Notes and Socials:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-lamar-0160875/
• https://www.instagram.com/donnamuses/
• https://x.com/StalkingMuses

Ad Campaigns Highlighted by Donna Lamar:

• First Wieden+Kennedy "Just Do It" - https://youtu.be/0yO7xLAGugQ?si=758xSS5qAVHIWngH
• W+K "If you let me play" - https://youtu.be/AQ_XSHpIbZE?si=i8KPV24Fe2m4pCjb
• The Secret Tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN8kTFPhQTo

The Athlete Effect™ :

• instagram.com/the_athlete_effect
• tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect
• www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect

Bonnie Bernstein:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/
• twitter.com/BonnieBernstein
• instagram.com/BonnieBernstein