sara montagnolli

Sara Montagnolli is a trailblazer in Austrian sports, celebrated as the country’s first professional female beach volleyball athlete and a former Top 10 player in the world. Transitioning from elite athletics to mentorship and entrepreneurship, Sara draws on her unique experiences to guide and inspire others. She specializes in helping women build confidence, overcome imposter syndrome, and reach higher positions in their careers—drawing parallels between high-achieving athletes and professionals in the business world.

Currently, Sara works as a mentor for elite athletes, offering her expertise in goal setting, resilience, and leadership development. She is passionate about addressing the lack of female representation in leadership, particularly in sports coaching, and actively advocates for creating opportunities for women to excel in male-dominated environments.

Her approach to mentorship is deeply rooted in years of personal development, working closely with renowned coaches like Tony Robbins, Lisa Nichols, David T.S. Wood, Preston Smiles, Dominique Lyone... These experiences have not only shaped Sara’s mindset but also equipped her with powerful tools to inspire transformation in others.

In addition to her mentoring work, Sara has a diverse skill set that extends to fitness and business. She has been a certified CrossFit coach, a specialized functional fitness coach for children under the Brand X Method, and has years of experience working with individuals of all ages to unlock their potential. On the business front, Sara built her own e-commerce company from scratch, managing everything from product sourcing in Asia and design to negotiation, creating listings, and international shipping for markets in the U.S. and Australia. This hands-on experience gives her valuable insights into entrepreneurship, strategic thinking, and adaptability.

Sara’s educational background includes a degree in Sports Science, along with certifications as a mediator and conflict coach. Her first professional steps were taken as an elite athlete, where she honed her skills in teamwork, discipline, and perseverance—qualities she now passes on to her mentees.

Looking to the future, Sara aims to expand her mentoring efforts into the corporate world, helping women accelerate their careers through workshops, keynotes, and one-on-one guidance. She is deeply motivated by supporting others to believe in themselves, set ambitious goals, and achieve extraordinary results.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Sara is the proud godmother of four beautiful kids (three boys and one girl, aged 9 to 17) and embraces life with enthusiasm. Whether she’s mentoring, coaching, building businesses, or enjoying time outdoors, Sara’s pioneering spirit and love for life inspire everyone she meets.