The power of play: Bread Financial women share how sports shaped their lives

In celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 5), Bread Financial is highlighting the journeys of three associates who competed in sports, both at the high school and collegiate levels. Their stories are a testament to the impact sports can have on women, leading to both personal and professional growth. From learning resilience to developing leadership skills, their experiences as athletes have helped shape the careers and lives they lead today. 

Finding strength through basketball 
Tez Reardon, a delivery lead for operational excellence, grew up playing multiple sports in Logan, Ohio. She eventually earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Massachusetts to play basketball. For Tez, basketball wasn’t just a game — it was a pathway to opportunity. 
 
“It was nice to not have to burden my parents with paying for college, and I still got to play a game I love,” she says. 
 
Her time on the court taught her valuable lessons about teamwork and discipline. Playing with athletes of different backgrounds and personalities helped her develop strong collaboration skills. “You don’t have to be best friends with everybody outside the lines,” she explained. “But if you want to win, you have to work together as a team.” 
 
Tez’s journey also came with challenges. Not once, but twice, she suffered devastating knee injuries, keeping her off the court for nearly two seasons. “I don’t think people understand — when a sport is how you identify yourself, you really feel lost if that is taken away,” she said. 
 
But adversity became a turning point. She focused on her academics, made the Dean’s List and developed a mindset of perseverance that she carried into her career at Bread Financial. “You just have to be ready when someone needs you for something,” she said. “Even if it’s something you know nothing about, you can still learn and be successful at it.” 
 
Today, she applies that same work ethic in her professional life, embracing new challenges with confidence. “Give me a task, and I’m going to figure out a way to do it.” 

Learning from every moment 
For Lindsay Madaras, a senior manager for associate well-being, basketball evolved into a classroom for life. Playing at Kenyon College and serving as a team captain her senior year, Lindsay gained insights that shaped her approach to leadership and teamwork. But some of the most impactful lessons she learned came not from the joys of victory, but from the difficult moments in between.  

“One time on the bus after a tough loss, my coach told me, ‘When you lose, don’t lose the lesson,’” Lindsay recalled. “That has stuck with me ever since that day. It’s easy to feel discouraged when things don’t go your way, but instead of dwelling on failure, you can choose to learn from it and improve.” 
 
Another lesson that transformed her mindset came when she tore her ACL before the first game of her sophomore season. "There was a point when I was really down on myself. It is a significant injury with a long recovery process. I wanted nothing more than to be back out there with my teammates,” she recalled. "I dug deep and found a sense of determination within myself I never knew I had. I put in the work and did everything I could — mentally and physically — to bounce back from my injury stronger than ever." 
 
These lessons — resilience, perseverance and a willingness to grow — became core values she carried beyond the basketball court. “Work ethic is key,” she explained. “It’s about what you do when no one is watching. That’s something sports instilled in me, and it translates directly to my career. Whether I’m collaborating with my team, working with vendors or navigating challenges, I want to be known as someone who shows up, works hard and supports others.” 

Lindsay is especially proud to work for a company that values women’s sports and empowers young girls to build confidence through athletics. “Bread Financial’s support for organizations like the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Professional Women’s Hockey League shows that we’re not just talking about empowerment — we’re taking action,” she said. “Representation and support matter. Young girls need to see that their dreams in sports and life are just as valid and celebrated as anyone else’s.” 
 
Lindsay’s advice to the next generation of female athletes? “Do your best, forget the rest. There will always be distractions from others — doubts, opinions, expectations. But if you focus on what you can control and give your best effort, everything else will fall into place.”