We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Olga Henry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Olga, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I’m 41 years old, and while many people know me as a slackliner, I believe there’s much more to discover about me. Despite lacking a sports background, I ventured into the world of slacklining at 32. Outwardly, I may appear bold, courageous, and persistent, but internally, I grapple with fears, insecurities, and a sense of not quite fitting in. Through years of training, I’ve realized that everyone possesses what I like to call a ‘courage jar’ – some larger, some smaller. This jar symbolizes the leap one can boldly take from their current level to the next, influenced by factors like skillset, testosterone levels, and individual differences.
I discovered that my own courage jar was quite small. Progress for me meant taking tiny, incremental steps forward, mostly within my comfort zone. Occasionally, I’d push myself to take bigger, riskier steps prematurely, resulting in failure and disappointment. However, I’ve found that the most effective way for me to progress is by embracing a playful attitude and curiosity about what could happen if I pushed a bit farther beyond my current boundaries. It’s about exploring reality and my own strength and capabilities. I envision myself as a bouncy ball, confident in my abilities, and ready for playful jumps into exploration.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m what some might call a creative nerd. With a background in applied mathematics, I’m currently diving into the fascinating worlds of neuroscience and Machine Learning. But my interests go way beyond just numbers and algorithms; I have this deep love for beauty and expressing it in all sorts of ways. Whether it’s tending to my garden, getting lost in painting, or capturing moments through my camera lens, creating brings me so much joy. And you know what? I’ve got this quirky side to me too – unconventional ideas and humor show up in the videos I share on my social media.
But beyond all my creative ventures, I’ve got a passion for supporting women in my sport. I’ve created a women-only competition since females rarely get a category of their own and often have to compete with men. I also wrote a children’s book called ‘Snowflake,’ celebrating the unique beauty in every individual. And lately, I’ve started a new project: hosting a podcast on my YouTube channel where I aim to inspire others on their training and personal journeys.
In my day-to-day work with arena and theatrical rigging, I’ve faced my fear of heights head-on and come out on top. It’s where I’ve learned to use my hands and build things. That newfound confidence even pushed me to remodel my space, making it reflect my personal style – and let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of shaping your environment to match your vision of beauty.
Looking forward, I’m completely captivated by the idea of taking my interest in science further, exploring ways to merge the incredible capabilities of the human brain with those of machines.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
N/A
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
If you’re into AI, brains, creating photos or videos, or have other interesting ideas you think I’d enjoy, please don’t hesitate to contact me. It brings me great joy to connect with like-minded individuals. Additionally, if you need support on your creative or sport path, I may have some things for you to try. Along my journey, I’ve discovered a lot, such as techniques for dealing with body pains like trigger points, strengthening, and understanding fascia to maintain strength and resilience. When it comes to creativity, I understand how the inner critic can often get in the way, and I know the value that support can bring.
By the way, if you’re interested, I’ve already shared some resources on my YouTube channel, and perhaps your ideas could inspire me to add even more!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: olga.henry
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OlgaHenry
Image Credits
DSC_1209, flowy dress – IG @tanialewisphoto 65110012 – IG @irachernova 1 – IG @jaygoestohollywood red dress heels slackline – IG @stormulaone main photo and the rest – IG @benscorah
