Meet Colleen Fink: Five Questions with Youth Inc.'s Field Hockey Ambassador

After 15 successful years leading the University of Pennsylvania's field hockey program, Colleen Fink is bringing her wealth of leadership and coaching experience to the Frederick Gunn School. Off the field, she's a proud mom of two boys and can often be found cheering them on from the sidelines on weekends.

We asked her five questions about youth sports, life lessons, and more.

1. What’s your favorite youth sports memory?

I have so many youth sports memories that have shaped how I look at sports today—some more of a combination of many memories. They range from 4th of July sack races at the local parks and rec fields to bussing to Raleigh, NC for the Junior Olympics. The Jamaican runners wore bells on their spikes so you could hear them coming! I also remember tough basketball practices with Coach Riley in the St. Matthias gym and drives to cross country practice at Belmont Plateau in Coach D'Amico's gold minivan.

2. Who has been the most influential person or coach in your life?

My father, Kevin Quinn, spent 50 years as the head track and cross country coach at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. I grew up in a sports-rich household where I often say I was rarely parented—mostly coached by my father. While his influence is immeasurable, I place him in a category all his own.

The most influential and inspirational coach that I have ever worked with is Gretta Ehret. Gretta was an incredible athlete at Penn Charter and the University of Pennsylvania who naturally transitioned into coaching and teaching. She served the Philadelphia public school system, the Philadelphia suburbs field hockey community and various schools in the area. In 2019, at a very young age, Gretta was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. True to her nature as a fighter, competitor and winner she battled this difficult diagnosis with positivity and strength. She adopted the mantra of "Dream Crazy"—a reminder to live each day with your most aspirational goals in mind. Following her diagnosis, Gretta continued to coach a collegiate field hockey team, got married, adopted a beautiful daughter and embraced life fully. She had boundless energy, compassion, and vision. It is impossible to put into works her impact on me and so many others. All I can say is Gretta didn't lose the battle with cancer, because she never lost at anything. She won, because her Dream Crazy legacy lives on in thousands of people she inspired. Gretta reminds me daily to lead with energy, passion and perspective.

3. What’s one lesson you’ve learned through your sport that has shaped your life?

My lifetime in sports has taught me that leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. I grew up with a very traditional view of a leader—vocal, motivating and passionate— and I still value those traits. But over time, I have learned that leadership can also be quiet, steady, and just as impactful. Being surrounded by incredible leaders and coaches has shown me the value of different perspectives.

The quietest person in the room still has something important to contribute, and when everyone’s voice is valued, meaningful change and innovation can happen. Respecting what each team member brings to the table has been one of the most important leadership lessons I’ve carried from sport into life.

4. What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?

I would tell my 10-year-old self to choosing challenge will make the most growth happen. Failure doesn’t define you, it is a sign you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. If you’re not failing, you are probably playing it too safe. Be brave, take on the hard things, and celebrate the progress you make along the way. And remember: being honest and offering genuine feedback to help others grow is one of the greatest gifts you can give a friend or teammate.

5. What is a motto or belief that you live by?

Besides my friend Gretta Ehret’s mantra, "Dream Crazy", I carry with me countless “Quinnisms” from my dad, Coach Quinn. Things like, “You are known by the company you keep,” “Can’t put it on if you don’t have it with you” (aka, always be prepared), and “Lean into it” (especially when running uphill). But if I had to choose a personal motto of my own, I’d pick the Japanese proverb: Fall seven times, stand up eight. To me, it’s about resilience—getting back up, learning, adapting, and innovating after every setback. I truly believe resilience is the key to happiness, because whether we like it or not, life will hand us challenges. Some of them we can’t walk away from; we have to face them head-on. One of my fears as a leader today is that we’re not being honest enough with young people about how essential resilience really is. If we don’t ask them to challenge themselves and intentionally face adversity and failure, we’re not preparing them for the future.

More from Colleen Fink:

Colleen Fink sat down with Self-Aware Leader CEO Dan Gallagher discuss the importance of self-awareness in coaching and sports, highlighting how understanding your coaching process will help you come across as more authentic to athletes. Watch their full conversation here.

See more on Fink's time at the University of Pennsylvania here.

Read about Colleen's transition to the Frederick Gunn School here.

Check out Colleen's business that hosts field hockey tournaments and events.

Check out her Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook for more!