Liz Ellis: From Court Champion to Media Icon - Wisdom of an Australian Sporting Legend

Mar 3, 2025

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In this episode of 'The Wisdom Of' Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Liz Ellis, one of Australia's most celebrated sporting icons and media personalities. From leading the Australian Netball Team to World Cup victory as captain to winning the 2023 series of "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here," Liz shares invaluable insights on leadership, team building, and performance under pressure. Recently elected as Chair of the Netball Australia Board, Liz's journey from elite athlete to respected media figure offers profound lessons on values, preparation, and building relationships that transcend sport and apply directly to business and life.

Ready to unlock your leadership potential and drive real change? Join Simon's exclusive masterclass on The Models Method. Learn how to articulate your unique value and create scalable impact: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclass

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introduction and Liz's illustrious career

05:18 Values that drive champions and winning teams

12:36 The power of preparation in performance

18:52 Leadership during chaos and uncertainty

25:44 Building unbreakable trust in teams

33:29 The art of game planning for success

38:22 Leveraging relationships for maximum impact

45:36 Liz's role as Netball Australia Board Chair

52:12 Lessons from "I'm a Celebrity" experience

58:43 Future implications and conclusions

Key Insights

How a single sentence rallied the Australian Netball Team to World Cup victory
Why "how you react is how you've prepared" is the cornerstone of excellence
The crucial distinction between stating values and living them through behaviors
Why the calmest leader in the room creates the most psychological safety
How trust is built through consistent actions when no one is watching
The power of genuine curiosity in building meaningful relationships
Why 99% of businesses are "training to fail" compared to sports teams
The "Tale Of Two Coaches" lesson on leadership under pressure
How enforced teamwork in netball creates valuable business lessons

About Liz Ellis

Liz Ellis is one of Australia's most successful netballers and beloved media personalities. Her career highlights include three World Championship gold medals, two Commonwealth Games gold medals, and four national premierships with the Sydney Swifts. She played 15 continuous seasons with the Australian Netball Team, the last four as captain, leading them to World Cup victory in 2007.

Beyond sports, Liz has built an impressive media career, winning the 2023 series of Channel 10's "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here" and co-hosting the revival of "Gladiators Australia" in 2024. She regularly appears on "Sports Sunday" and as a commentator for "Suncorp Super Netball" on the Nine Network.

In 2009, Liz became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), and in 2018, she was elevated to an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to netball and advocacy for young women. She has authored three books and holds an Arts/Law degree from Macquarie University. In 2024, she was elected Chair of the Netball Australia Board.

Connect with Liz Ellis

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-ellis-4321905b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzylegsellis/

About Simon Bowen

Simon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.

Connect with Simon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/
Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/

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