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When Crystal Holick ’23 MBA was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, she was told it would be chronic. Refusing to simply accept her fate, she began making changes to her health and fitness regimen – changes so significant that she began training for and competing in triathlons. Now an accomplished athlete, she has her sights set on Abu Dhabi, where she will compete in the event in November.

Holick’s training program alone is, on average, 10 hours per week. Her workouts include swimming in a pool and in open water, high-intensity interval training (outdoors and in all weather), strength training, and endurance bike rides that typically take at least two hours to complete. She draws on her mental and emotional strength and resilience and finds inspiration in mantras she tries to embody as she balances her many priorities, including training, work, school, motherhood, and relationships.

While her season typically lasts from June to August, she is extending it this year in preparation for the Abu Dhabi event, competing in more than 10 triathlon and duathlon events through October. Each is an opportunity for her to experiment with her strategy and further develop her skills.

“As I line up at the swim start, when I am grinding the pedals on the bicycle, and when I think I have not one more step to give in the run, I say to myself, ‘I can. I will. Watch me,’” explains Holick. “Sport is competitive, and placing first amongst the competition is an achievement to be celebrated, yet triathlon has become something more for me. I do not dream to be the best in the world, but I am driven to be at my best for every event because the outcome is determined by who shows up.”

‘Mommy, this is you!’

Since competing in her first sprint triathlon in June 2017, Holick has learned how to improve at every event, finishing an Olympic distance triathlon only a year later. Holick, who has thrice qualified for USA Triathlon’s Age Group National Championships, has also completed the Ironman triathlon in Lake Placid, New York. After earning a highly-competitive place on USA Triathlon Team USA, she will represent the United States at the 2022 World Triathlon Grand Final in Abu Dhabi.

Holick says her story is not that of an individual who was told she could not. Rather, it was one of someone who was never told she could. An adoptive mother of two children whom she calls “amazingly beautiful,” she hopes to serve as a role model for them and to inspire them to continue to learn, grow, and persevere. And, it seems, they’ve been paying attention.

“This message, ‘I can,’ resonated louder than any other day a couple years ago when I was shopping with my son at the local country store,” she said. “He noticed a wooden sign with a saying on it, which simply read, ‘This girl can.’ My son pointed to the sign and said, ‘Mommy, this is you!’ I still get emotional about that moment.”

‘Open new opportunities for me’

In addition to competing, Holick is passionate about education. Her father passed away before she graduated from high school, and she made education a priority in her life in his honor. Holick, who has advanced degrees from the and the , is now pursuing her Master of Business Administration at the University with a concentration in strategic leadership.

Holick says her experience in the program so far has “truly been special.” She’s already learned a great deal from her professors – including personal branding from Prof. Angeli Gianchandani; defining leadership core values from Prof. Michael Davis; and incentive-based analysis to predict individual behavior from Prof. John Rosen.

Drawn to the program’s small class sizes, comprehensive curriculum, and flexibility, she has endeavored to complement and enhance the business acumen she has already gained through her work experience.

“I expect the MBA to solidify and diversify my business acumen,” she said. “It will also enable me to leverage my talent to achieve career advancement opportunities in the healthcare industry or open new opportunities for me in the consumer health technology industry.”

‘This girl can’…yes, you can, too’

With more than 20 years of public health research experience in the nonprofit, academic, and federal sectors, Holick has shown that she can throughout her career as well. She has served as principal and co-investigator for several research studies in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, and cancer prevention, and she has transitioned to a more business-oriented focus over the past 15 years.

As staff vice president of strategy and planning for , a healthcare research company of Elevance Health, Holick leads the execution of corporate strategy and oversees daily business, research, and data operations. Dedicated to building an executive-level career, she ensures the profitability of business performance and makes sure the company operates efficiently.

“I really enjoy collaborating with such a diverse talent of clinical and scientific experts, data scientists, and program managers,” she said. “We innovate and provide opportunities based on scientific evidence to improve outcomes and communities for many of the physical, behavioral, and social drivers that impact our whole health.”

Since she began training and competing, Holick’s own health has improved. Her “chronic” autoimmune disease is now in remission. She has learned the importance of believing that she can, and she hopes to share and model that lesson for others.

“The feeling I have lived a purposeful and fulfilled life only comes to me through service to others,” she explains. “I desire my achievement of being a triathlete on USA Triathlon Team USA to be an opportunity to serve as a role model and to share my message. ‘This girl can,’ and I want to share with women and girls everywhere that, yes, you can, too.”