Australian volleyball athlete Annelies Jones built her identity in high performance sport, where discipline, resilience and continuous improvement shaped her approach to both training and life.
As she considered her transition away from elite sport, Annelies was faced with navigating what her next chapter could look like, both within volleyball and beyond it. During this period, she was connected through Minerva with mentor Tracey McFarland, gaining valuable perspective, clarity and confidence as she worked through this shift.
Her journey reflects the realities of moving beyond sport and the value of having an experienced female leader from outside her sport to help her navigate that transition and uncertainty.
We asked Annelies to share her personal experience with mentorship and the impact it’s had for her.
Q. What stood out to you about your mentor from the very beginning?
From the very beginning, what stood out to me about Tracey was her presence. There was an immediate sense of trust and openness between us, and I felt like she was invested in my growth and was willing to support my journey from our very first conversation.
Q. Where were you at in your sport or career when you started working together?
Becoming part of this lovely network of women and athletes, as well as having Tracey as a mentor, came into my life at a really pivotal time. I had just returned early from my professional contract at a volleyball club overseas due to injury and was navigating a significant transition, both in my sport and personally. Looking back, I can recognise that I was experiencing a big identity shift. I had tied a large part of my self-worth and identity to my career as a professional athlete, which I would say is pretty common for most people to do when they become passionate about something, but it would have certainly been much harder to navigate alone.
That first year, at Minerva events and in my conversations with Tracey, as well as other mentors such as Lee Brentzell and Rachel Foley-Lewis, I was able to start reframing that identity. All of those women helped me recognise the value of the skills I had developed through sport - discipline, resilience, teamwork etc - and importantly, how these skills could successfully translate into the corporate finance environment. I think those conversations gave me the perspective, guidance and definitely the confidence I needed to go to uni careers events, organise coffee catch ups with people I’d never met before, apply for jobs and go to interviews etc, and that has all led up to me securing a full time role in a great team at KPMG.
Q. What is one piece of advice or guidance from your mentor that has really stayed with you?
One piece of advice that has really stayed with me is the importance of values and making choices that are aligned with your values. Tracey helped me to realise that I valued so many things outside of my sport; my family, my relationship, my intelligence, my mental health, my career path; and she helped me reframe the context of my values.
Q. Can you share a moment where your mentor’s support made a real difference for you?
There was a period where I was facing rejection for the first time and I was really struggling and putting a lot of pressure on myself to have everything figured out. Tracey helped me find clarity in that moment and was a trusted sounding board for me in the tough moments.
Q. How has having a mentor changed the way you approach your sport, career, or decisions off the field?
Having a mentor has been huge for me. Having an experienced and reasoned sounding board helped me zoom out and see the bigger picture, rather than getting caught up in short-term pressures that I put on myself.
Q. What would you say to another athlete considering joining the Minerva mentorship program?
I would say it’s an incredibly valuable opportunity to invest in yourself. Having someone in your corner who genuinely wants to see you grow and who can offer perspective, guidance and support is something that can make a real difference.
I’m incredibly grateful for the respect and kindness each woman I’ve met through Minerva has shown me and I truly have felt the benefit of the network.
We also asked Tracey about her experience mentoring Annelies and the qualities that stood out.
It's not just about the progression of the one to one mentoring relationship it's about women connecting other women to each other and creating a rock solid support community! This transcends sport, age, location and backgrounds!
Annelies’ courage and progress of discovery and commitment to being the best she could've in whatever she pursued gave me energy and reinvigorated my outlook on work and my life just as much as I might have helped her on her journey!
Together, their story reflects the power of mentorship in helping athletes navigate opportunties, challenges and change, build confidence, and step confidently into what comes next. We continue to be inspired by the profound impact the Minerva mentoring program has for both Minerva athletes and mentors. Together we continue to soar!
