Dear Penny: Representation packs a pretty big punch

Dear Penny,

One Thursday evening in a balmy Auckland, I joined the crowds of people making their way to Mt Smart Stadium. The FIFA women's world cup was on and USA was about to take on Spain. As I sat down in my seat and made myself at home for the next few hours I couldn't help but notice the fans all around the stadium. Dressed in their team's colours, singing, chanting and having a good time. I wouldn't go as far as to say I was surprised, but I definitely didn't anticipate this level of support or commitment from the crowd. What happened next though, definitely took me by surprise. When the teams were welcomed onto the pitch over the loudspeaker and the players announced, a silent tear started to roll down my cheek. The school of life got me, and for the first time in my life, I understood why representation was so important.

I started playing football when I was in primary school and to begin with, I was the only girl on the boys team. I didn’t mind though, I got stuck in there and showed them who was boss. I was small but I was mighty. Training was held after school one day a week and game day was Saturday. As I got older they started a girls league so I switched over to that. I loved it and I did well. I started to fall into the centre-mid position more and more and this became my ‘home’ on the field. At 12 I made the Nelson rep team and continued to represent my home town for multiple years. At high school I made the first 11 and represented them at national tournaments. At times I was training and playing up to 6 days a week. Football was my life and I loved it.

Despite all my success, I never saw football as a career option. I never saw it as a viable option for my future. I just kinda had it in the back of my head that I’d do this until I got older and then I’d stop like everyone else. It wasn't professional, it wasn't respected, it wasn't an option. Given the prominence of women’s football now, and women’s sports in general, it's easy to read the above and question… but why? Let me break it down for you.

When I was growing up, I never saw women’s football on tv. I never attended any women’s matches. I never saw any senior women playing at my football club. In fact, I saw very few senior women playing at all in my region. In my teens there became a shortage of playing fields and so the women’s league was moved from Saturday to Sunday to alleviate this. We’d often be the only team at a complex designed for multiple games to occur at once. I had one female coach growing up and she had played for the White Ferns, however, she was looked down upon by the parents due to a plethora of reasons. So the one exposure point I had to someone playing at an international level was over-shadowed by the rumour mill on the sideline. In those moments I was taught through social behaviour that football was not a career for women. 

So when I sat in that stadium in 2023 and saw how respected, how loved and how successful those female players were… it hit me. It was possible to have a career in football. It was possible to be respected as a professional female player. And that maybe, just maybe, it would’ve been possible for me if I’d only seen females like me playing at this level.

In light of my overwhelming heartbreak, I felt proud and grateful for the players who stood on that field. By being there, by doing this, by continuing to push the sport forward, they were showing young girls around the world that this is an option. They were showing what’s possible when you can finally see someone who looks like you, sounds like you, or shares your story doing something you were taught wasn’t for you. Representation expands the realm of possibility. It tells people, you belong here too.

In business, the same truth applies. When people see themselves reflected in leadership, in decision-making, and in the stories their organisations tell, it changes what they believe is achievable. It builds confidence. It builds connection. And it builds cultures where people bring more of themselves to the table because they feel they’re seen, valued, and included.

Those of us paving the way, the ones who are still the first, the few, or the only, carry a responsibility that can feel heavy at times. It’s easy to get tired. It’s easy to question if the work we’re doing is really making a difference. Yet, every time we show up as ourselves, every time we use our voice or hold our ground, we make it easier for someone else to step forward behind us.

That’s the bigger picture. Representation isn’t just about diversity in numbers; it’s about creating spaces where difference can thrive. It’s about building systems that make visibility normal, not novel.

For organisations, that means taking a conscious approach to who gets opportunities, who gets heard, and who gets to lead. It means recognising that diversity is not a box to tick, but a source of strength, innovation, and future growth. When our teams reflect the world around them, they’ll connect better with customers and help forge a future where everyone sees possibilities.

So to the next generation watching, learning, and daring to dream: keep going. To those of us holding the door open, stay resilient. Representation matters, and every step forward, no matter how small, creates ripples that last far beyond us.

Until next time,
Be proud, be visible, and keep showing what’s possible.