In collaboration with Champions Speakers—Europe’s leading keynote speaker bureau—OTS Magazine is proud to spotlight some of the most inspiring voices shaping the world today. From the NFL field to the boardroom, Phoebe Schecter is not just breaking boundaries—she’s redefining what it means to lead with purpose, vision, and empathy.

Phoebe Schecter’s journey is one of breaking boundaries and redefining leadership in sports. Phoebe made history with the Buffalo Bills as Britain’s first female NFL coach. She proved that with sheer determination and self-belief, one can open doors and achieve success even in male-dominated industries. Beyond coaching, Phoebe is a leading diversity and inclusion speaker, advocating for equal opportunities in sports and beyond. We spoke to Phoebe to learn more about her experiences in the NFL and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Phoebe: “It all started when I moved to the UK and got involved in the sport. I was playing at first, but as I transitioned into coaching, I realised just how much American football had given me—opportunities, a sense of belonging, and a passion I never expected. That made me want to give back, especially to the UK community that had welcomed me.

"As I kept pushing myself, I started to believe I could take this further. I said out loud that I wanted to coach in the NFL, and within a year, I got my first internship with the Buffalo Bills. It was surreal. Breaking into the league was tough—I had to prove myself every day, work harder than everyone else, and constantly learn. But I stayed focused, leaned on my strengths, and embraced every challenge that came my way. That mindset helped me not just get my foot in the door but earn my place in the NFL.”

Phoebe: “I'd say I definitely lead by example. I bring high energy to everything. I really want to be positive. And I think that helps my players as well, whether it's at the elite level or grassroots, because people appreciate consistency. They need to dig deep and find that inner strength, and sometimes positivity can help pull that out.

"I'm not really the ‘shouty’ coach. I strongly believe in celebrating achievements, big and small. I don’t think we do that enough.

"As a society, we sometimes take success for granted. So, I think it's really important to celebrate all those little wins—not just the ones on the scoreboard. Winning the game is great but so is recognising a player who has pushed beyond their limits and grown in confidence and skill, even if the team didn’t win overall.”

Phoebe: “I think there are a ton of transferable skills. For starters, organisation and preparation are two key aspects in both the sports world and the business world. However, I think the importance of communication is sometimes underestimated—especially in large organisations where there are so many people to keep track of. Clear and effective communication is crucial to the success of a project.

"In many ways, sports and business share similar challenges. Whether you're managing a small team or a large organisation, the key is figuring out how to get the best out of everyone within that team. How do we support each individual? Because just like in football, every person plays a specific role, and their contribution is essential to the overall success of the project or organisation.

"It's easy to say that teamwork is important, but what does that really mean in a business setting? The hands-on experience I've gained in sports, where you have to lead and motivate at a high level, is something that can be incredibly beneficial for businesses looking to build strong, effective teams.

"Sometimes, it’s just about understanding that not every person is the same. It’s easy to acknowledge that in theory, but when you're in the middle of a project or a season, it can be easy to overlook. Taking the time to recognise each individual's strengths and weaknesses, and figuring out how to encourage their development, is crucial. People want to feel like they’re growing, that they’re part of something bigger, and that their contributions matter. Whether in sports or business, fostering that kind of environment is key.”

Phoebe: “The first thing that comes to mind is self-belief. You've got to believe in yourself and trust that you’ve earned the right to be in whatever situation you're in.

"As a female in male-dominated spaces, I never really thought of myself as ‘the only woman in the room.’ I think we need to shift away from that mindset because otherwise, we end up singling ourselves out, which can be mentally exhausting.

"One of the biggest things that helped me was identifying what unique value I could bring to an organisation. It doesn’t have to be the same as everyone else. For me, coming into football at a later stage in my career, I knew I wouldn’t initially be the best in terms of X’s and O’s. But I could add value in other ways—through consistency, positive energy, and strong interpersonal skills that helped players open up to me.

"That all starts with self-belief. Once you build that confidence, you begin to understand your own worth. It’s a cycle—self-belief builds confidence, confidence helps you define your strengths, and those strengths reinforce your self-belief. It all comes full circle.”

Phoebe: “This is the first time our sport within the UK has ever had a Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which is a huge step forward. My role is about understanding our community—who they are, what their needs are—and then creating initiatives to support them, whether that’s working with other committees or helping to educate people.

"One of the biggest projects we’re working on right now is a transgender and non-binary gender policy. That’s a massive step for the sport, but also for people who may not fully understand these topics. Education has become a cornerstone of our efforts.

"We also want to ensure true equity within the sport. We always say that American football is a sport for all shapes and sizes—on the field, you can have players ranging from 5’11” to 6’7”. That diversity in physicality reflects the diversity we want to see across all aspects of the sport. And it’s not just about players—it’s about coaches, staff, and leadership too.

"We want to make sure we’re not just talking about diversity and inclusion but actually living it in everything we do. Our goal is to set an example for the rest of the world—showing what a truly inclusive, forward-thinking sport can look like.” 

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This interview with Phoebe Schecter was conducted by Chris Tompkins.