In 2016, former Opals star player and Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson was forced to retire. She had had 17 knee operations and could not get on top of her injury.

“At that point, I was really aware that my identity as a basketball player was gone,” the now-chief strategy and basketball partnerships officer for the WNBL Australia recalls.

Since then, Jackson’s life on and off the court has taken several turns.

In this week's episode, the former basketball player tells BOSS editor Sally Patten about the challenges she faced when she retired for the first and second time, and how she forged a new career path after exiting the sport.

This podcast was sponsored by the City of Parramatta.

Further reading:

Ex-Opals star on the secret weapon transforming women’s sport

Lauren Jackson is now leading strategy for the Womenʼs National Basketball League and she has a front-row seat to the money flowing into the game.

How this four-time Olympian and CEO handles high-stress situations

From injury heartbreak to Earthletica co-founder, Bronte Campbell shares the radical shift in goal-setting that fuelled her transition from elite sport to start-up.

Basketball-playing MD: ‘We get hit in the face and we get back up again’

Humanity Health Group’s Dr Kylie Henderson has been playing the sport since primary school. Here’s how the game has shaped her management style. She answers our Time Out Q&A.

In 2016, former Opals star player and Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson was forced to retire. She had had 17 knee operations and could not get on top of her injury.
&ldquo;At that point, I was really aware that my identity as a basketball player was gone,&rdquo; the now-chief strategy and basketball partnerships officer for the WNBL Australia recalls.
Since then, Jackson&rsquo;s life on and off the court has taken several turns.
In this week's episode, the former basketball player tells <a href="https://www.afr.com/boss">BOSS</a> editor Sally Patten about the challenges she faced when she retired for the first and second time, and how she forged a new career path after exiting the sport.
This podcast was sponsored by the <a href="https://atparramatta.com/business/global-city?utm_source=australian-financial-review-&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;utm_campaign=global-city">City of Parramatta</a>.
Further reading:
<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/ex-opals-star-on-the-secret-weapon-transforming-women-s-sport-20260609-p6059t?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Ex-Opals star on the secret weapon transforming women&rsquo;s sport</a>
Lauren Jackson is now leading strategy for the Womenʼs National Basketball League and she has a front-row seat to the money flowing into the game.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/lessons-from-an-olympic-gold-medallist-to-help-you-win-at-life-20260205-p5nzxy?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">How this four-time Olympian and CEO handles high-stress situations</a>
From injury heartbreak to Earthletica co-founder, Bronte Campbell shares the radical shift in goal-setting that fuelled her transition from elite sport to start-up.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/health-and-wellness/basketball-playing-md-we-get-hit-in-the-face-and-we-get-back-up-again-20260330-p5zjuu?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=15_minutes_with_the_boss&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Basketball-playing MD: &lsquo;We get hit in the face and we get back up again&rsquo;</a>
Humanity Health Group&rsquo;s Dr Kylie Henderson has been playing the sport since primary school. Here&rsquo;s how the game has shaped her management style. She answers our Time Out Q&amp;A.

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country.

Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.

For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss. 

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country.
Each week AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.
For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.

A weekly podcast about  success and failure and everything in-between.

15 Minutes with the Boss

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country. 

Each week, AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.

For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss. 

15 Minutes with the Boss is a podcast that gives listeners exclusive access to some of the top CEOs in the country. 
Each week, AFR BOSS editor Sally Patten sits down with a prominent leader and asks them to share the invaluable advice and wisdom they have accumulated throughout their careers.
For stories of success and failure and everything in-between, search and follow 15 Minutes with the Boss. It’s 15 minutes you can’t afford to miss.