From Olympian to advisor: Adrienne Power

When I first sat down with Adrienne Power, I expected an inspiring story. What unfolded was a masterclass in translating elite athletic performance into sustained business results.

Power is not just any former Olympian, she’s a decorated sprinter, a Commonwealth Games medallist and now an accomplished financial advisor with Edward Jones in Bedford, N.S.

She and I talked about her career on the track, her transition to financial advisor and five parallels between two professions that — on the surface — would appear to have little in common.

1. The pressure mindset

Pressure is inevitable, whether it’s the starting gun at the Olympics or walking into a client meeting with high stakes on the line.

“If you have covered every single angle as best you can … there is a peace to that,” Power told me. “You need to lay it on the line.”

She describes her athletic life as one where “you don’t count time; you make time count.” In an advisor’s world, that translates to disciplined routines, margins for recovery and a relentless focus on quality rather than quantity.

When pressure mounts, Power leans into recovery — not as a luxury, but as a core performance lever. As an athlete she leveraged massage therapy, ice tubs and daily mental preparation. Those tools helped her stay sharp under pressure. She calls it becoming a “recovery animal,” an idea every advisor should take seriously if they want to avoid burnout and maintain clarity.

Beneath all that is a silent confidence — built from preparation, learning, mentorship and relentless execution. That confidence shows up quietly in high‑stakes conversations when what the client really wants is belief, calm and competence.

2. The value of journals

One of the most consistent throughlines in Power’s journey is her commitment to documenting, reflecting and iterating. As an athlete, she kept journals, injury logs, training notes and performance reflections.

She does the same as an advisor, curating a “library in her phone,” noting daily moments and knowledge that “lit her up,” and tracking progress.

This habit builds what she calls a “humble swagger,” not arrogance, but grounded, evidence-based certainty. When advisors journal, they capture their wins, their lessons and flag areas for improvement. That’s how you avoid repeating mistakes and keep compounding small wins over time.

3. Energy management

Power believes that energy — mental, emotional and physical — is the real capital in a high-intensity role. On client-heavy weeks, she pushes hard during meetings but then disconnects afterward. This means time with family, walks, sleep, nutrition and screen limits.

Pressure compounds. She monitors her mood, energy, clarity and focus the same way she did in training and adjusts her schedule accordingly.

Her rule is that if on Monday you’re not sharper than you were the previous Friday, your recovery failed. In advisory work, we can’t hide fatigue behind busy schedules. You need to spot it early and course correct. Adjust — don’t grind.

4. Goal setting and execution

As an Olympian, Power understood long cycles. Quadrennial training plans were carefully designed so that she peaked at the right moment.

She uses that framework to break down big goals into achievable quarterly and weekly milestones.

Her approach is intentionally conservative to start: “I create goals I’m probably going to achieve.” Every win builds confidence and momentum compounds. She reviews quarterly, adapts and refines. When results stall, she pivots to shorter-term goals. What can she get traction on in the next 48 hours? What’s under her control?

The key lesson is always having forward motion, even if it’s small. It’s important to know the boundary between what you can control (your pipeline, your conversations, your messaging) and what you can’t (market volatility). Focus on the controllables.

5. Reframing failure

Power’s specialty was the 200 metres, a “one-shot” event where the margin for error is minimal. One mistake, and your race is over. She says she still replays “failure races,” but she’s learned not to spiral.

Losing a client or failing to land a pitch can feel like a mistake on the track. Her advice is to take inventory, don’t wallow and return to your model. What could I have done differently in my preparation, in how I listened, how I pivoted? She replays the conversation, examines the model, adjusts and then repeats as necessary.

Life lessons

Power had three primary coaches during her athletic career.

Brooks Johnson’s style was to deliver periodic lectures, report cards and lift her emotionally. Monte Stratton had more of an intense, military approach. Dan Ptaff was her most logical, science-based coach. He would often provide her biomechanical explanations of her progress.

She learned that effective leadership can come in many forms. As an advisor working with staff or collaborating with clients, you may shift between relationships that need assertiveness, warmth, structure or rational explanation.

Power calls herself a “chameleon.” She adapts to the situation, but always with competence, care and clarity of purpose.

Her roots in East Jeddore, N.S. taught her humility and pride. When she transitioned from athlete to advisor, her core identity shifted, but didn’t vanish. She still embodies performance, discipline, service and excellence.

Power plays

Athletic principle	Business parallel	Action step for advisors
Silent confidence built through preparation	Confidence in client meetings and presentations	Build checklists, rehearse, roleplay, study technical topics deeply
Recovery as performance lever	Avoid burnout, maintain clarity and focus	Schedule recovery blocks, track energy, enforce boundaries, adjust
Journaling and reflection	Continuous improvement	Keep a business journal noting wins, lessons, questions
Break big goals into 48-hour moves	Maintain forward motion	On Monday, define two things I will move; on Friday reflect
Resilience through model review	Bounce back from setbacks	Post-mortem lost deals, refine your process, mindset or approach
Adaptive leadership	Relate to staff/clients flexibly	Tailor your communication style to the individual
Identity and purpose alignment	Sustain motivation	Define your “why” and tether daily activities to it
Recipe: Support + Character + Mentors	Build the ecosystem	Cultivate accountability partners, coaches, role models