Michelle Adamolekun - Longhorn Brand Builder

Michelle Adamolekun: Blazing speed, blazing trails - An interview by Larry Carlson

A native of Jamaica, Michelle grew up in the Caribbean with dreams and talent. Her family moved to New York City when she was still a subteen, and she went on to earn a track & field scholarship to The University of Texas. At UT, Michelle was a two-time national champion.

She has continued her winning ways in life, serving as Chief Human Resources Officer for a major health system. Michelle is also president of the Reggae Girlz Foundation, a non-profit that enables young women to further their education through soccer.

Adamolekun and her husband are the parents of two adult children who are accomplished international soccer players. She took time out of her busy schedule to answer questions from TLSN's Larry Carlson.

TLSN: What sports activities had been your favorite as a kid and in high school?

Michelle- I was born in Jamaica and lived there until I was 11. One of our regular pastimes was racing other kids on the Street from time to time. After that, I relocated and attended middle school and high school in New York, and my favorite sports activity was track.

TLSN: In what ways was college track a big adjustment?

Michelle- In high school, I was the top sprinter. However, upon coming to college, I quickly learned all my teammates were at the top at their high school. Therefore I had to focus and work harder to ensure I didn't let myself, my coaches, and my teammates down.

TLSN: What was the first big moment in track at UT that gave you confidence?

Michelle- Our team won the 1990 Indoor NCAA Championships during my first year at UT. This achievement set the bar for what was expected of us as a Lady Longhorn.

TLSN: How big of an adjustment was the academic part of college?

Michelle- Academically the only challenge initially was managing the multiple activities on our schedules. Fortunately, UT required that we attend study halls each day and made learning specialists, academic counselors, and advisors that ensured we stayed on track.

TLSN: What about the social life in Austin? What are some of the places you remember fondly for food or music or entertainment?

Michelle- As athletes, our social lives revolved around our demanding schedules. So when the time was available, we attended Soul Night at the Union, fraternity and sorority parties, Midtown, and venues on 6th Street.

TLSN: What kind of tunes were you listening to back then? Any favorite musical artists?

Michelle- Outside of several reggae artists, I listened to Michael & Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, En Vogue, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, and Celine Dion. They were a few of my favorite artists back then.

TLSN: Getting back to track, what are your fondest memories of being part of the Indoor National Champs and of being part of the outdoor national champion 4x100 relay team?

Michelle- My fondest memories from winning both championships were the strong team spirit, determination, and belief that existed on the team. Every teammate was focused on the task at hand and put it all on the track. We were family and united in our goals and pride in being Longhorns.

TLSN: What would you say to the casual fans who believe sprints are all just about natural ability? And how do you explain the precision that goes into relays?

Michelle- I would reinforce that natural abilities will only get you so far. Being successful in the sprints also requires hard work, focus, discipline, determination, grit, coachability, resilience, and mental toughness.

TLSN: in a nutshell, what do you most vividly recall about teammate Carlette Guidry-White. Who won 12 NCAA titles at Texas?

Michelle- Carlette was extremely reserved, humble, and a woman of few words, but her performance spoke loudly when she hit the track. She solidified herself as one of the most prolific sprinters at the University of Texas. I'm truly honored to have had the opportunity to compete with her at UT.

TLSN: How and why did you get into specializing in healthcare as a professional?

Michelle- The field of Human Resources spans across all industries. As a result, I've had a successful career in working in the financial, academic, technology, healthcare insurance, and healthcare industries. As a Chief Human Resources Officer in the healthcare industry, I've found that their mission to serve and be a part of something greater than ourselves greatly aligns with my passion and purpose as a servant leader.

TLSN: Speaking of health...the world's top woman tennis player, Naomi Osaka, has been in the headlines for calling attention to the need to understand mental health better. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles recently reinforced this need. Your thoughts?

Michelle- Now more than ever, this subject of mental health is extremely important. Osaka and Biles have elevated the discussion to the mainstream, so there is more awareness. Social media has created an additional challenge for today's athletes to navigate, and it has added to the mental health challenges. We need to develop more robust mental health strategies, tactics, and resources for athletes at all levels (high school, college, and professional) to access.

TLSN: Besides your healthcare work in Wilmington, NC, you're very busy being President of the Board of Directors of Reggae Girlz Foundation. How challenging and fulfilling is that work?

Michelle- My role as President & Executive Director of the Reggae Girlz Foundation truly avails me the opportunity to give back and be a servant in leadership and a mentor for young girls in underserved communities. Through sports track & field, I can leverage the opportunities given to me to grow and elevate myself and achieve my goals. In addition, many young girls in underserved communities could benefit from our support in utilizing sports to change their life circumstances.

TLSN: How can people who are just hearing about Reggae Girlz help out?

Michelle- Through sports, we have the power to change lives. But there are too many obstacles standing between young girls and sports. The Reggae Girlz Foundation (RGF) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that wants to level the playing field to create more opportunities, more access, and programs that enhance the physical, mental and personal development of girls in underserved communities. Please visit www.reggaegirlzfoundation.com to learn more and to donate to support these young girls in underserved communities.

TLSN: Okay, back to track for a minute. How closely did you follow the Olympics this summer?

Michelle- I truly enjoyed watching the Olympics, especially the Track & Field segments. It was great to see one of our former Longhorn Track & Field athletes, Sanya Richards-Ross, commentating, as well as the many records that were broken.

TLSN: What are you looking forward to when we all get past the pandemic?

Michelle- I'm looking forward to returning to our new normal. Where we can travel and begin to interact with our family and friends again.

TLSN: What are your favorite pastimes?

Michelle- I enjoy reading and vacationing with family. Whether it's within the U.S. or outside of it, I enjoy spending time relaxing with the family.

TLSN: Your dream concert to attend?