We were lucky to catch up with Lindsay Emerson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Lindsay with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
To be honest, I owe my work ethic to both of my parents. They didn’t come from money, but through sheer grit and dedication, they built solid lives for themselves and our family. My mom was a nurse, and my dad was a police officer, both demanding roles that required discipline and sacrifice. On top of that, my dad was also an entrepreneur who owned multiple ski and snowboard shops, and I definitely get my entrepreneurial side from him.
But if I had to pinpoint where my determination and resilience come from, it’s my mom. She’s incredibly smart and always instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I set my mind to. At the same time, she was clear that I needed to achieve it on my own, never to rely on or depend on anyone else. That mindset of independence and accountability has shaped how I approach everything in my life and career.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I grew up in a small religious town, but my family wasn’t part of that community’s faith. That difference definitely created some roadblocks for me growing up. I truly believe it was the reason I didn’t make certain athletic teams or wasn’t invited to social gatherings. As difficult as that was at the time, it sparked something in me, it’s where my determination really began. I wanted to prove people wrong, to show them what I was capable of.
Sports became my outlet. I poured myself into soccer, training as hard as I could, and even using money I earned working in my dad’s ski and snowboard shops to pay for the occasional private lesson. But it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I found my true passion: snowboarding. I started entering local competitions like the Utah Winter Games, and after winning a few races and boardercross events in my age group, I moved up to the pro division. To my surprise, and excitement, I realized I wasn’t half bad. In fact, I often beat the boys’ times.
After graduation, I made a bold decision: I was going to put everything I had into snowboarding with one goal in mind, making it to the Olympics. My parents were hesitant, but I promised them that if it didn’t work out, I would go back to college. I worked relentlessly in the summers to fund my winters on the slopes, and once my career started to take off, I had to begin training and competing abroad. Every second I was home, I worked, and my parents sacrificed right alongside me. My mom picked up extra shifts as a nurse and my dad used what extra money he made from the shops to help cover travel and expenses.
In 2006, I was named to the U.S. Snowboard Team, a dream come true. But contrary to what many might think, that didn’t suddenly make things easier. The U.S. is one of the only countries that doesn’t fully fund its national teams. Still, there was a huge silver lining: my spot on the team came with a scholarship, which allowed me to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.
I came so close to achieving my ultimate goal when I was named an alternate for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. While I didn’t get to compete, I wouldn’t trade that journey for anything. The years of training, traveling, and competing shaped me into who I am today, driven, hardworking, and unafraid to add a little flair to everything I do.
Today, that same determination fuels me in my professional life. Whether it’s in nursing, business, or leadership, I approach each new chapter with the same grit and focus I learned on the along the way. Snowboarding may have been where I first proved to myself what was possible, but it continues to inspire the way I show up in every part of my life.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I’d say the three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey were discipline, resilience, and determination. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t the most naturally gifted snowboarder. However, I believed that if I was the strongest, fittest, and most prepared athlete out there, I could close that gap, and it worked. My commitment to training, even when it meant hours in the gym or on the track while everyone else was resting, gave me the edge I needed.
To anyone starting their own journey, my advice would be: don’t underestimate the value of hard work. It sounds cliché, but if you want something badly enough and you’re willing to put in the time, energy, and sacrifice, you can make it happen. I once heard a line that stuck with me: real success happens during the hours when no one is watching. Everyone wants the end result, but few are willing to put in the work it takes to achieve it. If you can embrace those unseen hours and stay consistent, that’s when and where true success happens.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The older I get, the more I’ve realized just how important it is to surround yourself with the right people. I’ve seen firsthand that being around positive, smart, and driven individuals can change everything. Their energy, mindset, and habits push you to rise to that same level. Surround yourself with successful people, and you’ll naturally be pulled in that direction, it’s contagious.
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