Kate Fahey’s Unbelievable Career Change: Kate Fahey, a relative newcomer to the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour, has quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with in women’s singles. Since turning pro in 2023, she has already secured two gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze in the past seven PPA tournaments.
For someone who made the bold decision to leave her job in New York City earlier this year to pursue pickleball full-time, Kate Fahey’s success on the court has been nothing short of remarkable. Her impressive results have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers in the rapidly growing world of professional pickleball.
“I had a full-time job, but I was trying to play in as many professional tournaments as I could. Going full-time with pickleball has benefitted my game because it means I just play more matches and get more opponents under my belt. Before, I was playing a tournament every two months and it was tough not having a more consistent match lineup. That’s been the biggest benefit, being able to play more.” – (Kate Fahey)
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A Shift from Corporate Life to Pickleball
Before making her mark in pickleball, Kate Fahey was working as a digital product manager at American Express in New York City. Although she loved her job, the opportunity to pursue her passion for pickleball full-time was too tempting to pass up.
“I was a digital product manager at American Express. I loved it. Everyone was so supportive, but ultimately I chose to go full-time pro pickleball because I figured that I owed myself the opportunity to give it a shot.” – (Kate Fahey)
The turning point came when a colleague invited her to play in a local pickleball tournament, igniting a passion that has driven her ever since.
“Ever since then, I’ve been completely hooked. I got so competitive in this small, low-key tournament, and ever since then I wanted to improve and get better because it was so much fun.” – (Kate Fahey)
The Tough Decision to Leave Amex
Leaving a stable and fulfilling job at American Express wasn’t an easy choice for Kate Fahey. The uncertainty of trading corporate security for the unknown of professional sports weighed heavily on her.
“It was hard. I definitely questioned if I made a mistake. I worried if I was ruining my life by quitting my job that I love so much.” – (Kate Fahey)
However, with the encouragement of her family, friends, and her boyfriend, Kate Fahey took the plunge.
“But, I had the support of my friends, family, and my boyfriend. They said that whatever I want to do, I’m going to make the right decision because even if it goes terribly, I can always go back to working. I was definitely a little bit nervous in that transition period, but I decided I owed it to myself to go for it and see how it goes.” – (Kate Fahey)
Her bosses at American Express were fully behind her decision to pursue her dream, a reaction that gave Kate Fahey an added boost of confidence.
“My bosses knew I was in pickleball because I had been taking a lot of PTO for tournaments. When I finally told them I was thinking about it, they were so supportive and said I should go for my dream. They didn’t hesitate at all. It was awesome. They said they loved having me, but they wanted me to take advantage of this really cool opportunity because it only comes once in a lifetime.” – (Kate Fahey)
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A Bright Future Ahead
Now fully immersed in the professional pickleball circuit, Kate Fahey, a former University of Michigan tennis standout, is eager to see what her future holds. Competing on the court has brought her a renewed sense of joy and purpose.
“It’s been really fun. It gets serious, and I’m obviously extremely competitive on the court, but I’m trying to have as much fun as I can because I quit my job for this, so I should try to have as much fun as possible.” – (Kate Fahey)
With her competitive spirit and ever-growing list of accolades, it seems Kate Fahey’s decision to pursue her passion for pickleball was the right one. The sky’s the limit for the St. Louis Shock player as she continues to make her mark on the PPA Tour.
News in Brief: Kate Fahey’s Unbelievable Career Change
Kate Fahey, who turned pro in 2023, has quickly become a standout in women’s singles on the PPA Tour. The former American Express employee left her job in New York City to pursue pickleball full-time, winning two golds, two silvers, and a bronze in just seven PPA tournaments.
With support from her colleagues and family, Kate Fahey has embraced her new career. As a former tennis star at the University of Michigan, she brings competitive grit to her new sport, and her future looks bright on the PPA Tour.
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