EP204 - Womens Soccer Pro on Failing Forward and Redefining What It Means to Win in Life and Sport
In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof chats down with Joanna Lohman—former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player, author, speaker, and faculty member of Limitless Minds—for an honest and deeply moving conversation about identity, failure, and the quiet power of showing up as your authentic self.
Joanna shares her raw journey from chasing greatness as the next Mia Hamm to redefining success on her own terms—after getting cut from teams, losing every championship she played in, and earning just $15,000 a year as a pro athlete. Together, they unpack what it means to lead from the shadows, the overlooked value of role players in teams and organizations, and why impact doesn’t require the spotlight. Joanna opens up about navigating life as a queer athlete, building resilience through adversity, and the transformative moment that made her realize she didn’t need to be the greatest to be great.
They also dive into what real authenticity looks like in leadership, how to meet the demands of the moment without losing yourself, and why letting go of comparison might just be the most liberating decision you’ll ever make. If you’ve ever felt like you were on the outside looking in—or like your contributions didn’t count—this episode will remind you just how powerful your role really is.
Joanna Lohman
Joanna Lohman is a force of nature in the world of women’s soccer and a subject-matter expert on impact leadership and performance. A 16-year professional athlete and one of only 270 women in history to have worn the coveted U.S. Women’s National Team jersey, Joanna has racked up 9 USWNT caps and led the U-21 USWNT to multiple international trophies as team captain. At Penn State, she made 101 appearances with 41 goals, garnered Big Ten Player of the Year honors, became a Herman Trophy finalist, and earned the distinction of Four-Time Academic All-American. Her professional club career saw her become the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired, capturing fans’ hearts across 52 appearances and 6 goals.
Yet Joanna’s triumphs extend well beyond the pitch. Revered for her staunch advocacy of equal pay based on performance, she embodies the values of courage, fairness, and resilience—showing the world that true leadership demands both passion and principle. She now brings her hard-won insights to boardrooms, keynote stages, and classrooms alike, serving on the Yale School of Management’s Experience Leaders Initiative Advisory Board and empowering individuals to push boundaries, amplify their impact, build cohesive teams, and deliver elite results under pressure. As the author of “Raising Tomorrow’s Champion’s”, Joanna is known for championing authenticity in sports to forging high-impact strategies for corporate team performance. Joanna exemplifies what it means to be a game-changer in every sense of the word.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
00:00 Introduction
01:16 “Impact” as the word of the year
10:26 Too many leaders make it about themselves
13:20 Why some players feel completely worthless
16:25 You don’t have to be the star to be the leader
19:49 Authenticity starts with defiance
23:44 Toxic Authenticity vs. Healthy Authenticity
27:56 Gen Z isn’t the problem
32:57 The small moments that shape a confident kid
36:42 Own how you feel beautiful
42:16 Pushing against societal expectations
50:37 Trans Rights, Women’s Sports & the Search for Fairness
1:01:40 Does inclusion come at the cost of opportunity?
Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:
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https://www.facebook.com/joanna.lohman
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About the Tyler Dickerhoof Show Podcast
The Impact Driven Leader Podcast, hosted by Tyler Dickerhoof, is for Xillennial leaders who have felt alone and ill-equipped to lead in today's world. Through inspiring interviews with authors from around the world, Tyler uncovers how unique leadership strengths can empower others to achieve so much more, with real impact.
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