Dr. Stacy Irvine's journey from athlete to entrepreneur reflects the power of investing in women, in sport and in what comes next.

Women's sport doesn't grow on its own. It grows because people and organizations choose to invest in it.

From athletes and coaches to supporters and partners, building the future of the game takes a shared commitment to creating more opportunities for women to compete, lead and succeed.

As part of She Leads the Game, we're highlighting one of the leaders helping drive that progress beyond the pitch. Through its partnership with AFC Toronto, Totum Life Science is supporting more than a single match. It's supporting a vision for the continued growth of women's professional sport and the next generation of women who will shape it.

In this feature, we'll hear from Dr. Stacy Irvine, about her journey as an entrepreneur, the lessons she's learned as a leader, and why investing in women's sport matters.

Stacy Irvin | Co-Founder, Totum Life Science
Irvine's path into high-performance health and sport began with her own experience as an athlete.

As a university heptathlete, she experienced multiple stress fractures, poor nutrition guidance and limited recovery support. The issue wasn't a lack of care from her coaches, but a lack of knowledge and resources around the specific needs of female athletes.

Those experiences stayed with her.

"Although those struggles were awful at the time, I believe they make me much better at the work I do today. I am determined to help all of the athletes I work with avoid situations similar to what I went through."

That determination, combined with a master's degree in Exercise Physiology and years of experience working with elite university athletes, eventually led Irvine to co-found Totum Life Science.

What began from a desire to provide better support for athletes has grown into a national organization focused on integrated health, sports medicine and performance.

Rethinking What It Means to Lead
Irvine's experience has also shaped the way she thinks about leadership.

Early in her career, she believed that leading by example was enough. Over time, she came to see leadership as something more active, built through listening, communication and understanding the people around you.

"Today I realize that leading by example is a more passive style of leadership. Good leadership requires extra thought, extra listening and way more effective communication. You need to take the time to get to know your team, what they love to do and what they are struggling with."

It's a philosophy that extends beyond the workplace. For Irvine, leadership is about creating an environment where people feel supported enough to challenge themselves and confident enough to take on what comes next.

Why She Leads the Game
When the opportunity to partner with AFC Toronto on She Leads the Game came together, Irvine saw an immediate connection between the work she has built her career around and the values at the heart of women's professional sport.

Strength. Confidence. Resilience. Awareness.

"I wholeheartedly believe that the rise of women's professional sports represents all of these important values, and that every time we support, watch and cheer these athletes on, we are building these values within all of us."

For the next generation of women watching from the stands on August 16, Irvine's message is simple, but powerful. It's one she has learned through her own experiences as an athlete, entrepreneur and leader.

"I can do hard things. All of these women are living examples of what can happen when you have the confidence to do hard things."

She Leads the Game
Across the past several features, we've introduced the women who are helping shape AFC Toronto from the sidelines, behind the crest and alongside the club as partners.

Their roles are different, but the thread connecting them is the same: a belief in what is possible when women are given the opportunity, support and confidence to lead.

For Dr. Stacy Irvine, that belief comes from her own experience as an athlete and entrepreneur, and from watching women's professional sport continue to carve out its place in North America.

"A message I often repeat to myself that comes directly from my time involved in competitive sports is 'I can do hard things!' I draw on this idea in all aspects of my life. I know it has been an uphill battle to establish professional women's sports in a meaningful and profitable way in North America. All of these women are living examples of what can happen when you have the confidence to do hard things."

That's what She Leads the Game is ultimately about.

It's about seeing women lead and recognizing what's possible. It's about creating opportunities where they didn't exist before. And it's about ensuring the next generation doesn't have to wonder whether they belong in the room, on the pitch, on the sidelines or at the head of the table.

Because when women lead, they don't just change the game. They show the next generation that they can, too.