We’re so excited to welcome Allie Perugini to the Strive team as our new Director of Partnerships and Implementation. From the first conversation, it’s clear that Allie brings a rare mix of curiosity, warmth, and passion for helping young people grow through sport, leadership, and self-discovery.
Allie’s journey began in Delaware, where she played sports year-round and discovered how powerful athletics can be for building confidence and community. When she began competing at the collegiate level in field hockey and lacrosse, she became curious about the mental side of performance, exploring how confidence, focus, and motivation shape success. That curiosity led her to take her first sport psychology courses, and it quickly became clear she had found her calling. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she spent a year coaching high school athletes before heading to Colorado to pursue a master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Denver.
Today, Allie is the founder of Embark Mental Performance, where she continues to work with youth athletes to strengthen their mental skills. Through both one-on-one and team sessions, she helps young people embrace self-awareness, build confidence, and connect through authenticity. Her philosophy centers on meeting people where they are and helping them see their strengths, an approach that perfectly complements Strive’s mission.
Allie was drawn to Strive because of its focus on youth leadership development, something she believes is often overlooked but deeply needed. “Most people want to lead,” she says. “They just need the right tools, guidance, and support to help them realize their potential.” What sealed the deal for her was meeting the Strive team and feeling the genuine energy and commitment behind the work.
Her belief in the power of sports runs deep. To Allie, sports are one of the best classrooms for life, teaching resilience, confidence, and empathy through both victories and setbacks. One of her favorite moments came when a young athlete opened up about his pre-game anxiety, inspiring his teammates to do the same. That simple act of vulnerability transformed the team’s dynamic and reminded her that leadership often starts with honesty and courage.
Of Strive’s core values, Allie connects most with Know Thyself, seeing self-awareness as the foundation for personal growth and authentic leadership. Outside of work, she is also a writer at heart and loves expressing herself through poetry and creative storytelling.
We’re thrilled to have Allie on board and can’t wait to see the impact she will make as she helps us continue our mission to help youth and young adults know themselves, lead with purpose, and grow together.