As part of our monthly networking webinar series, the WomenTech Network was thrilled to host Conny Ploth, Vice President of Global AI Transformation at Santander, for an unforgettable session on December 10. Her talk, “Lead Like an Athlete: Why High Performance Tech Leadership Starts With Self-Care” struck a powerful chord with our global community.

In an honest, energetic, and deeply relatable conversation, Conny invited us to challenge the conventional definitions of success and strength in leadership. Drawing from her own experience navigating high-pressure roles while managing life at home, she shared how redefining well-being as a core performance metric helped her regain control, resilience, and clarity—not just in her career, but in every part of her life.

The Hidden Load of Modern Leadership

Opening with a relatable and humorous reflection on year-end reviews and performance metrics, Conny challenged attendees to think beyond business KPIs. While most track revenue, efficiency, or adoption rates, how many of us are setting and tracking personal KPIs—like sleep, recovery, movement, or mental wellness?

Her own story illustrated the stakes. During the pandemic, she led a global operations team across three continents while solo-parenting two small children. Juggling delivery pressure, personal responsibilities, and emotional labor eventually led to complete physical burnout—hospital visits included. Even after hitting rock bottom, the pressure to “push through” remained. But when her role was unexpectedly eliminated, Conny realized something had to change.

Rethinking Strength: Lead Like an Athlete

What followed was a powerful mindset shift: What if leaders approached well-being the way athletes approach training? What if self-care became a strategic priority—a nonnegotiable part of how we lead?

Conny began rebuilding—starting with short workouts during lunch breaks and gradually turning those into CrossFit sessions, tracking her own physical performance just like she once tracked quarterly KPIs. The real transformation, however, was mental. Regaining control over her time and energy made her a better leader, parent, and person.

The Four-Step Framework for Sustainable Leadership

To help others adopt this mindset, Conny introduced her four-part strategy:

• Discipline over motivation: Treat well-being habits like brushing your teeth: nonnegotiable and consistent, no matter how you feel.
• Prioritize recovery and fuel: Rest, sleep, and nutrition aren’t indulgences; they’re essential for clarity and sound decision-making.
• Lean on your team: Like athletes, leaders need coaches, allies, and networks to stay accountable and supported.
• Make it visible: Share your habits and boundaries openly. Modeling healthy leadership encourages others to do the same.

Leadership Redefined

Conny’s session wasn’t just about personal wellness. It was a call to redefine leadership for the next generation. By showing up for ourselves consistently, setting boundaries, and being open about our practices, we create a culture where well-being is not the exception—but the norm.

She closed by encouraging each attendee to choose one personal KPI and design a simple training plan to make it stick. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress, and the payoff is far greater resilience, focus, and energy in every area of life.

Watch the recording below: