In honor of Women's Day, we would like to put a strong woman in the spotlight. Today we meet Jill Gees. A former professional tennis player, she currently combines her career as Sales Director at Harvey Nash with a new challenge: HYROX.
What started as a spontaneous decision after Jill was asked to fill in, quickly grew into a real passion. Even though she had just undergone surgery and was unprepared, she decided to participate anyway. Jill has now taken part in several HYROX competitions, and the sport has become an integral part of her busy life. In her own words, it's a “hobby that got out of hand.”
We asked Jill a few questions about work, sport, and motivation.
How do you maintain a balance between work and sports, and what motivates you to keep training?
Exercise has always been an important outlet for me. I am naturally athletic and also played tennis professionally for two years. it helps me clear my head and cope better with the challenges of professional life. That combination creates balance. Work and exercise reinforce each other. For me, work cannot exist without exercise and vice versa.
What also motivates me to keep training, even on busy days, is the feeling I get when I exercise. I've always run a lot, even though it wasn't necessarily my favorite sport. Still, I have the discipline to do things I don't like to do. HYROX suits me very well because it's a combination of strength and cardio. You constantly push yourself to the limit, and that gives you a lot of energy.
Do you see similarities between a HYROX race and a challenging project at work?
Absolutely. Just like at work, you're never equally strong in all areas in HYROX. Sometimes you do a race alone, sometimes in pairs. In the latter case, you really depend on each other. You have to adapt to each other's strengths, communicate, and work together strategically. It's actually just like being in a team at work. You're only as strong as the combination of all the team members.
What has been your toughest moment during a competition or training session so far? And what did you learn from it?
What I've learned most from competitions and training is that you can always keep improving. At the time, you're happy that you've finished the race or training session, but a few minutes later you start to reflect. What could be better? What can I do differently next time? I take that mindset with me to my work too.
What does physical and mental strength mean to you?
For me, strength, both physical and mental, means above all being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. This applies both in sports and at work. Perseverance, in the broadest sense of the word, is the most important thing for me. When things don't go as you expect, it's important not to get distracted and to keep your goal in mind. That's what real strength means to me.
Do you have any sporting or professional goals you are working on?
I have several goals in mind for the future. For example, in three weeks, I will be participating in another HYROX competition in Mechelen. Six weeks later, I have another competition planned, this time a little further from home, in Paris.
‘Put on your running shoes and go’
My advice to others who are hesitant to pursue an ambitious goal is to find courage and keep your end goal in mind. Above all, dare to try new things and don't let doubt hold you back. In my opinion, regret mainly arises when you haven't seized opportunities or dared to try things.
Just do it, try it, and experience it. Often, it turns out to be much less daunting or unattainable than it initially seems. This applies not only to sports, but also to your professional life: don't hesitate to take on a new challenge, just go for it.
