We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natelle Gentile. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natelle below.
Natelle, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
How my parents raised me and knowing that God is ultimately in control are where I find my resilience. Growing up a competitive gymnast and competing as a D1 level to then entering the career of sports (a male dominated field) has all proven to come with its challenges. Each chapter o my story has come with extreme peaks and never without extreme valleys. I believe the valleys are where you get stronger, where you grow and become more in touch with God. I know this because when I look back at my valleys and remember how hard they are, I also remember that those moments are what took me to the next level and defined my next peak. When you’re in your valley, you can easily give up and go nowhere, but what kind of life does that leave you with? God didn’t promise us that life would be easy, He promised there would be challenges, but He also promised that He would be with us in the valleys to help us up and move us forward. To refine us and take us to the next peak stronger than the one before. I know who I am now would never have been possible without the valleys in my past chapters. They were necessary to take me to the place I am today and I am stronger and more grounded for them.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an NHL Producer and Director of Entertainment Experience for the Arizona Coyotes. My main role is to bring entertainment to fans at home games and to leave them happier than I found them. The most exciting and special part is giving fans a memorable experience and creating the best energy for them to experience. I try to do so in a positive and healthy way. I aim to lead my team by caring about them as people and not just what they can do for me. I want to create a family environment wherever I lead or am lead to follow. I want those around me to be their healthiest selves and believe that is done through positive encouragement and leading by example.
Brand wise, I am also very passionate about overall health in all fashions: mentally, emotionally and physically. I wake up early and work out daily and try to inspire others to do the same. It sets your mental and physical energy for the day ahead and makes you a happier person which in turn can make others happy too!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
3 qualities that I have found to be impactful are your faith, your purpose and your passion. Faith is the backbone of everything that I do, every conversation I have, email I send, relationship I make, come from a place of Faith. Faith is what keeps me grounded and reminds me of who I am which drives everything that I do.
Purpose is what fuels you to keep going. No matter what comes up, I can remember why I believe I was placed on this Earth. If you define your why/purpose and make it matter enough, you can always move forward from that place. I believe that God placed me on this Earth to help others. No matter what step I take, I can ensure that it is done in a way that helps someone.
Passion is the third quality I have found most important. If you are passionate about something, you will work hard at it and make it count. Why go through life half a**’d? Find what you love and do it with passion. Life is too short to not be passionate about what you do. Find what you love, find who you love and passionately enjoy every minute of it.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to always believe in me. They never thought anything was too big or too unreachable. I have always walked to the beat of my own drum and instead of trying to change that, they embraced it and let me be me. They always have told me I have moxie and that is what makes me unique and I always remember that if I have moments of insecurity. I don’t have to fit in with the pack, I can be different and be happy because of that. The role I have is extremely rare being a director and producer of an NHL team as well as being a female. They always lead me to believe that I could achieve anything I set my mind to and that is how I live my life and continue breaking barriers that face me. They also have lead me to want to do the same for others. To be everyone’s biggest fan and hype woman. To leave people better than I found them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @natellegentile
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/natelle-gentile
