Empowering Women in Tech: Learning from Ana Mcsweeney's Journey as a Female Muay Thai Fighter

In this article, we delve into the inspiring journey of Ana Mcsweeney, a Muay Thai fighter and coach, who shares her strategies for success in male-dominated industries. Learn how to overcome obstacles, build confidence, and embrace personal growth. It is a captivating exploration of the parallels between the world of IT consulting and the empowering realm of Muay Thai.

Women in business encounter various challenges, such as gender stereotypes, career advancement obstacles, discrimination, pay disparities, and low self-esteem. Although there has been a recent increase in women's presence in the IT sector, they still make up only 22 percent of tech roles in European companies.

Closing the talent gap is crucial, and gender-balanced teams have been shown to provide better solutions, more diverse and creative approaches, balanced personal growth, improved communication, and increased flexibility and effectiveness. This could also lead to a potential GDP increase of €260 billion to €600 billion.

As we continue to strive toward equality, it's essential to gather as many tools and insights as possible. We can learn a lot from women working in the IT industry, but in addition, we can get valuable insights from women working in other male-dominated realms, such as Muay Thai. That's why we can look to Ana Mcsweeney, a professional Muay Thai fighter and coach at Munich MMA, for inspiration. Her tenacity, discipline, and strategic mindset can offer valuable lessons to women in IT and other male-dominated fields.

Next, let's delve into her remarkable journey and the invaluable insights she has gained along the way.

From Manchester to Phuket

Ana was born in Manchester to a German mother and an Irish father. Even though she has always been doing sports, like running, athletics and gymnastics, fighting was not part of her life before she turned 19 and joined a local Muay Thai club in Leeds where she was living at the time.

Her mom was strict when it came to anything violent. “I wasn’t even allowed to watch Power Rangers when I was a kid” Ana tells me, and we both start laughing. “I liked to train, and I liked sparring, but I never thought that I’d fight. I’m not sure how I ended up fighting”.

After a while, she decided to leave England and move to Germany, as her grandad was living there. But her stay in Germany was not long, as Thailand was calling for the soon-to-be professional fighter.

Muay Thai originates in Thailand and that’s where Ana traveled for holidays and to train. Her original plan was to stay in Phuket only for a few months, but she ended up staying there for three years as she became a sponsored athlete at Tiger Muay Thai.

“I’m like Thai sized, so that’s helpful. So, I can get matched up very easily, and blond and blue-eyed so they can put on the posters she’s Australian, she’s Russian, she’s this… So, it was good for them. And I was always consistent, I never said no to a fight.”

Time in Thailand

Ana was not really making much money during her time in Thailand. She had a room at the gym, trained consistently and fought 1-2 times a month. It’s normal to just have 2-3 weeks between fights in Thailand. Usually, you don’t know your opponent, you just show up and then you fight. She liked the framework that came along with fighting and training. A kind of “just do what you’re told” way of living, with clear goals, and always preparing for the next fight.

This meant that she had to be consistent with training. After one fight, you show up again to training and start preparing for the next one. She had to focus on herself and her strengths, not worry too much about the opponent.

“Be polite, consistent, don’t be disrespectful, and focus on yourself” Ana wraps up her thoughts about her learnings from training and fighting.

Navigating challenges

During her training, Ana encountered various challenges. It took several months for her to discover that one of the trainers had been falsely spreading rumors that they were in a romantic relationship. This misinformation had a significant impact on how others at the gym perceived her. Additionally, Ana experienced a setback when she broke her arm after intense training. Partly due to comments about her weight and being described as "Pum pui" (chubby in Thai), she was overtraining and her body was fatigued. During a training session, she received a blow to her forearm, and later, at the gym, her bone snapped.

To complicate matters, the trainers placed the blame on Ana for her injury. She had to return to England to work and recover, seeking financial support. Upon her return, she initially found herself being solely recognized as "the trainer's girlfriend."

Overall, Ana received comments about her blonde hair and fair complexion, which are typically considered positive attributes in Thailand. However, these perceptions changed when she got sunburned during her time in Thailand. Additionally, when preparing for fights, she encountered comments like "make sure to look cute."

Lessons for Success

"You learn something new from every fight," Ana explains. While it may sound like a cliché, Ana truly believes that each fight offers valuable lessons. These lessons provide her with new areas to focus on during training. In many ways, this parallels the principles of agile development in the IT world, where you set a sprint goal and work towards it, with the sprint review serving as the final fight. Following the review, a retrospective takes place to gather fresh ideas and action points for improvement.

Ana also observed that she gained more respect when she dedicated herself to training. Despite facing some level of discrimination and comments about her appearance, she remained focused on the most important aspect: herself and her training. By prioritizing her growth and skill development, Ana demonstrated her commitment to the sport.

She has now been fighting for 11 years, rounding up to 41 fights and she has been fighting in Thailand, Scotland, and Germany. It's truly astonishing to contemplate the wealth of valuable insights that can be derived from such a remarkable experience.

Becoming more confident

Reflecting on her time in Thailand, Ana expresses a sense of gratitude. Although she occasionally felt lonely as people came and went, she chose to stay. One of her significant personal challenges was confidence, which significantly improved during her time in Thailand. It took a while for her to discover what worked best for her, but this self-discovery was invaluable.

The training served as a means of stress relief and a confidence booster for Ana. However, it wasn't solely for self-defense purposes. She learned to manage nervousness and channel that energy effectively. Even though she might get nervous before a fight, when she steps into the ring, everything else fades away.

Ana firmly believes in staying true to oneself and not attempting to be someone else. What's interesting is that she could sometimes feel dissatisfied with a fight even if she emerged as the winner. It all comes down to how she evaluates her own performance and whether she can find contentment within herself. Fighting isn't solely about winning—it's a personal journey where there's always something new to focus on. Ana emphasizes the importance of self-focus, showing up for the fight, and then moving forward.

Working as a coach at Munich MMA has been incredibly beneficial for Ana. Despite her extensive knowledge of Muay Thai, she admits to occasionally experiencing imposter syndrome. Different individuals hold varying views on techniques and other aspects, leading her to question herself at times. Prior to becoming a coach, she struggled to speak in front of people. Her coaching style revolves around identifying and nurturing the strengths of others, rather than dictating what to do or imposing drastic changes.

Calling all confidence seekers! If you're itching to unlock the secrets of unwavering self-assurance, look no further than my previous article Why and How to Improve Your Confidence.

Ana coaching me at the MMA Munich Gym at Nordbad. Joining her morning Muay Thai classes is a great way to start the day.

Find something that makes you playful

Commitment and hard work are fundamental to achieving success, whether you're in the field of IT consulting or pursuing a career as a Muay Thai fighter. One valuable lesson we can all learn from Ana is the importance of maintaining respect, fostering a strong work ethic, and dedicating ourselves to personal skill development.

Ana also emphasizes the significance of finding something that brings us joy and a sense of playfulness. It could be golf, Muay Thai, or any activity that sparks our interest. Munich MMA offers free Muay Thai sessions for women on Saturdays, led by Ana herself. Give it a try—you might discover a new passion! Check out this short intro video to Ana and Muay Thai.

Together towards equality and inclusivity

In conclusion, Ana Mcsweeney's journey as a Muay Thai fighter and coach offers valuable lessons for women in IT and other male-dominated fields. Her story underscores the need for gender balance and equal opportunities in these industries.

From facing challenges such as stereotypes and discrimination to finding strength in consistency, self-focus, and personal growth, Ana's experiences highlight the importance of perseverance, confidence, and dedication. By learning from Ana's example, women can empower themselves, overcome obstacles, develop their skills, and thrive in their careers. Together, we can work towards a future of equality and inclusivity in all professional spheres.