meet our team

NATALIE SWANSON
CEO, Founder & Head Coach

Natalie founded Run.Jump.LEAD! with a goal to make the future brighter for our young female leaders by promoting active bodies and healthy minds. Growing up in Calgary, she competed in gymnastics and later went on to participate in many multi-sport activities before focusing on track and field. Through high school and university, Natalie trained and competed for the Calgary Spartans Track Club and University of Calgary Dinos Track and Field team. It was upon retirement from competitive gymnastics when she discovered her love of coaching.  Obtaining NCCP training, Natalie taught children's recreational gymnastics for 10 years at the U of C Gymnastics Centre and later coached high school track and field.

Natalie worked as a technical professional in the energy industry for 13 years and currently specializes in corporate and growth marketing strategy. During her professional career, she developed a passion for mentoring students and young technical professionals in Calgary’s energy industry. Natalie credits her strong desire to give back to the community and inspire young girls to her own numerous coaches, role models and mentors who influenced her athletic and professional career. In her spare time, she loves to cheer on her two young daughters from the sidelines.

COACH EMILY, Lead Coach

Emily is currently working towards completing an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the U of C which has allowed her to appreciate the importance of building strong physical literacy foundations in childhood.  Growing up, Emily participated in a wide variety of sports such as gymnastics, ballet, track and field, and basketball.  In addition, she participated in the Girl Guide program for nearly 9 years, building close relationships and gaining valuable leadership skills.  Emily is an active member of the community, volunteering with many organizations and events in our city.

“I believe that we need to empower young girls to believe that they can follow their dreams, while creating positive, supportive environments in which they can grow up to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

COACH GRACE, Lead Coach

Grace loves being active and sharing that passion with others. She recently completed an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the U of C and plans on pursuing grad school for occupational therapy. Grace’s involvement in sports started at age 3 and hasn’t stopped since! She has participated in many sports such as field hockey, soccer, volleyball, ice hockey, flag football, and figure skating. Bringing many years of coaching and working with kids, Grace has always wanted to give back to the sporting community and encourage girls to stay in sport.

"Participating in sport throughout my life has greatly impacted my leadership skills and the way I interact with people. When you are a part of a team, you are a part of a family who will always pick you up when you are down."

COACH SIDNEY, Lead Coach

Sidney started playing soccer at the age of 8 and has played at the provincial level with the Calgary West and Calgary Blizzards Soccer Clubs. She recently obtained her NCCP certification in soccer and is also an experienced multi-sport athlete, participating in basketball, volleyball, field hockey, and track and field throughout high school.  Sidney is currently in the Kinesiology program at the U of C with a long-term goal of having a physiotherapy career working with young athletes. Her participation in sport has allowed her to appreciate her strengths, abilities, and mindset towards physical activity and she hopes to actively contribute to changing the narrative for female participation.

“The most significant sport barrier I faced was at age 14 when my soccer club went from 8 full girls teams to 2. Today I recognize how losing so many girls changed the quality of play and my experience with the sport. At RJL, I'm excited to mentor the girls and help them see everything physical activity has to offer.”

COACH COURTNEY, Assistant Coach

Courtney has played competitive basketball for eight years and is also a multi-sport athlete, participating in volleyball, track and field, skiing, hiking, and rock climbing. She is currently a student at the U of C, working on completing a degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology. An active volunteer in the city, Courtney dedicates her spare time to tutoring students and helping patients at the Foothills Medical Centre.  Her goal with Run. Jump. LEAD! is to support young girls so they feel confident discovering and pursuing their passions.

“Playing basketball has helped me build communication skills and grow my confidence. The coaches and mentors I had growing up helped me be comfortable trying new sports and express who I am. I want help others accomplish their ambitions too.”

COACH KAYLEE, Assistant Coach

Kaylee originally joined our team as a Junior Mentor and has gained many leadership skills volunteering with our organization. Her dedication to working with the young girls in our program has helped her grow as a role model and experience new challenges and successes. Growing up participating in many recreational sports, she has recently picked up badminton and has academic aspirations to thrive in the International Baccalaureate program.

"My biggest accomplishment so far is putting myself through new experiences and I can't wait to take on new challenges as I progress."

LINDSAY STEWART, Yoga Instructor

Lindsay's passion for empowering women and youth brings a multifaceted approach to our yoga workshops. A 200-hr trained yoga instructor, Lindsay is also a certified Pilates instructor, lactation consultant, and internationally trained dietitian. She currently teaches yoga, Pilates, youth education programming, and prenatal breastfeeding classes. Lindsay focuses on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere in her programs with an emphasis on finding joy in movement, creating a positive mind body connection, and enhancing overall health and well-being. When not on the mat, Lindsay enjoys family time with her two young boys, volunteering in the community, and spending time outdoors with her dogs. 

KIRA, RJL Ambassador

Kira has been involved with RJL since March 2021 when she joined as one of our inaugural coaches! She now represents the organization as an Ambassador, playing a crucial role advocating for Run.Jump.LEAD!’s mission and connecting with stakeholders, participants, and partners. Kira was fortunate to grow up playing a variety of sports and played varsity hockey with the University of Calgary Dinos while completing her engineering degree. She now works at Cenovus Energy as an Engineer-in-Training and has found a new passion, competing in various endurance and CrossFit style sports.

“Sports and physical activity have taught me invaluable life lessons that I’ve transferred to many aspects of my life and career. My hope working with RJL is to inspire young girls to discover the joy of sports and sustain that passion, as well as teach leadership skills to help them excel in their future endeavors.”