Paige Wadley

First and foremost, I would say my faith. My relationship with Jesus has been the foundation of my life from a very young age. I was raised in church, with my dad serving as a music minister and my mom working in the children’s department, but it was never something I felt forced into, it was something I genuinely loved and wanted to be part of. My faith has grounded me through every season of life and continues to shape how I lead, serve, and love people.

I’ve also been incredibly blessed by the people God placed in my life along the way. I had amazing coaches and mentors, both women and men, who believed in me, challenged me, and helped build confidence in me long before I fully saw it in myself. I’ve also been surrounded by a supportive, loving husband, incredible children, family, and loyal friends who have encouraged me through every stage of life and leadership. They taught me the importance of relationships, serving others, and doing things the right way even when it’s difficult.

I believe every season of life teaches us something. The good seasons grow our confidence, while the difficult seasons grow our character. Every experience, every challenge, every relationship, and even every setback helps shape who we become as leaders and as people. Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned have come through adversity and hard moments, and those experiences have given me perspective, resilience, and empathy for others.

I’ve always tried to stay focused on building relationships, investing in people, and leading with authenticity. I’m also deeply thankful for my husband, children, family, friends, mentors, students, and athletes who continue to inspire me daily. At the end of the day, success for me is not just about accomplishments or recognition, it’s about using the platform God has given me to positively impact others.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay true to who you are, serve people well, and be loyal to the place and people God has called you to.

In today’s world, it can be tempting to constantly chase the next thing or walk away when situations become difficult. But I believe there is value in loyalty, consistency, and building something that lasts. Some of the most meaningful growth happens when you stay committed, continue investing in people, and trust the process even during challenging seasons.

For me, leadership has always come back to relationships. I believe in treating people the right way, working hard, and staying grounded in my values even when circumstances are difficult. Servant leadership is the style that best reflects who I am. I care deeply about my people, and I want the athletes, students, coaches, and families I work with to know they are valued, supported, and cared for beyond wins, losses, titles, or accomplishments.

One thing I often tell my own children is that you can either be a balloon that lifts people up or a weight that pulls people down. Every day, I try to choose to be someone who leaves people better than I found them. To me, the best career advice is not just about climbing higher, it is about leading with loyalty, integrity, humility, and purpose.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give young women entering this industry is to be bold, confident, and never allow fear to keep you from stepping into who God created you to be. So many talented women hold themselves back because they are afraid of failure, afraid to use their voice, or afraid they do not belong in certain spaces. My advice is to trust your abilities, continue learning, and do not be afraid to speak up and lead with confidence.

This profession can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when you walk into rooms where women are heavily outnumbered. There have been moments in my career where I’ve walked into rooms with only a few women among dozens of men. But I want young women to understand that if they earned their seat at the table, then their voice matters just as much. They do not have to shrink themselves to fit into those spaces.

I also encourage women to build relationships, treat people well, and stay focused on their “why.” Leadership is never just about titles, recognition, or wins. In coaching and education, we have the opportunity to impact lives every single day. The relationships we build and the way we make people feel will always matter more than trophies or accomplishments.

Most importantly, never stop learning. Be willing to grow from the people around you, learn from both successes and failures, and continue evolving as a leader. Strength and compassion can coexist, and some of the strongest leaders are the ones who lead with authenticity, humility, and heart.

I am passionate about helping young women find confidence in their voice and purpose because I understand what it feels like to fight for your place, your voice, and your confidence in competitive spaces. Those experiences have shaped not only my leadership style, but also the person I am today.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is recruiting and retaining quality educators and coaches, especially in Oklahoma. Working in education and athletics, we are often asking people to give a great deal of their time, energy, and heart while also facing challenges such as limited resources, lower pay, burnout, and increasing expectations.

As an athletic director and coach, one of the challenges is helping people see the bigger vision. We may not always have the best facilities, the highest salaries, or the largest incentives, but we do have the opportunity to invest in young people in a meaningful way. That is why relationships, culture, and purpose matter so much. People need to feel valued, supported, and connected to something bigger than themselves.

Burnout is also a major concern in education. Many teachers and coaches enter the profession because they want to make a difference, but over time, the demands can become overwhelming. That is one of the reasons my doctoral research focuses on school leadership and teacher retention. I care deeply about how we recruit strong people, support them well, and create environments where they want to stay.

At the same time, I believe the greatest challenge is also the greatest opportunity. In education and athletics, we have the chance to impact lives every single day. Young people need positive role models, accountability, encouragement, and adults who believe in them. When we keep that purpose at the center, this work becomes more than a job. It becomes a calling.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, integrity, loyalty, relationships, and servant leadership. My faith is the foundation of everything I do. It grounds me, guides my decisions, and reminds me to stay focused on doing what is right even when it is difficult.

Integrity is probably the word I use more than any other when coaching, leading, or speaking to young people. To me, integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching, and even when it goes against what everyone else may think or say. We live in a world where so much is influenced by outside opinions and social media, and it can become easy to make decisions based on fear of criticism or pushback. But I believe strong leadership requires courage, conviction, and staying true to your values.

Loyalty and relationships are also incredibly important to me. I believe in investing in people, staying committed, and treating others the way I would want to be treated. Titles, accomplishments, and wins only go so far, but the way people feel when they are around you lasts much longer.

Servant leadership is the leadership style that best reflects who I am. I care deeply about my people, and my goal every day is to leave people better than I found them. I often tell my own children that they can either be a balloon that lifts people up or a weight that pulls people down. That mindset shapes how I lead, coach, parent, and live my life.

At the end of the day, I want people to know they are valued, supported, and cared about beyond what they can produce or accomplish. If I can make a positive impact on people while staying true to my values, then I consider that success.