You’d think that playing a collegiate sport, working towards a master’s degree, serving as the Athletic Department’s Leadership and Engagement graduate intern, and being part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee would leave little time for a person to do anything else. Not if you’re Natalie Kinney, as it turns out. The Chico State women’s golf standout has been successfully juggling all of these responsibilities throughout the fall, and was still able to find time in November to embark on an important learning journey by attending the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Houston, Texas. Kinney’s drive to strengthen her already impressive leadership skills makes her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
The four-day Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, which took place from November 18–21, was attended by 250 student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators from around the country, is an annual leadership development offering, designed to provide a transformative learning experience for student-athletes from across divisions and sports in the NCAA membership.
Kinney was Chico State’s representative at the Leadership Forum, and the trip to Texas turned out to be an extremely positive event for the Cameron Park product.
“It was absolutely amazing,” Kinney said. “I think it was a life-changing experience, and something I was so grateful to be a part of. It was truly transformational.”
The Leadership Forum broke the attending student-athletes up into groups, with the small setting creating space for meaningful connection and thoughtful discussion surrounding key elements of leadership. Topics included leadership identity, emotional intelligence, and crucial conversations.
“It’s funny, because (the Leadership Forum) was only four days, but I feel like I completely changed as a person,” Kinney said. “I also came away with a better idea on who I was as a leader. They really embrace the ‘inside out’ approach to leadership, and it helped you identify your strengths, your core values, and personal leadership philosophy.
“They also helped you identify looking to your followers, and what followers and their teammates would need from their leader. It just completely changed what I thought about leadership and how leadership works. I feel I have a much stronger handle on my core values and how to go about leading.”
Kinney enjoyed meeting and spending time with like-minded student-athletes at the Leadership Fourm.
“It really reinvigorated me,” Kinney said. “It was refreshing to be around so many people that were invested in leadership, and interested in helping to enhance the culture of their teams and athletic departments.”
Kinney is looking forward to sharing the skills she learned at the Leadership Forum with her teammates as well as the rest of the Wildcat Family.
“The value of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in relationship management was something they really hit hard on,” Kinney said. “Healthy, crucial conversations don’t have to be about conflicts. It can be a meaningful conversation, and how to approach that. Core values—working towards a common goal and a mission—can sometimes get forgotten about when you’re in the heat of competition, especially when you’re going through a tough time. (The Leadership Forum) really emphasized ‘what’s the common goal between you all and what you are working toward’, and what can you come together and focus on.”
Kinney feels that the knowledge she acquired during those four days in Houston will also benefit her personally.
“Oh, absolutely! The things I learned there can be applied in your daily life, not just if you’re a student-athlete, which I thought was so valuable,” Kinney said. “Finding your achievement trigger was something they talked about: what is your motivation and what makes you want to do what you love, even on days that you really don’t want to do it; just being motivated by your team and your family and your overarching purpose. I think it’s really going to help me in the spring…I’m going to be super busy. Then wrapping up my master’s and going into my career, I’m going to use everything I’ve learned (at the Leadership Forum).”
As the Athletic Department’s Leadership and Engagement graduate intern, Kinney is tasked with providing personal and professional development opportunities for Chico State student-athletes. The activities she’s put together during the fall semester have been both fun and informative.
“It can be a career development course or a yoga class that just helps them unwind and find a moment of Zen,” Kinney said. “I’m in charge of planning events that hopefully is going to better help prepare our student-athletes for their future careers after college.”
Even though she’s got a plate chock full of responsibilities, don’t think for a minute that Kinney has neglected her golf game. The fifth-year senior can’t wait for the upcoming spring portion of the Wildcats’ schedule to get underway.
“I’m so excited!” Kinney said. “I just got a new driver—it was an early Christmas present—and I’m super pumped! I’ve got a few swing lessons lined up over the holiday break, so I’m super excited for spring and hopefully going to end my (Chico State career) on a really good note.”
As she prepares for her final semester of college competition, Kinney has fond memories of her time at Chico State, and being part of what she considers a very special Wildcat women’s golf program.
“It’s definitely bittersweet looking back at everything I’ve experienced and what my team and I have accomplished the last four years, and even through COVID, the great memories that we’ve made,” Kinney said. “It’s such a great note to end on, just coming into the spring as involved as I am, and I have some really great teammates, which is something I’m super happy to be a part of.”
Kinney is expecting the Chico State women’s golf team to close out the 2021–22 season with authority.
“The fall was a really good warmup for us,” Kinney said. “But I think we’re definitely going to kill it in the spring, and the team wants at least a top three finish.”
