HighFIVE: Emma Doyle

Emma Doyle brings her positive message to the CentHER Court conference

The CentHER Court conference is an exciting event coming to the Denver Country Club on October 25-26. Designed to empower females in the tennis industry, one of the highlights of the event will be the closing keynote presented by Emma Doyle, an internationally recognized high-performance tennis coach, speaker and mentor who happens to call Denver home.

Emma says, “CentHer Court feels like a perfect match. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate women’s journeys — in tennis and in life — and to remind everyone in the room that their next chapter is unwritten and entirely in their hands,” a concept that Emma knows and lives as well as anyone.

Growing up in Melbourne, Australia, Emma played a lot of sports — cricket, soccer, Australian football, squash — but it was when her grandfather introduced her to tennis when she was 10, that Emma knew she found her sport. Her success in junior tennis came later than most, but Emma believes she a learned a lot from that as she says, “What I lacked in physicality early on, I made up for by being a constant student of the game. I absolutely loved the problem-solving aspect of tennis — it challenged me mentally and kept me coming back for more.” 

“Coming back for more” served Emma well as she earned a scholarship to play at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Playing college tennis “completely changed my life — not just as a player, but as a future coach” says Emma. 

While at Middle Tennessee State, Emma found success on court — including being named Most Valuable Player — and also in the classroom. She studied the psychology of coaching which complemented her lifelong passion for learning, leadership, and helping others discover their inner coach.

After graduation, Emma moved back to Australia and immersed herself in coaching Victorian and Australian national junior teams. 

“It wasn’t always glamorous — as a team coach, you wear many hats. One minute you’re the coach, the next you’re a friend, counselor, strength and conditioning trainer, and team manager all rolled into one! But those experiences taught me adaptability, resilience, and the importance of connection.” 

Emma fondly remembers the last Australian team she traveled with. It was the U16 Fed Cup in 2018, when they won the Asia-Oceania qualifying event. They finished fifth at the World Finals in Budapest where they were knocked out by the US team which featured a 14 year-old rising star named Coco Gauff! Emma says, “Even then, you could see she had something truly special.”

After three decades of coaching tennis, Emma felt some burnout. “I took a step back and immersed myself in everything personal development: emotional intelligence, motivation, communication styles, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) — you name it.” 

This self-reflection led Emma back into the coaching world, but this time it was helping coaches and business executives lead more effectively. “This was a significant pivot that began back in the mid-2000s, but it wasn’t until around the time of COVID that I made the full transition into corporate coaching and speaking full-time,” says Emma.

Around this same time, Emma was searching for a place where she could “both live and lead with purpose”. She says, “Colorado’s energy, lifestyle, and entrepreneurial spirit felt like the right fit. Plus, it’s close to the mountains — nature is where I reset and re-energize.” She still does spend JanuaryMay in Australia to spend time with family and because “it’s safer for an Aussie not to be driving on Colorado roads in the winter!”

Having found the right balance of location, Emma furthered her focused on “helping leaders build cultures rooted in empowerment, curiosity, and accountability” which allows her to have a wide variety of clients, from large constructions firms to small business groups. She has also learned that people absorb messaging in different ways. “Modality really matters. It’s about meeting people where they’re at and tapping into how they learn best.” This mindset encouraged Emma to expand how she reached people. In 2017, she did a TEDx talk, Unleashing Female Potential, where she explored the power of future-based thinking — using “next time” language to strengthen the inner voice and build resilience. That same year, she launched The Coaching Podcast, which is about to celebrate its 200^th episode. Emma followed these up with the release of her book, What Makes a Great Coach? in 2022. She also developed www.acecoach.com.au, a dedicated tennis coaching platform which has become a go-to resource for coaches looking to grow their craft and build strong coaching cultures.

“These days, much of my work is workshop-based (a minimum of three hours) and I absolutely love it. This format creates space for real connection, powerful insights, and actionable takeaways. It becomes a true partnership, a dance of energy between me and the group. That’s where the magic happens,” says Emma.

She will carry that same magic into her keynote at CentHER Court. “Coaching has always been my calling. I’ve been coaching since I was 14 years old! Tennis coaching was the vehicle for many years, and what started on local courts in Melbourne has taken me all around the world, from grassroots programs to the global stage. I specialize in communication, connection, and helping people unlock their inner coach. I’m particularly passionate about helping girls and women thrive in tennis and leadership.”

Emma says her goals are to “Keep growing. Keep serving. Keep helping others believe in what’s possible” — very clearly words from a successful coach.

To learn more about Emma, check out her tennis coaching website, www.acecoach.com.au, and her corporate coaching website, www.emmadoyle.com.au, as well as follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Learn more or register for the CentHER Court Conference,

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