EP230: [REPLAY] Take-Aways from "Wolfpack"
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(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email to angie@angie-robinson.com.
It's graduation season, and I'll be honest — it's a full one in our house. My oldest is graduating high school, and between the celebrations, the emotions, and everything in between, I found myself pulled back to a book that has stayed with me since I first read it: Wolfpack by Abby Wambach.
I originally covered this on the podcast in February of 2023, and I'm bringing it back because the timing feels right. Whether you're stepping into a new chapter yourself, cheering someone else on, or simply looking for a leadership reminder that goes straight to the core — this one is for you.
Here's what I took away from Abby's eight rules.
Rule 1: You Were Always the Wolf
The old rule: Stay on the path like Little Red Riding Hood. The new rule: Create your own path.
Abby writes about the wolf inside every woman — the part of her that exists before the world tells her who she should be. Her talent, her power, her dreams, her voice, her courage.
"You were never Little Red Riding Hood. You were always the wolf."
My add: Honor who you are. Be intentional about who you want to become. Trust yourself — you know best.
Rule 2: Be Grateful and Ambitious
The old rule: Be grateful for what you have. The new rule: Be grateful for what you have and demand what you deserve.
Abby shares the moment at the ESPYs when she retired alongside Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning — and realized that despite equal sacrifice and greater team profitability, the wage gap between men's and women's soccer was staggering. The 2018 Men's World Cup winning team took home 19 times more prize money than the Women's team did in 2015. Nineteen times.
Her call: "Be grateful and brave. Be grateful and ambitious. Be grateful and loud."
My add: Notice the energy you're coming from. Confidence and self-belief will get you further than anger alone — even when the anger is completely justified.
Rule 3: Lead from the Bench
The old rule: Wait for permission to lead. The new rule: Lead now, from wherever you are.
In her final season, Abby benched herself — and still led louder than anyone on the field. Her quote: "If you're not a leader on the bench, don't call yourself a leader on the field."
Leadership is not a title. It's not a starting position. It's a behavior you choose every single day.
My add: What does leadership look like for you — from the bench, from the field, from the break room, from the back row? Dig into that question.
Rule 4: Make Failure Your Fuel
The old rule: Failure means you're out of the game. The new rule: Failure means you're finally in the game.
"Women must stop accepting failure as our destruction and start using failure as our fuel."
I'll say what she says and then add my own — failure is not just something to survive. It's something to expect, even welcome, because it means you're in motion. A person who doesn't give up can never truly lose.
Rule 5: Champion Each Other
The old rule: Be against each other. The new rule: Be for each other.
In soccer, when a goal is scored, the team is either rushing to congratulate the scorer — or the scorer is pointing back to everyone who made it possible. Abby says that's what leadership looks like off the field, too.
"We celebrate each other's successes. And when one of us falls, we support her rise."
Her victory is your victory. Your victory is her victory. Point to each other.
Rule 6: Demand the Ball
The old rule: Play it safe, pass the ball. The new rule: Believe in yourself and demand the ball.
Abby shares a story about watching Michelle Akers — the best player in the world — run up to the goalkeeper and say, "Give me the effing ball." And then take over the game entirely.
The lesson she took: Stop pretending to be less powerful than you know you are.
My add: If you're a recovering people pleaser (hi, same), this one requires extra attention. Stop making yourself smaller so others can feel comfortable.
Rule 7: Bring It All
The old rule: Lead with dominance, create followers. The new rule: Lead with humanity, cultivate leaders.
"Real leaders know who they are and bring every bit of themselves to whomever they lead."
There are as many authentic ways to lead as there are people. You don't have to fit into a box. Pick what resonates, add your own flavor, and show up as fully yourself. Leading with humanity is how you create real, lasting impact.
Rule 8: Find Your Pack
The old rule: You're on your own. The new rule: You've got your pack.
We are wired for connection. We are not meant to do this alone — in leadership, in business, in life. Find the people who fuel you, challenge you, and drive you forward.
Abby closes the book with this: "Don't ask what do I want to do. Ask who do I want to be?"
That question is at the heart of everything I do in my coaching work. Who is that future version of yourself — and who do you need to be to become her?
Whether you're graduating, leading a team, building something new, or standing at a crossroads — these eight rules are worth sitting with.
What Do You Think?
Which of these rules resonates with you most?
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