Rachel Condos-Fields | CEO and Founder | WattleNest
Rachel Condos-Fields is the CEO and Founder of WattleNest, a business deeply rooted in the belief that sport has the power to unite and connect communities. Her journey began with a passion for addressing hidden hardships in the athlete community, particularly the financial barriers preventing some of Australia’s best athletes from competing on the international stage. Motivated by these challenges, Rachel set out to create WattleNest, a platform dedicated to providing opportunities and removing obstacles for athletes across Oceania. Her vision stems from a profound sense of social responsibility and a desire to make meaningful change through sport. At EliteX, we are proud to have Rachel Condos-Fields as part of the edition: Impactful Business Leaders in Oceania, 2024.
Rachel believes impactful business leaders share key traits: curiosity, compassion, and courage. These qualities, she says, enable leaders to set high standards, make tough decisions, and inspire others. For her, being a leader is about being prepared to face challenges head-on while staying true to one’s values. Throughout her journey, Rachel has embodied these principles, drawing strength from her unique perspective and determination to create a positive legacy.
“Seeing 37 athletes represent Australia at the Paris 2024 Games was a powerful reminder of sport’s impact.”
Transitioning from a corporate role in a large organization with a $10 billion market capitalization to the fast-paced, resource-limited environment of a startup was one of Rachel’s most significant challenges. In her corporate role, she had access to established systems, specialist teams, and substantial resources. Moving into the startup world required her to wear multiple hats, build systems from scratch, and operate with limited resources. The journey was often overwhelming and lonely, but Rachel used her corporate experience to bring strategic thinking to her new venture. She embraced innovation, collaboration, and adaptability, celebrating small wins along the way to stay motivated and focused on her mission. Rachel emphasizes the importance of adaptability and resilience as crucial lessons learned from her leadership journey. She also highlights the underestimated power of empathy in leadership. For Rachel, empathy is not just a soft skill but a vital business strategy that fosters loyalty, drives innovation, and ensures long-term success. By aligning with stakeholder values and understanding the needs of her team, she has built a foundation of trust and collaboration.
WattleNest has made a significant impact on the community in Oceania, particularly in the lives of athletes. The organization has grown into a community of over 160 athletes, with 37 of them representing Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This achievement is a testament to the organization’s dedication to empowering athletes and underscores the transformative power of sport. While operating in a smaller market compared to larger global markets, Rachel sees Oceania’s strong sense of community and focus on corporate responsibility as key advantages. These values align perfectly with WattleNest’s mission of creating opportunities and fostering inclusion.
One of Rachel’s proudest moments was receiving global recognition as a trailblazing woman in sports and being honored with an award presented by the Duchess of York. This accolade not only celebrated her personal achievements but also highlighted the broader impact of her work in advancing opportunities for athletes and promoting gender equity in sports. When it comes to team motivation, Rachel prioritizes creating a sense of purpose for everyone involved. She believes that when people understand how their work contributes to the bigger picture, they feel more engaged and driven. Transparent communication, regular recognition, and rewarding contributions are central to her leadership style. Rachel also invests in the personal growth of her team members, ensuring they feel valued, heard, and empowered. By fostering a culture of appreciation and autonomy, she creates an environment where employees thrive.
“Empathy is not just a soft skill; it’s a critical business strategy for fostering loyalty and driving innovation.”
Rachel identifies several key skills essential for today’s business leaders, including emotional intelligence (EQ) and strategic thinking. Leaders must connect with people, showcase self-awareness, and manage relationships effectively while maintaining the ability to see the bigger picture and anticipate challenges. These skills, she believes, are the foundation of successful leadership in a rapidly changing world. Setbacks and failures are an inevitable part of business, and Rachel has developed a practical approach to handling them. She starts by acknowledging and assessing the situation to understand what went wrong. Staying composed and maintaining a positive outlook are crucial steps, followed by creating a recovery plan and learning from the experience. By staying focused on the long-term vision, Rachel turns challenges into opportunities for growth and improvement.
To young aspiring business leaders, Rachel advises embracing the journey of continuous learning. Leadership, she says, requires a willingness to face challenges, seek feedback, and view failures as stepping stones for growth. Trust is the cornerstone of leadership, and earning it is key to building meaningful relationships and achieving success. Sustainability and social responsibility are deeply embedded in WattleNest’s mission. The organization’s purpose is to create positive community impact by removing barriers to participation in sports. This alignment ensures that social responsibility is not just an add-on but a fundamental part of the business. Rachel remains committed to making affordability a non-issue for aspiring athletes and aims to create a pipeline of Olympians and Paralympians through WattleNest.
“Leadership is a journey of continuous learning—embrace challenges, seek feedback, and grow from failures.”
Looking ahead, Rachel envisions a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate in sports without financial constraints. Her goal is to expand WattleNest’s reach and impact, ensuring that the organization continues to empower athletes and foster inclusion. Over the next five years, she hopes to see the elimination of affordability barriers and the growth of a thriving community of athletes representing Oceania on the global stage. For Rachel, success as a business leader is about inspiring and empowering others while driving meaningful impact. It requires resilience, integrity, and the ability to navigate challenges with a clear vision. Through her work with WattleNest, Rachel Condos-Fields exemplifies these qualities, making a lasting difference in the world of sports and beyond.
