For most of us, the physical fitness part of work-life balance means squeezing in a few extra hours per week to hit the gym, barre class, or yoga mat. But for years, business owner Cassie Bailey took work-life balance to Olympic heights – throwing shot put for the Lady Vols Track & Field team at the University of Tennessee and competing at the 2016 US Olympic Trials.

During her years of elite athletic competition, Cassie achieved many successes, including:
• Representing UT at six NCAA Championships; USA Outdoor Championships
• NCAA Runner Up, 2x SEC Runner Up
• Serving three seasons as Team Captain and recipient of the Chuck Rohe Leadership Award; and
• Receiving the “My All for Tennessee” award – a special recognition bestowed by fellow athletes across all UT teams honoring hard work and dedication.

Today – following a major career field switch from nursing to print – Cassie’s focus is on succeeding as co-owner of Printing Image (which she manages with husband and Olympian discus thrower Tavis Bailey) in Knoxville, TN and on maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a working parent to one-year old son, Atlas. (Seriously, the best name ever for a child of two Olympic-caliber athletes!)

Still on an inspiration rush from the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France,  Women in Print Alliance caught up with Cassie to learn how she’s parlayed her sports experience into business leadership, to hear her tips on balancing work, parenting, and physical wellness, and to get her take on “If running a printing company was an Olympic sport…” (Spoiler alert: It’s a combined events contest!).

Women in Print Alliance (WPA): How and when did you enter or become associated with the printing industry? What was your “Aha!” moment when you knew print was the right field for you?

Cassie Bailey (CB): We bought Printing Image in September 2022. I previously worked as a Critical Care RN in Trauma/Surgical and COVID ICUs so I had absolutely no experience in the industry. It probably wasn’t until earlier this year that I had my “Aha” moment as the previous year and a half involved so much change for us. That includes becoming new parents, which we learned about two months after purchasing the business.

WPA: You seem to have an innate sense of work-life balance. Does that come from years of balancing school and competitive athletics? For those of us struggling to find our own work-life balance, what one piece of advice would you give?

CB: Work-life balance is a new concept for me. Every fiber in me wants to work as hard and much as I can to accomplish the goals I have set out for myself, because prior to this stage of life it has always proven successful. Becoming a mom is what has forced me to create a healthy work-life balance. The one piece of advice (and reminder I have to tell myself regularly) is work will always be here, there will always be more of it; however, time with friends and family is not infinite. I am a person who strongly believes in not having regrets about our decisions, but that also means making decisions we won’t regret. I will never regret spending time with loved ones.

WPA: Okay, impress us. What did your training schedule look like when you were prepping for the Olympic trials? And then bring us back to reality. What does it look like now as a busy small business owner (and working parent/spouse)?

CB: I was a bit of an overachiever during undergrad. I took anywhere from 16 to 19 hours of class each semester, I would have 20ish hours of week for practice/weights, plus training room hours. My day was busy from 7 am to 7pm and then I would do homework. I think my routine now looks about like every working mom’s routine. I wake up around 5:30 to try and workout, then I drop off at daycare, go to work, I never miss dinner or bedtime unless I am out of town, then we clean up the house after little man goes to sleep. Then, if need be, I go back to work to catch up on the things I didn’t get done earlier.

College was easier….

WPA: There’s a growing body of research connecting lessons learned in competitive sports with the rise of women in C-suites and business ownership. Which of these lessons do you believe transfer to professional skills like leadership, teamwork, and the like?

CB: The things that come top of mind for me are decision making under pressure, collaboration and communication, resilience/grit, prioritization, and coachability. I think the first thing people need to know about being in a leadership position is that there is a lot of pressure, and you must handle it with poise to be successful. For me personally, I work closely with my team, I absolutely refuse to accept failure, and I understand when I need help so I go looking for the best advisor/coach.

Another thing that has been key for me is buying into a plan and regularly practicing delayed gratification. From a young age on, I have usually always chosen the route that is going to hurt now for bigger reward down the road. It’s the same being an athlete as being a business owner. Nothing worth having comes easy, so I don’t go looking for instant gratification.

WPA: Given the connection sports and leadership potential, is there a role for companies to play in supporting girls’ and young women’s athletics? In your view, how could the printing industry best engage here?

CB: Absolutely, we are witnessing something really cool right now in that we are seeing the rise in popularity of woman’s sports! It is amazing to watch but we have a long way to go. The best way to do this is to be a cheerleader. I had a lot of cheerleaders/supporters in my corner, both male and female, telling me what I could do if I worked hard. I honestly cannot remember one person who put limitations on my capabilities.

WPA: If running a printing company was an Olympic event, what would it be?
I am thinking Heptathlon. It takes a diverse skillset, strategic planning and execution, adaptability and balancing multiple priorities simultaneously.