Her Story
About Piper
Piper Adkins is a relationship-builder, storyteller, and coach whose passion lies in helping people discover their potential and connect with the resources, opportunities, and communities that help them thrive. A graduate of the University of Dayton with a degree in Communications and a focus in Public Relations, Piper has built her career around authentic human connection. Whether through marketing, community outreach, athletics, or personal storytelling, she has a gift for bringing people together, helping individuals share their stories, and creating environments where people feel seen, heard, and supported.
As a strategic marketer, community engagement leader, and sports coach, Piper's experience spans nonprofit leadership, brand development, event planning, athlete mentorship, and relationship management. She currently serves as a Community Specialist with lululemon, Vice President of Communications and Events for The Lala Collective, and Head Coach at Delaware Hayes High School, while also managing projects for Premier One Construction. Drawing from her background as a collegiate athlete, she works closely with student-athletes on recruiting, skill development, speed and agility training, leadership growth, and mental wellness. Her work consistently focuses on building confidence, fostering resilience, and helping others navigate challenges both on and off the field.
At the center of everything Piper does is her personal philosophy: "Next One." Through her coaching practice, Next One, she teaches athletes and individuals not to be defined by setbacks, mistakes, or missed opportunities. Instead, she encourages them to learn from the moment, move forward, and focus on the next decision, the next play, and the next opportunity to grow. Guided by her values of faith, family, community, honesty, and trust, Piper is committed to empowering others to tell their stories, embrace their strengths, and move confidently toward what's next.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Piper
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family and everything that I've gone through - the good, the bad, all of it. I have been through some really bad stuff that I truly pray and hope that no young girl has to go through. But honestly, even though it's broken me at certain parts of my life, I have healed from it, and I truly would not be here even after all the bad stuff. I would not go back in a time machine and avoid making this decision. I would go through everything that I went through, struggle how I went through, and come out being a brighter, stronger person than I am now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Knowing that you can receive 100 no's that directs you to the one yes you're supposed to take on.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's going to be tricky, and it's hard at first, but if you are truly passionate about something, and you are truly passionate about giving the strengths that working out or sports have given you, you will truly shine through your field. I truly believe that if you are passionate about something, you will succeed in anything you do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Mental health is a huge challenge and opportunity in my field. I went through a lot of mental health challenges when I was a college athlete - things I never dealt with when I was younger. I was bullied and went through different things that created a dark mental state. That experience truly has forever changed me in the best ways and the worst ways. It really shaped me to find my passion in life and to always be a light for others, even when I can't be a light for myself at the end of the day. I know how challenging it can be to be a college athlete and how scary it can be if you get to a dark place and not have anywhere to turn. That's why I'm going back to school for a master's in coaching and mental health, so I can open my own gym that focuses not only on creating a space for current and aspiring athletes but also addresses the mental health aspect, because I know how challenging that is for everyone in general.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is my number one. I am a very protective person, and whether it's blood family or family that I've created, I think when you have a community, that community is so important that you not only need to represent that community well, but you also need to take care of your community. So I would definitely say family. I'm also very religious - I am Christian and I spread the love that Jesus gives to other people. And that's not pushing my faith on anyone else, it's just showing love and showing light to people. I would also say honesty and trust. I think that's something that I really hold such a big value, because I know what it's like to not have someone care about you and to fully have trust in someone that you're supposed to trust in that role of a coach or someone that you are supposed to be able to go to. So I lead my practice and my coaching so that they can come up to me, and if they want to talk to me about something, I need to be able to be open to them and tell them what I've gone through and trust them with my endeavors that I've gone through, so they can trust me with theirs as well.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.