It’s a crisp autumn morning and the Sullivan & Stanley team is gathered in The Jolly Orange, our open, collaborative space where we regularly host workshops and events. It’s our quarterly ‘Big Room Planning’ session where our whole team take stock of the last few months and set an ambitious course for the future. It’s Day 2 and after an action-packed first day where we took a deep dive into company performance, the changing market and team dynamics, today feels different. There’s an excitement in the air. We’ve been talking about our ‘Olympic Year’ theme for months, using it as a metaphor to push our performance to new heights. And now, we’re about to meet a real Olympian.
Enter Amber Rutter.
Dressed simply in a hoodie and jeans, she could easily pass as one of us – if it wasn’t for the glint of silver around her neck, a medal earned just months ago in Paris at the 2024 Olympics for Skeet Shooting. Amber is calm, composed and every bit the high performer. But as she sits down to talk with us all in conversation with our CEO Jason Byrne, it’s clear that her story isn’t just one of triumph; it’s one of grit, heartbreak and unimaginable resilience.
Amber starts by painting a picture of her childhood, where her love for shooting was forged not in a glamorous training facility, but in the countryside with her grandfather. “I was 10,” she says, with a wry smile, “I didn’t want to watch my brother’s rugby match in the cold, so my grandad took me along to his clay shooting practice. I remember the rush of hitting my first target—I was hooked. But I never imagined it would lead me here.”
It’s an almost cinematic beginning—this young girl finding her passion in an unexpected place, unaware of the trajectory it would set for her life. But, as Amber is quick to point out, her journey was far from a smooth, upward arc. “Natural talent only gets you so far,” she says, leaning forward slightly. “I had to work hard, make sacrifices and face setbacks that really tested me.”
Facing setbacks and rising again
Amber’s voice softens as she recounts the biggest of those setbacks—missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after contracting COVID-19 just days before she was due to compete. Her eyes flicker with a mix of regret and resolve. “It felt like the world had been pulled out from under me,” she says, looking down for a moment, lost in the memory. “I had trained for four years. I was ready. And in an instant, it was all gone. I was devastated.”
She pauses, letting the weight of those words hang in the air. You can feel it—the crushing disappointment, the tears, the sleepless nights. For many, this might have been the end of the story. But not for Amber. “I didn’t watch a single moment of the Olympics,” she admits. “Instead, I spent two weeks drinking Prosecco and feeling sorry for myself. But eventually, I realised—I could either give up, or I could come back stronger.”
And come back stronger she did. Amber’s road to redemption saw her compete in Paris, just three months after giving birth to her son, Tommy. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief. “Balancing the training with being a new mum was a challenge I didn’t expect. There were days where the mum guilt was overwhelming.”
Amber Rutter in conversation with Sullivan & Stanley’s CEO, Jason Byrne
Mental strategies: Managing the pressure of performance
One of the most fascinating aspects of Amber’s story is her ability to manage the immense pressure that comes with performing at such a high level. As she opened up about the mental challenges she faced, it was clear that her approach to handling nerves is something we can all learn from. Her methods offer a powerful blueprint not just for athletes, but for anyone facing high-stakes challenges in their career or personal life:
- Focus on breathing to control nerves and tension: Amber explained that staying calm and collected in the heat of the moment starts with breath control. It’s her first line of defence against the creeping anxiety that can throw even the best athletes off their game.
- Recognise unhelpful thoughts, but don’t dwell on them: She shared that it’s not about ignoring the negative thoughts, but acknowledging them and choosing not to engage.
- Replace negative thoughts with positive visualisations: Instead of letting fear take over, Amber uses mental imagery to envision herself succeeding, focusing on positive outcomes rather than potential failures.
- Embrace a mindset of being “the best” in your moment of performance: When she steps onto the field, she’s not thinking about her competitors. She’s focusing on being the best version of herself in that exact moment.
Redefining success
One of the most profound reflections Amber shared was how her definition of success has evolved. “Although it’s an individual medal, it’s a team medal,” she said. Behind every moment of personal triumph is a network of support—her coaches, her family, and her psychologist all played a role in helping her achieve her Olympic dream.
This shift in focus from individual achievement to collective success is a powerful takeaway. No one achieves greatness alone, and recognising the value of teamwork can fundamentally change how we pursue and measure our goals. This doesn’t just apply to athletes. Whether in our personal or professional lives, building a strong support system is crucial. Having people to lean on during difficult times makes all the difference in how we perform, grow and succeed.
High Performance: Beyond winning
Amber’s journey reminds us that success isn’t just about achieving the goal—it’s about the process, the people who help you get there, and the personal growth you experience along the way. As the conversation drew to a close, Amber leaves us with a final piece of advice. “Be patient. Be persistent. There will be times when you’ll want to give up, when you’ll think you’re not good enough. But if you keep showing up, if you keep putting in the work, eventually, you’ll get there.”
