Meet Maddie Toren

We recently connected with Maddie Toren and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddie, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Confidence wasn’t something that just appeared for me, it’s something I’ve built step by step. Before pickleball, I tried things like musical theatre and Toastmasters to break out of my shell, but refereeing was what truly pushed me to my limits. At one point I even thought about quitting because the pressure felt overwhelming, but choosing to stick with it was the difference maker. It taught me that preparation and composure can carry you through almost anything.

What started out as my biggest struggles, being introverted, nervous under pressure, and unsure of myself, have since become my strengths. Refereeing taught me to think clearly in high-stakes moments. Content creation taught me to trust my ideas and put them into the world. And building PKLD has shown me that challenges are really just opportunities to grow.

Today, my confidence comes from celebrating small wins and stacking them over time. Each step forward adds up, and that’s what continues to build my self-esteem.

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?

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and I’ve been fortunate to build my career right alongside its rise. My journey really started when one of my early content pieces landed on Zane Navratil’s (Top Pro Pickleball Athlete & Personality) Instagram feed. That led to an internship with him where I helped organize clinics, manage his site, and brainstorm social media. Soon after, I took a leap and cold-outreached to Ben Johns (No. 1 Pro Pickleball Athlete) to see if he needed social media help. That message turned into my first social media traveling role, and later into becoming his manager for some time. From there, my work grew organically through word of mouth, and I began expanding my team as new clients came on board.

That growth led to the launch of PKLD Agency, which is focused entirely on helping players, teams, and brands elevate their presence in the sport. We capture content at tournaments, create strategies that connect with fans, and manage platforms in a way that balances both creativity and performance. What I love most is being able to help people tell their stories while also showing new audiences how exciting pickleball really is.

Right now, PKLD is expanding in two big ways. First, we are continuing to grow our hands-on client work with pros, teams, and brands across the industry. Second, we are launching a new digital branch that gives players and businesses the tools to run their own content at a high level, complete with guides, video resources, and expert support. The goal is to make professional-level social media strategy more accessible so that more people can share their passion and grow with the sport.

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?

Looking back, the first quality that shaped my journey was adaptability. I didn’t come into pickleball with a blueprint or clear path. I said yes to opportunities, even when I didn’t feel fully ready, and figured things out as I went. For anyone starting out, don’t wait until you feel like an expert to get involved. Be willing to learn as you go, ask questions, and stay open to growth.

The second quality is relationship-building. My career really started through connections, from cold-outreaching to Ben Johns to growing PKLD by word of mouth. Building trust, being reliable, and genuinely supporting people will open doors you never imagined. My advice here is to value every interaction, because you never know which one could change the course of your journey.

The third is consistency. Whether it was sticking with refereeing when I almost quit or committing to posting content even when the response was small, consistency has been the difference maker. Progress doesn’t always feel fast, but it adds up. If you can keep showing up, even in small ways, you’ll create momentum that compounds over time.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I think it’s important to lean into your strengths, but not ignore the areas that challenge you. Your strengths are what set you apart and give you momentum, but growth usually comes from working on the things that don’t come as naturally.

For me, creativity and relationship-building were always strengths, so it made sense to build PKLD Agency around those. But I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t invested in areas I struggled with. Refereeing was intimidating as an introvert, but pushing through that taught me how to stay calm and confident under pressure. Cold-outreaching to players like Ben Johns wasn’t in my comfort zone either, but doing it anyway opened some of the biggest doors in my career.

So my advice is to double down on your strengths because that’s where you’ll stand out, but don’t shy away from the uncomfortable areas. Often those are the exact things that will help you reach the next level. The balance of both has been key for me, building confidence from my strengths while turning weaknesses into skills I now rely on every day.

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Image Credits

PPA Tour, Yeung Photography

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