I recently went one-on-one with former professional soccer player Arianna Criscione. Arianna played for the Italian Women’s National Team and played professionally for 15 years, playing for teams in Italy, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Norway. Arianna is also the co-founder and CEO of Valeur Sport and is a member of LaunchBreak.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Arianna: I have had so many setbacks, I don’t know where to start. Some of the major ones: I lost the NCAA National Championship because of a huge mistake I made, so big that I was on ESPN Bloopers, that mistake inevitably led me to change universities. I blew out my knee (tore my ACL, MCL, PCL, and both meniscus in one go) playing pro in France. The doctors said if I was able to chase my children one day, I should be happy. But I returned to play 18 months later. I have started for teams and sat on the bench. I have sat at the top and thought life was incredible and everything was going my way, for it all to be shattered in an instant. But they have all brought me to where I am today and made me the woman I am today. I am proud of who I am and the broken, bumpy road that brought me here. It has made me stronger and appreciate every day for the good that comes from it. Knowing that the bad does pass, and through it great things arrive. Had I never broken my knee, I would have never met my husband. I have also had what people would call luck. I sat on a plane, and when I landed, I had talked myself into a contract playing for PSG. To me, this wasn’t luck at all. I worked very hard on and off the pitch to be on that plane, and my personality and curiosity led me to talk to the man sitting next to me who happened to be the Sporting Director. My curiosity has also led me to go back to school numerous times not only broadening my knowledge on specific topics but also allowing me to create an incredible network.
Because of my experiences on the soccer field and in the office, I was regularly the only woman in the room or one of very few. Overcoming challenges and setbacks led me to want to create a world that wasn’t as hard for women and that allowed women to compete on an equal playing field. Which is why I created my startup Valeur Sport to do just that. Create a space where women know their worth and have a community around them to support them and answer their questions.
Adam: What is the most surprising thing about life in professional soccer? What is something that would shock fans?
Arianna: I would say finances, but I think everyone is now well aware of how hard it is for most women to make a living playing. My monthly income ranged from 500 to 2,500 euros. People also don’t realize how unstable it is. With year-to-year contracts, the last few months of every season were stressful as I wondered if the club would re-sign me and where I’d play next year.
Adam: What are the best lessons you have learned from your years playing soccer?
Arianna: We all know that soccer teaches dedication and discipline, teamwork, leadership, etc, and I definitely learned all of these. But it also taught me who I am not just as a player but as a person, and who I wanted to be. There were many times that I could have followed my teammates in how they dressed and/ or acte,d but I always stayed true to myself and I learned how to hold myself accountable for my actions on and off the field.
Adam: What are the key characteristics of a great teammate?
Arianna: Trust, communication, and support are all essential elements of a team. A team must be able to communicate well with each other and trust that everyone is working towards the same goal. They also need to be able to support one another.
Adam: What are the key characteristics of a great leader?
Arianna: I think great leaders lead by example. They take responsibility for their actions and put the needs of the team before their own. We sometimes think there can only be one leader in a group, and I believe this to be incorrect. I think there are many leaders in the locker room, and they come forward when needed. Some are regularly leading and others when the situation needs. At PSG, I was a leader more in the locker room and behind the scenes. I regularly spoke with staff and others on behalf of the players or asked questions for players (never mentioning their name) when they were uncomfortable doing so.
Adam: What can anyone do to become a better leader?
Arianna: Listen. People believe leaders have to be the loudest and, at times, the bossy one. But sometimes the best leaders are those that sit back and listen, understanding situations and then speaking up when need be.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Arianna: Discover who you are and who you want to be, and then never stray from your morals or who you are; you will regret it.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, then own up to them.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Surround yourself with people smarter than you in certain areas so that together you can be better.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Arianna: “The only stupid question is the one you walk out of the room not asking.” Be curious and continuously ask questions, whether those are to challenge the status quo (respectively) or because you don’t understand something. I guarantee you are not the only person in the room who doesn’t understand and you will be helping those around you by asking.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Arianna: Be yourself, always be curious, and never hesitate to create opportunities for other women. Strive to expand the table and welcome everyone; never limit the available seats.
The extraordinary happens when women support, inspire, and connect with each other; we become more resilient, stronger, and more confident. Knowing our own power, potential, and value, we can transform our own lives and become a force for positive change in the world. For me, one of the best ways to do this is by networking. There are of events for women in sports, networking communities to connect with other women in sports like LaunchBreak, and so many others.
