The former European boxing champion shares her journey from boxer to pioneer, where her initiatives Fight Forward and Pillow help women heal, connect and thrive after trauma
Photography by Kasia Bobula
Tell us about your education and background before you became a boxer.
When I was younger, I wanted to perform on stage. I attended the Brit School and was part of the National Youth Theatre. I gradually became fascinated by the music events and marketing industry, so I decided to get a marketing and management degree, with a focus on the music industry. I graduated with First Class honours and spent a semester abroad at the University of Miami.
It was around this time that a family friend recommended I go to a fitness class at my local boxing gym. I was in my early 20s and, despite never having been a sporty child, I wanted to get fit. I had my first session and died! I thought, who does this? But I caught the boxing bug. Eventually, I had to make a choice between late nights networking or early mornings boxing. For me, it was a no-brainer. And so began my journey.
You were part of Britain’s first female Olympic boxing selection team in 2012 and won gold at the European Championships. How did it feel to be breaking ground in a sport that has traditionally been so male dominated?
For years, women were boxing behind closed doors, often without recognition or support. It wasn’t until 1996 that the British Amateur Boxing Association officially lifted its ban on women competing, and even then, opportunities were few and far between. We trained in the same gyms, sparred just as hard, but were rarely given the same platform. When we made it to Olympic selection, it felt like we were finally being seen. We had all been working so hard and sacrificed a lot to get to that point. I had made a choice to give up my career in management and focus on boxing, so it felt important that it was happening.
Boxing can often be misunderstood as purely physical. How would you describe the psychological transformation that happens in the ring?
Stepping into the ring is actually the smallest part of it all. All psychological transformations happen in the lead up to that moment. The discipline and focus you must demonstrate to be a successful boxer is the biggest act of self-love because you are continuously showing up for yourself. That’s a hugely powerful signalling effect not just to yourself, but also to others.
You’ve said that boxing helped you “feel strong” again. What does empowerment look like to you now?
Empowerment is freedom and autonomy. Ownership over my voice, my body and freedom to choose how I want to live my life for myself and my children.
You’ve spoken about surviving domestic abuse. What was the moment that made you realise what you had experienced wasn’t healthy or normal?
It was when I attended a group therapy session at Women’s Trust, and I started to hear from other women who had experienced abuse, that I began to see myself in them. Hearing their stories made me feel validated and acknowledged – the feeling of knowing that I wasn’t imagining things was hugely pivotal for me on my journey to healing.
Fight Forward has helped more than 100 women since its founding. What is this initiative and what kind of transformation have you witnessed in the women who go through your programme?
I founded Fight Forward in 2022 to help support women reclaim their strength and voice through boxing after experiencing abuse. For many women who have faced abuse, trauma can leave a disconnect from their bodies and boxing is a powerful tool for rebuilding that connection and taking back control.
The biggest transformation I see with women in the programme is when they remember who they are. At the start, many come in carrying a lot – fear, self-doubt, the feeling that they’ve lost a part of themselves. Week by week, you see something shift. They start holding their heads higher, speaking up more and even laughing differently. By the end, it’s not just about learning to box – it’s about rediscovering confidence, joy and community. Some go on to mentor others, some start new careers and some simply learn to feel safe in their own skin again.
Every story looks different, but the thread that connects them is belief that they’re capable of more than they were ever made to think.
With Fight Forward already changing lives, you’ve now launched Pillow – an AI-integrated platform to support survivors of trauma. What inspired the idea behind Pillow and how does it work?
Through Fight Forward, I watched so many women rebuild their physical strength but still feel isolated or unsure about where to turn next. Because of this, Pillow was born. Pillow is a trauma-informed social network where women can safely connect with each other, share knowledge and find the tools to move forward from surviving to thriving.
The AI element of the tool helps make that connection more personal. It listens and learns what each woman needs – whether its community, practical support or inspiration – and helps her find it without overwhelming. It’s technology used with empathy, designed to remind women that they’re not alone and that their experiences hold power, not shame.
You’ve created an environment where survivors feel safe, believed and seen. How do you personally navigate hearing heavy stories, especially as a survivor yourself?
It can definitely be triggering sometimes, no matter how far along the healing journey I am. This is natural, as healing from abuse is never linear. I think boxing and movement truly help to remove the stuck energy and emotions that can often feel so heavy.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to become entrepreneurs?
Do it, do it, do it! Be prepared to learn, get it wrong and build a network. Having people around you who inspire you, who you respect and who can challenge you is invaluable to this journey.
What’s next for Lesley Sackey?
Right now, it’s all about building – building Pillow into a platform that can truly change how we support women after crisis, and building Fight Forward so it can continue to be a space of strength and sisterhood.
fightforward.org.uk; read more about this year’s cohort of Inspirational Women here
