About Dr. Julie Pelikhova
Dr. Julie Pelikhova is a UCLA professor, author, and leadership & mindset coach dedicated to helping athletes and professionals optimize their work–life balance, time & stress management, and overall fulfillment. She combines her academic expertise with hands-on coaching to equip leaders with practical strategies for thriving in fast-paced environments. In addition to her work with executives, she is also a trusted mindset coach to Olympic and Division I athletes who have gone on to professional careers across a wide range of sports.
Dr. Julie Pelikhova's transformative approach empowers people to overcome obstacles, unlock their full potential, and achieve their goals.
Strengthen your mindset and become the champion of your own journey.
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In a world that measures student-athletes by performance, this book is about the person underneath it all. It’s here to help you train your mind and lead from within.
Mindset Champion is a high-impact, athlete-centered guide for student-athletes who want to thrive under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and lead with confidence in their sport and in life.
Written by Dr. Julie Pelikhova, professor in the Transformative Coaching and Leadership Master’s Program for student-athletes at UCLA, and Misty Buck, a mental performance coach to elite competitors and professionals, this book blends leadership insight, mental training tools, and practical strategies designed specifically for today’s athlete.
Through honest conversations with student-athletes across levels and sports, the authors uncovered the most common mental and emotional challenges athletes face from comparison and self-doubt to identity, pressure, and burnout. The result is a playbook rooted in real experiences, built for those who are ready to grow through what they go through.
With a foreword by Dr. William D. Parham, a pioneering voice in athlete mental wellness and founding director of the NBPA’s Mental Health and Wellness Program, this book brings together powerful perspectives from the highest levels of sport and leadership development.
Inside, student-athletes will learn how to:
• Stay focused and composed under pressure
• Navigate injuries, transitions, and setbacks with a winning mindset
• Let go of comparison and build real confidence
• Regulate emotions and reset after mistakes
• Strengthen identity and purpose beyond stats and titles
• Become a Mental CEO and Mindset Champion by building mental skills through consistent, intentional practice
Every athlete's journey is different, and this book is designed to meet you where you are and help you build what comes next.
Whether you're competing at the college level, rising through high school ranks, or coaching athletes through the highs and lows of the game, Mindset Champion delivers the tools and inspiration to take your inner game to the next level.
You’ve trained your body. Now it’s time to train your mind.