Sport – my oxygen

Partner and Head of Client Experience Terje Liiv cannot imagine her life without sport. She says that physical activity gives her peace of mind, energy, and confidence in challenging moments. “I have noticed that the busier and more demanding life becomes, the more important training is for me,” Terje explains. For her, sport is much more than movement – it is her oxygen.

What roles do you have outside your main job?

In addition to my career at Grant Thornton Baltic, my most important role is being a mother of three young children. We have children aged 2, 4, and 7, which means life is intense both at the office and at home in the evenings. If the workday requires focus, strategy, and results orientation, then at home I am needed for emotional presence, logistics, and a constant supply of energy that three little people help to refill every day.

I discovered sport more than 20 years ago, and nine years ago I found tennis. Today, sport is much more than physical activity for me – it is my oxygen. The busier life becomes, the more important training is. Especially when it feels like there are no free minutes left in the day, sport is what helps everything fall into place.

If I cannot find any other time, then 7 a.m. it is – at a time when you might think everyone is still asleep, gyms are actually full. Sleep disappears instantly when my favorite trainer turns on the music and energetically starts the day.

What does sport give you?

Sport gives me peace of mind, energy, and confidence in difficult moments. There have been times when there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel – and I can confirm that the fastest way back to sunshine is to put on my trainers and, ideally, pick up a racket.

On the tennis court, it is impossible to think about work matters or the evening logistics with the children. If my mind wanders even for a moment, my opponent has already scored a couple of points and the coach calls out: “Focus on the game!” It is the purest form of presence – complete focus on one moment and one activity.

How do children and sport influence your main job?

It may seem that sport and raising children are completely separate from working life, but in reality they influence my professional role more than one might think.

Sport gives me the inner spark and energy that are especially important at the negotiation table. It helps me maintain balance and clarity, while the ambition from sporting achievements carries over into professional challenges. Sport has taught me a winner’s mindset. Yes, you cannot always win – neither on the court nor in business – but a winner’s mindset turns setbacks into learning opportunities and keeps your eyes on the goal.

Sport also develops discipline, resilience, and the ability to focus on the process, not only the result. Motherhood, in turn, has taught me prioritization, patience, and quick decision-making. With three small children, you cannot get stuck in the pursuit of perfection – you have to make decisions, adapt, and move forward. This skill is invaluable in professional life.

I have noticed that the positivity and energy I gain from training make me a better colleague – in difficult moments, I am able not only to stay balanced myself but also to help others see situations through a solutions-oriented lens.

Does activity outside work help you cope better during more challenging periods?

During more demanding periods at work, sport is what helps me endure. When my calendar is full of meetings and responsibility is high, movement helps release tension and clear my thoughts. Often, the best ideas are born on the running track or after an intense workout, when my head has been “emptied” through movement.

What motivates you to continue even during busy times?

The knowledge that when I am balanced, everyone around me benefits – both my family and my colleagues. I have learned that putting myself last is not a sustainable strategy. The periods when I have pushed aside my training and personal time have also been the most mentally difficult.

Through personal experience, I have understood that when life feels too busy and overwhelming, you need to make the opposite decision – put on your trainers and go to training. Everything else will fall into place along with it.

Have you learned anything important about yourself through motherhood and sport?

It is often said that before becoming a parent, life already feels busy. As a mother of three young children, I have realized that I did not truly know what “busy” meant back then. I have had to learn how to survive at a breathtaking pace – to plan, prioritize, and consciously choose where to direct my energy.

The most important lesson has been understanding that my own well-being is not a luxury, but a foundation.

If you had to say in one sentence why it is important to have something outside of work, what would you say?

Your job does not define you – your energy, presence, and impact on people are what remain. Make sure you have something that truly recharges you, because that same energy will give 200% back to your work and, even more importantly, to your loved ones.

“Sport has taught me a winner’s mindset. Yes, you cannot always win – neither on the court nor in business – but a winner’s mindset turns setbacks into learning opportunities and keeps your eyes on the goal.”

^{Photos: Terje Liiv’s private collection.}