S2 - Episode 8 - Cherie Pridham

Topics Discussed:

• Cherie’s racing career and how it influenced her professional career.
• How Covid affected Cherie’s previous team ‘Vitus Pro Cycling’, and how Covid led to a lack of sponsorship which led to the team having to close down.
• The psychology behind this decision, and how it affected Cherie emotionally.
• How, even if Covid hadn't happened, recent changes in the cycling industry were making funding a lot more difficult anyway. There was a change after 2017 which changed the landscape of cycling, which Covid may hopefully highlight to trigger future change.
• Cherie’s look for ‘real-world jobs during the worst periods of the Covid Pandemic.
• Cherie’s decision to start reaching out to WorldTour teams, and how she received very swift and positive responses from Israel Start-Up Nation.
• How Cherie got a job offer from Israel Start-Up Nation the same day she closed down the Vitus Pro Cycling Team and the mixed emotions she received during this period.
• The relief Cherie felt when she did close down the team, as all the issues she was having had all of a sudden disappeared.
• How Cherie is now the first-ever female Sports Director of any WorldTour Men’s Cycling Team, and how she didn’t think about this when she was looking for the job.
• How Cherie had the same approach during her riding career and never really thought about the fact she was a woman in a male-dominated sport.
• How men tend to struggle more with women being in the room/sport than women do.
• Cherie’s hit and run accident which ended her racing career and paved her route into being a Sport’s Director.
• The problems women have with being in leadership positions when pushing back against sexism, and how Cherie has found confidence will get you through this.
• How Cherie’s excitement for her new position has now dissipated and she is now just wanting to crack on with the work that needs to be done.
• Covid’s effect on Israel Start-Up Nation’s future plans and approach.
• The number of staff members for Israel Start-Up Nation and the difficulty this causes when planning races etc.
• The challenges Cherie faced when changing jobs.
• The logistics involved in travelling during Covid times, and the large amount of paperwork involved.
• Cherie’s proudest cycling accomplishment.
• Cherie’s Sporting Hero.
• The three guests Cherie would invite to her retirement party.
• Cherie’s one wish for 2021.

References:

Cherie Pridham’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherie-pridham-951b437b/

Cherie Pridham’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chezpro/?hl=en

Cherie Pridham’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/chezpro?lang=en

Israel Start-Up Nation’s Website - http://israelcyclingacademy.com/