Ash Barty shares ‘inspiring’ new job update following tennis retirement

Five months after her shock retirement from tennis, world champion and Australian golden girl Ash Barty is now making her mark in the corporate world.

The 26-year-old took to YouTube on Wednesday, August 17, to announce her new role with the Australian telecom giant, Optus, as their new “Chief of  Inspiration”.

The new role will see the three-time grand slam champ partake in a mixture of initiatives and community campaigns where she plans to apply lessons she’s learned from her highly successful sporting career to help inspire fellow Australians to go after their dreams and pursue their goals.

“Inspiration for me has always been my north star, helping inspire Aussies and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves – and I cannot wait to do that with Optus,” Barty said.

Barty has also shared her excitement of working alongside other “brilliant” athletes-tuned-business professionals at Optus, like swimmer Ian Thorpe, Paralympian Ellie Cole, and F1 racing driver Daniel Ricciardo.

According to Barty, there are many key takeaways from sports that can also be applied to the business sector.

“From sport, I’ve learnt the positivity and the really good aspects in life that can come out of friendship and being in active teamwork,” Barty said.

“Whether it’s sport or the corporate world, the most important thing is to find what makes you happy.

“Sometimes it means that brave or courageous decision, that conscious decision to say yes, and to feel like you are making a difference.”

The tennis legend has also expressed her enthusiasm to be working with a company that allows her to be recognised as more than just a sporting legend.

“I decided to prioritise Ash Barty the person, over Ash Barty the tennis player, and in doing so I’ve realised I can help so many more people through my charity work, my role as the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador, and now with Optus as their Chief of Inspiration,

“It’s very humbling that my story has inspired so many people, but the reality is there are millions of everyday Australians who have the courage and commitment to say ‘yes’ just like I did,” she continued.

“I welcome the opportunity to encourage more people to say yes to the things they love.”

Optus shared Barty’s enthusiasm claiming they couldn’t be more thrilled to have Barty on their team.

Thrilled to announce that Ash Barty has joined us @Optus as our new Chief of Inspiration! We are proud to partner with an inspiring Australian who shares our values and wants to encourage others to unlock the power of ‘yes’. Welcome to the Optus family, Ash! pic.twitter.com/h1BoHm4CtT

— Kelly Bayer Rosmarin (@kbrspace) August 17, 2022

“Ash is a true Australian icon and role model – her performance on the courts epitomised a challenger spirit, determination and strength, while her community work has demonstrated the power of optimism in action,” Optus CEO Kerry Bayer Rosmarin said.

Since stepping away from the tennis court Barty has shown no signs of slowing down. In April this year, Barty sparked rumours of a possible new sporting endeavour after she won a local golfing tournament, however, she made it clear she had no plans to pursue a career in the sport.

In July, she married her long-time partner Garry Kissick in a “magical” private ceremony and has also published a series of children’s books, titled Little Ash, that tells stories loosely based on her own experience.

Barty has also written a memoir titled My Dream Time which is scheduled for release on November 23.