I recently had the privilege of working with Ivy developing a session for Women Coaches at the collegiate Divisions II & III level addressing mental health. Ivy’s presentation was truly enlightening. From the outset, she offered a well-rounded, compassionate perspective on a topic that's often overlooked or misunderstood. What stood out the most was Ivy’s ability to connect with the audience, offering both professional insights and practical strategies for managing mental health in daily life. There was a real emphasis on destigmatizing mental health struggles, and the tone was empathetic yet empowering. Ivy sharing her own struggles with mental health was a wonderful way of humanizing something that people go through and allowed for a deeper, personal connection with the coaches. I thought she did a wonderful job of empathizing with them and answering any questions that they had, while also giving them space to share their own stories. Her energy kept the room upbeat and positive in a space that can often feel heavy and daunting. Her insights were instrumental in a way that were not only relevant for coaches but could be implemented in all aspects of life. I highly recommend Ivy to help empower those around you and encourage you that it’s okay to talk about the hard things. WeCOACH will be using Ivy Watts Speaks again in the future!
Whitney Showalter, Director of Leadership Events & Branding, WeCoach
Ivy did an amazing job as a guest speaker for our 400+ student-athletes. She is charismatic and passionate, and kept the attention of our large group. Her message about self-care, mental health, and human empowerment was done with clarity and gave our student-athletes tools to be mindful of their selves. I strongly recommend Ivy as a great person to share an important message with any group.
David DeCrew, Athletic Director New England College
Ivy was fantastic! This was beneficial to students as well as staff in attendance. She provided a platform and safe space to begin talking about something which is, at times, a tough conversation to breach. She gave us the opportunity to open the door for more conversation, support and reflection. She is not only an inspiration, she inspired others to come forward and talk about their struggles and admit that sometimes we are not okay. I highly recommend bringing Ivy to your campus. Her openness and honesty helped break down the stigma of mental health in our community. Corning Community College and the Red Barons appreciate you Ivy and thank you for helping us to love ourselves enough to seek support and recognize when we need to reach out.
Stacy Johnson, Assistant Dean of Student Services, Corning Community College
Ivy Watts has presented at Celldex twice. She is engaging and inspiring. The organization has been working to support employees through the stressors in our personal and professional environments. Ivy was the perfect resource to help our teams!
Jennifer Gaskin, Senior Director at Celldex Therapeutics
Coaches Presentation: Ivy’s presentation at the WeCOACH Boston Regional Workshop was truly impactful. Her authentic storytelling and practical insights resonated deeply, inspiring a renewed commitment to holistic coaching within our women coaches community. Her sincere dedication, evident in the Q&A session and her honest feedback, showcased a genuine connection with the audience. We value how her insights align seamlessly with our mission to recruit, retain, and advance women in coaching. Her tools are invaluable in helping coaches sustain impactful careers in coaching and we express our gratitude to Ivy for her bravery in sharing her story and wisdom, leaving a lasting mark on how to support the mental health of our student-athletes and sharing how coaches can make a difference.
Marci Kornegay, Director of Leadership Programs and Events, WeCoach
You gave me the strength to schedule an appointment with a counselor on campus to help with the negativity and stress that I've been dealing with for so long. I finally feel empowered to make a change in my life after being in the dark for so long. I think everyone in the room took something out of your story.
Student-Athlete, Bentley University
Ivy was such a powerful speaker at SDSU! She connected and engaged with all four groups of student-athletes that she presented to. Ivy varied her presentation content for larger groups and smaller teams/groups. Not only was her message and content exactly what the Athletics department had hoped for, the interactive and relatable nature of her presentations created a safe atmosphere for student-athletes to share and ask questions. Ivy also presented to the coaches and provided a mental health playbook that they could utilize with their teams. Ivy intertwined messages and ways to support the student-athletes on their teams as well as ways to support themselves! Finally, Ivy presented to a local high school and the student-athletes connected so well to her message and presentation. I highly recommend purchasing Ivy's book, "You Are Worth Fighting For", to give to audience members for her presentations- the student-athletes were thrilled to have her sign their books and speak with her after each presentation.
Katie Morrill, LCSW Faculty, School of Social Work- San Diego State University
The University of Rhode Island athletic department was fortunate to host Ms. Ivy Watts as a speaker this spring. What a breath of fresh air! Ivy provided tools for our student athletes on the topics of mental health and performance anxiety. Many of our athletes have referred back to this presentation as a life changing moment for their athletic and academic careers.
Jeff Johnson Associate Athletic Director, Student Development and Inclusion Excellence, University of Rhode Island
Ivy's presentation to our student-athletes had a huge impact on our campus. Her presentation is engaging and interactive, and makes listeners feel comfortable enough to share how they're feeling. She encouraged our student-athletes to check-in with themselves and to be comfortable expressing their concerns about their mental health. Since her presentation, we've had several student-athletes speak up to coaches, and a handful have even contacted her on social media to speak further. Her background as a Division II student-athlete really resonated with them, and has definitely made an impact for us. We are so grateful to have had her visit us!
Brianna Falese - Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development, Molloy University
You were outstanding! I hope you truly know how good you are and how impactful I felt you were for our student athletes. I think your program was the very best we have done for our student athletes in many years.
Cindy Scott, Associate Athletic Director, Bentley University
If you are looking for an impactful mental health speaker & advocate, I highly recommend Ivy Watts. She presented at NJIT in Fall 2023, and her mental health workshop resonated with our athletes. She connected with our athletes in a way that they could identify, and she provided them tangible skills that they can use on a daily basis to support their mental health & wellness.
Peg Hefferan, NJIT Associate Athletic Director
You helped to shed light on a lot of issues that I didn’t know and your talk helped my students open up to some of their daily struggles and mental health issues. A lot of coaches don’t realize how important it is to be aware of these issues, it’s not just about the X’s and O’s, we need to know what is going on with our athletes, peers, friends and families. Since your talk, I’ve made sure I keep my eyes open to any signs positive or negative. THANK YOU, Ivy, for sharing your talk with us all, because we all needed to hear it.
Shaunnaya Williams, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field
You are such an inspiration, and an overall amazing person. It was great to have someone to relate to, I was speechless. That was by far the best speech I’ve heard. Thank you for sharing. You deserve the world! Let’s make a change!
Student-Athlete, New Hampshire Student Leadership Conference
Making a Lasting Impact. I reached out to you at the end of my daughter's spring semester last year. You spoke at her university and through your words she began a journey of healing and growth. Less than a year later she is stronger and wiser, but also gentle on herself on days that are challenging. I just wanted to thank you; you are such a source of strength and resiliency for these student-athletes and they need that voice, that face which they can look in the eyes, hear the voice, of someone who completely relates and understands.
Parent of a College Student-Athlete
Your story was eye opening for me and brought great, open conversation, that was well needed in my life and many others, thank you!
Student-Athlete, Adelphi University
Our student-athletes were both educated and inspired by hearing of your personal journey and the steps you have taken to overcome the obstacles. Your presentation allowed those in the room, whether dealing with a personal issue or not, to understand the conditions as well as learning of the various lifestyle changes that can assist in recovery. Breaking down the stigma of mental health remains a challenge, however your openness to sharing the experiences will help foster a sense of confidence in those struggling themselves.
Chris Palmer, Athletic Director University of New Haven
Ivy said, ‘if you’re seeking perfection, you’ll always fall short.’ As athletes and coaches, we are wired to strive for excellence, so hearing that message was compelling. Our identity, self worth, and happiness cannot be defined by performance and career achievements. Like Ivy said, there is power in daily affirmations. ‘I am worthy. I am capable. I am good enough.’ This message was well-received by our student-athletes.
Missy Traversi, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Adelphi University
Ivy Watts was the keynote speaker for our Social Justice Week 2024 at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She did a fabulous job of making her conversation on mental health empowerment relevant to a diverse group of students and faculty. Not only did she provide important things to consider, she also offered tools to support navigating through stress and other challenges. We would certainly welcome her back to our university again for a longer amount of time and more workshops!
Courtney Bauder Director Social Justice Minor Program, University of Wisconsin OshKosh
It was a pleasure having Ivy Watts come and speak to our high school girls track team. The week following Ivy’s visit, it was obvious many of our girls had a newfound sense of confidence and belief in themselves while practicing and competing on the track. Not to mention, several girls expressed openly that they had been positively impacted by the conversation. Ivy gives a raw, first-hand account of her experiences as a competitive athlete, her struggles with perfectionism, negative self-talk and the scary places it can sometimes take you when you ignore it, rather than address it. Ivy’s story is very powerful, and in my opinion, is not often embraced despite being extremely relevant in the sports realm and beyond. I think we all know someone who could have benefited from this conversation. For that reason alone, I would recommend every team, group, company, or organization consider inviting Ivy to speak. Ivy will break down the barriers surrounding mental health topics and will teach her audience how to find the self confidence and sense of worth that everyone deserves.
Kara Walsh, Waltham High School Girls Track Assistant Coach
One of the easiest and best decisions I have made on bringing in a guest speaker to present to our students and student-athletes was bringing in Ivy Watts to discuss mental health. Her passion to do so and her own individual story really allowed for a realistic presentation that all of our students could easily relate to and I am sure help some as well. It was very powerful and she did an outstanding job of presenting such a serious subject in today’s society while also making it comfortable for all. I highly recommend bringing Ms. Watts to your school to discuss this serious topic for all of your students.
Ryan Hall, Athletic Director, Mayville State University
Ivy really hit a nerve with our PanCAN team. In fact she hit a couple of nerves. The kind of nerves that make you laugh. That make you think. That make you grow. In speaking with our Community Engagement team, it's as if Ivy was "one of us." She did her homework, knew what we needed to hear, and then presented it in a comfortable setting. Ivy's message of self-care, resilience and forgiveness couldn't have come at a better time. She captivated our team for an hour and provided much needed resources. This might have been the best hour we've had in all of 2020.
Kevin Sims, Director of Community Engagement, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
I have struggled mentally for many years. That day in particular I was not in a good mindset, but after the event I found my energy was lifted. I relate to many of the struggles you went through and talked about. I continue reminding myself that it is okay to feel this way but to look at the positives of a situation. And I understand things will not change over night but it is the little steps that help. And attending this event was very beneficial for me.
Lauren Jennings, Student-Athlete at Johnson and Wales University
Ivy inspired us to be more courageous to help ourselves, while being more compassionate to help others.
Dr. John Giannini, Athletic Director, Rowan University
I feel confident we (Kean University Athletics) can speak for the rest of our NJAC members that Ivy's story was such a privilege and powerful experience to listen to, with lessons of overcoming struggle and adversity as a former student-athlete. The workshop gave our student-athletes the tools to practice and build confidence towards a positive, healthy, and safe mental space. Her tactics of effective listening, caring, and being supportive directly align with our role as coaches, teachers, and mentors.
David Galante, Assistant Coach, Kean University Football
THANK YOU for your truly amazing and uplifting presentation with our student-athletes! We have had some great speakers over the years, but I can say without hesitation, that this was truly something special. You were exactly what our students needed right now. You truly have a gift. Your words, your message, your honesty, your vulnerability, your ability to connect with your audience (even virtually), its impact has been felt by so many.
Jason Flesock, Head Girls Varsity Basketball Coach, Athlete Committed Coordinator at North Tahoe High School
Your story and what you have to say is so powerful and so inspiring. With the help of people like you, the stigma towards mental health will continue to change for the better. Thank you for continuing to inspire people like myself, for advocating that it is okay for people to have these feelings, and that it is more than okay to reach out for help. You completely inspire me, and you are such an amazing person. Thank you for all that you do.
Cameron Tooley, Student-Athlete, Women's Basketball, Le Moyne College
Ivy Watts gave a wonderful presentation to our team on Self Care during COVID! Her compassion for others is off the charts! She gave us great tips and tools to help us work through our daily life’s challenges while at the same time helping us understand that it’s ok to feel the way we feel! Loved her and would highly recommend her!
Gina Castelli, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Le Moyne College
Ivy’s message about self-empowerment was very powerful because so many of her experiences regarding self-doubt and equating one’s value to their athletic performance really resonated with me. It was inspirational and comforting to hear that Ivy, a very successful female student-athlete, has also struggled with many of the same issues that I have. In particular, I was impressed by how she made her information session interactive, regardless of the fact that we were all virtually attending. This spring, I plan to encourage my team to focus on their best qualities, on and off the field, and to create an environment of positivity and empathy, like the one that Ivy established with us.
Clara Sherwood, Women's Lacrosse, Washington & Jefferson College
Mental health is such an important topic right now and our membership was eager to learn more. Ivy met and exceeded our expectations for how her webinars would go with both athletics administrators/ coaches and student-athletes. We only received positive feedback from both groups. Ivy tells her story in a vulnerable and honest way that is also uplifting. She helps people feel like they're not alone and also provides them with the tools to get help and better support their mental well-being. I could not recommend Ivy more for mental health programming.
Kirsten Ford, Associate Commissioner, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)
Ivy's presentation was truly eye opening. Many of our athletes were struggling or have struggled with the same thing, making us feel like we are not alone. Ivy flawlessly intertwined her story with strategic and healthy ways to cope with what she continues to go through. It has inspired me to be committed to creating a more open environment among student athletes pertaining to mental health and breaking the stigma.
Kelli McCarthy, Salem State Student-Athlete
Ivy Watts was passionate, relatable, transparent and truly inspirational during her presentation to our Network of youth and young adults from New Brunswick, New Jersey. She is a dynamic speaker who electrifies her audiences with a powerful message of self-care and wellness. She shares her personal journey of challenges with mental health and conveys a blue print for maintenance, balance and triumph. Ivy Watts by far is manifesting her purpose and destiny to help people across the nation from all walks of life with her extraordinary platform comprising effective tools for mental wellness, self-care, and self-love. The time she spent with our organization was transformative and impactful; and we are already planning to bring her back!!!
Emmanuel Ford, Esq. Founder/Executive Director New Brunswick Education Foundation, Inc. (NBEF) NBEF College & Young Professional Network
We had Ivy speak to our entire student body in grades 6-12. Her message was impactful for both students and staff. Her honesty and vulnerability about her struggles through life made her relatable for our student-athletes especially. Our students were relieved to know that they are not allow in how they feel and the struggles they deal with on a daily bases. Not only was her message powerful, but she gave us all tools and resources to use on a daily basis to help deal with our emotions and struggles. We all left knowing that WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH!
Jamie Hayes - Athletic Director, Newmarket High School
Your story was so moving; it was real and honest, and the kids felt really felt a genuine connection to you. Bravo on putting on such a memorable presentation. This is one story that’ll stick with me and these kids for the long term. YOU ROCK!
Jenna Giannelli, Softball Coach, Nashua North High School
I resonated so much with what you were saying and I appreciate you opening up and sharing your journey. You were absolutely amazing and your visit was much needed and I firmly believe you are making such a positive impact on this world doing what you’re doing!
Student, Stonehill College
Your positivity is contagious and I’m thankful for the chance to have heard your story.
Rachel, Softball Athlete, University of New Haven
After hearing your presentation, I felt empowered and inspired. As someone who struggles with mental illness, it was something I needed to hear. I’ve heard many lectures about mental health, but I’ve never heard one so raw and pure.
Student, Sacred Heart Academy
Mental Wellness In The Workplace Presentation: We engaged with Ivy when we were looking for a motivational speaker for our company's Wellbeing day, which was focused all around mental health and wellness. We selected Ivy to be our guest speaker for this day, because her story was compelling and it aligned with the theme of our day. Ivy's presentation was incredible, she was energetic, and real. She demonstrated how it's ok to be vulnerable and acknowledge when things in life are not ok. She delivered an inspiring and moving presentation and left us with tools to equip ourselves to feel mentally empowered. The positive feedback we received from the attendees has been overwhelming. I highly recommend this session with Ivy and would absolutely book her for a future event.
Brittany Harvie, Sr. Manager, Solution Consulting, Salesforce
Ivy did an amazing job of discussing her story and how it relates to what student-athletes are facing today. She is a vibrant speaker and was able to capture our whole staff with her creative ways of participation and offered solutions to problems that student-athletes deal with. She is energetic, passionate and I loved having her speak. I'm excited for our students to get to hear her speak.
Megan Warren, Head Softball Coach, Defiance College
Your presentation was AMAZING! You killed it! You delivered your story in a powerful way, and the suggestions and tools you gave us to work with were spot on.
Will Sanborn, Director of Athletics, Saint Joseph's College
Ivy Watts delivered an amazing presentation to the student-athletes of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Our student-athletes left the workshop inspired and empowered to find beauty and strength in who they are and what they accomplish daily.
Kristen Foley, Associate Director of Athletics, William Paterson University
Ivy was an AMAZING, engaging and relatable speaker for our student-athletes. Given the times we are as a country, student-athletes are struggling and having someone who could speak on their own struggles and make it align with what are student-athletes are going through was great. She was able to speak on the steps she took to overcome her mental health challenges and provide some quick steps for our student-athletes to do on a daily basis.
Jackie Nicholson, Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, Albany State University
Wow, is my first thought! Thank you for sharing space, your story, and so many helpful tips and concepts surrounding mental health and wellness with our athletic department. I appreciate you for doing this work. Bates athletics will add to our success and greater awareness because of you.
Curtis Johnson, Associate Head Coach- Men's & Women's Track and Field, Bates College
Ivy was excellent with being honest, relatable, and creating a safe space to talk about a stigmatized topic. She did a fantastic job of showing how you're not alone and that there are so many resources and tools available. Ivy's passion for mental health was very empowering to hear. I was able to take away so much valuable information from her presentation that my teammates and I will be able to implement into our lives.
Jeanmarie Harvey, Track & Field Student-Athlete, Stockton University
I’ve heard nothing but positive responses from students and staff members regarding your presentation. Your message was clear and the students heard it. I still think we have a ways to go with acknowledging mental health and creating a culture where people aren’t afraid to admit when they need help, but it is through messages like yours that we continue to break down that barrier.
Nathan Burns, Principal, Nashua North High School
Your story resonated so much with me. You were just so inspiring and honestly, just thank you so much for speaking to us tonight. Knowing that someone as inspirational and confident as you, has been there too, just makes me feel so much more secure. You are truly incredible.
Student-Athlete, Stonehill College
Your presentation kicked off the day terrifically! You are dynamic, inspiring and genuine. We were very lucky to have you on campus speaking to the entire school!
Margie Bailey, Program Coordinator, Dana Hall School
I have heard dozens of speakers in my life, yours was by far the best speech I have ever heard.
Attendee, New Hampshire Student Leadership Conference 2019
Your talk helped to open my eyes and allowed me to see that I shouldn't degrade myself and that I should learn to love myself. I want to teach my future children this message that it is so important to love yourself early on in life. You reminded me that things can get better, even when things are difficult, recovery is possible. Thank you for coming today.
Student, Timberlane Regional High School
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story!! It was amazing and I am blessed to be able to hear the wise words you spoke. It truly helped me so much.
Student, Winnisquam Regional High School
Your presentation helped me to feel as though I am not alone. You really opened my eyes and changed the way I view things in a good way... You made me realize that it is okay to not be okay.