401 How Olympic Beach Volleyball Pioneer Margo Built a Career Without a Playbook

Quick Summary

Margo is a Canadian Olympian who competed in the first-ever Olympic beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Atlanta Games — and spent the years before that building the sport from the ground up with nothing but a group of passionate women, a bag of volleyballs, and a relentless vision. Nearly thirty years later, she brings that same pioneering spirit to her work in marketing, communications, and sustainability. In this episode, she shares what it really means to forge your own path, advocate for yourself in rooms that weren't built for you, and know when to be brave enough to just start.

In This Episode

• How Margo's athlete mother shaped her relationship with sport and competition from a young age
• The moment on Bondi Beach that changed the entire trajectory of her life
• What it took to qualify for the 1996 Olympics in a sport that wasn't yet officially recognized by Canadian sport organizations
• The key differences between indoor and beach volleyball — and why beach volleyball is essentially an entrepreneurial sport
• How competition can be community, and why your "competitors" might be your greatest allies
• The self-advocacy mistake Margo wishes she had avoided on her Olympic journey
• How nearly three decades in executive marketing and communications mirrors the athlete mindset
• Why knowing what energizes vs. drains you is the foundation of owning your career
• Margo's current work with Toronto Climate Week, Echo Athletes, and her children's book Good Girl Pearl

Key Takeaways

Put yourself in the environment where growth is inevitable. Margo went to Bondi Beach and San Diego not just to train, but to be surrounded by people at a higher level. When your environment matches your ambition, growth stops being hard work and starts being natural.Your competitors can make you better. The volleyball community modeled something rare: competitors who genuinely respect each other, play their hardest against each other, and then grab a drink together. The same principle applies in business. A rising tide lifts all boats.Silence is a choice — and it costs you. Margo's biggest regret is holding her tongue when she knew she should have spoken up. If you have the vision, the expertise, and the lived experience, waiting to feel "ready" only slows everyone down.Know what fires you up — and what drains you. Margo has consistently chosen roles that align with her builder's mindset. The structured, plug-and-play jobs weren't failures; they were data. Use that data to move back toward what energizes you.You don't have to wait until you're ready. Just start. Whether it's a sport, a career, or a conversation you've been avoiding — put it into motion. Fake it till you make it isn't a shortcut. It's a strategy.

Memorable Quotes

• "With beach volleyball, every outcome you have to own — because you're involved in every single play. If you lose five in a row with five different partners, you can only look in the mirror."
• "If you stay silent, nothing moves forward. Be brave. Just start the conversation."
• "The better you are, the better I get. That's how sport improves, how community gets stronger, how businesses evolve."

Resources Mentioned

• Margo’s LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/margomalowney
• Book: Good Girl Pearl — available on Amazon, all proceeds to animal rescue
• EcoAthletes: https://www.ecoathletes.org
• Toronto Climate Week: https://www.tocw.ca
• Climate Unf*cked podcast — a passion-driven climate podcast that avoids doomsday framing (search on your favorite podcast app)
• Good Girl Pearl by Margo — a children's book fundraiser for animal rescue, available on Amazon
• Echo Athletes — a group where your workouts and dog walks contribute to beach cleanups (find online or via app)
• Toronto Climate Week — Margo is an active contributor and advocate
• Wave Event — Paris, Ontario, April 17th — Margo will be a featured speaker (link in show notes)
• Laura Sinclair — mutual connection and previous Rain or Shine podcast guest
• Kelsey’s website: KelseyReild.com
• Kelsey’s Instagram: @kelseyreidl

About the Guest

Margo is a Canadian Olympian who competed in the inaugural Olympic beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Atlanta Games, helping build the sport in Canada from the ground up before it was formally recognized. She went on to spend nearly three decades in senior executive roles in marketing and communications across Canada, the US, and globally. Today she focuses her energy on sustainability, climate advocacy, and mentorship.