InnerWinner
MY STORY
Hi, I’m Nadja Novakovic! I am a professionally trained mentor with a focus in sports psychology and a passion for bettering the minds of athletes in any sport. I am a former Division I athlete who turned pro-playing water polo at the highest level on the world stage. I understand what it takes to get to the top, as well as all the challenges along the way. My passion for helping athletes achieve their dreams was born from my journey and all of the life lessons I learned along the way.
An injury at the end of my career forced me to step away from the sport I had built my entire identity around. What initially felt like a devastating loss became the turning point of my life, leading me toward sport psychology, mental performance, and identity work because I had to find a way to rebuild myself from the inside out. Through this process, I realized the true value of sport and developed a deep desire to help athletes recognize that value sooner than I did. That experience transformed me; not only as a person, but also as a coach.
I grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, where water polo became my first love at the age of ten. Through years of competing at the national, collegiate, and professional levels; I learned how to be a leader, stay disciplined, be resilient, and above all; learned how to navigate pressure through optimism and interpersonal skills (which grew quickly from interacting with challenging coaches and negotiating difficult teammate dynamics through grace, empathy and having a listener's mindset). I cultivated this adaptable skillset from the ever-present need to efficiently maneuver through the mental and emotional challenges that athletes rarely talk about. This adaptable skillset is part of my highly detailed and strategic plan in helping athletes achieve self confidence and a clear line of sight to their goals.
My experience has been enhanced and molded by my professional trainings through both my bachelors and masters degrees. My strategic plan helps athletes enhance their mindset, interpersonal skills and self confidence to achieve their goals both on and off the field (and long into their careers outside of school). This strategic plan needs a consistent commitment from the athlete in order for my guidance to take seed in their mind and help them achieve their ambitions. My commitment and dedication to the long term success of my clients is evident not only in my personalized plan for each athlete but also in my follow through and one-on-one sessions that are sure to transform their perspective and ultimately help them unlock their full potential.
I believe true performance starts from within. Athletes don’t just need harder practices; they need clarity, confidence, emotional balance, and a strong sense of who they are beyond the scoreboard.
My approach blends coaching experience; which at times requires a transactional approach, with psychology and a real-life athlete perspective that must ultimately be transformational. I emphasize honest communication, personalized guidance, and character-first development.
I value connection, identity, and purpose just as much as physical training. To me, coaching is not only about improving skills - it’s about developing humans who can thrive under pressure, lead with confidence, and play with genuine joy.
MY PHILOSOPHY
About
Mission
Vision
Core Values
Inner Winner’s mission is to help athletes build character through sport.
Focus is on developing life lasting skills such as consistent confidence, emotional resilience, discipline, a healthy and clear mindset - skills that support athletic performance and prepare athletes for life beyond competition.
With foundations in psychology, sport psychology, leadership, and coaching, Inner Winner provides athletes with practical tools to manage anxiety, overcome negative thoughts, improve focus, and strengthen their relationship with their sport and themselves.
Inner Winner exists to guide athletes in discovering their purpose, their WHY, their relationship with people around and their environment, and mainly improve their inner confidence, while becoming the best version of themselves - on the field, and in life.
Vision of Inner Winner is to help athletes redefine what it means to be an athlete by creating a generation of competitors who lead with character, resilience, and purpose, beyond the court.
Inner Winner is developing athletes who work to understand themselves, trust their inner strength, and carry the lessons of sport into every part of life - becoming better teammates, leaders, partners, and people.
1. Character First
Sport is the training ground for who you become in life.
2. Honesty & Tough Love
Truth delivered with care builds stronger, more confident individuals.
3. Process > Results
Success isn't just measured by results, but by preparation, effort and growth. Control what you can control and let performance follow.
4. Joy & Presence
Sport should help athletes feel alive, be meaningful, and connected to something bigger.
5. Growth Through Challenge
Every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and become stronger.
Methods & How I Work
My approach combines the mindset of a coach with the heart of a mentor:
• Tough love, grounded in honesty and compassion
I tell athletes what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear -Here is the list: with empathy, respect, and belief in their growth.
• Balanced coaching lens: transactional + transformational
As a coach, I understand performance demands and team dynamics. As a sport psych mentor, I focus on who the athlete is becoming. This two-way perspective is my most unique advantage.
• Personalized mental training tools
Breathing strategies
Journaling prompts
Reflection work
Confidence reps
Goal-setting systems
Anxiety-overcoming tools
Custom playlists, overview material and content for mindset and energy
• Real-life connection
I attend games, practices, and team environments to understand the athlete’s experience in full context.
• Continuous support
Homework, check-ins, guidance, and accountability - I don’t just meet with athletes; I walk the journey with them.
Educational Beckground
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Emphasis in Sport Psychology)
California State University Long Beach
My interest in psychology began with a simple curiosity about people and how the mind works, why we feel certain emotions, and how our experiences shape our behavior. I’ve always been someone who listens deeply, supports others, and helps them make sense of what they’re going through.
As an athlete, I knew I wanted to give back to the world that shaped me. Studying psychology with a focus on sport allowed me to combine my passion for human behavior with my love for athletics. Throughout my degree, I learned how confidence develops, how mindset influences performance, and how emotional balance supports character growth.
On every team I played for, I naturally became the source of energy - the one lifting others up, motivating them, and helping them push through anxiety or pressure. My education built on that strength - gave me the tools to help athletes understand themselves, build resilience, and approach their journey with clarity and purpose.
2019-2024
2024-2025
Master's of Coaching & Athletic Administration
Concordia University Irvine
I chose this degree because I wanted to serve athletes on a deeper level - not just through mindset work, but through leadership, program building, and the everyday reality of team culture. This program strengthened my ability to lead with both structure and heart.
Throughout my master’s, I developed skills in transformational leadership, communication, and long-term program design, including preseason, in-season, and postseason planning. While completing this degree, I worked as a Graduate Assistant Coach for Concordia University Irvine’s Women’s Water Polo program, which gave me hands-on experience applying everything I was learning right away.
This education helped me see the bigger picture of athletics: it helped me see the connection and relationship coaches and players have. Additionally, I learned that good coaching is about building people, but only if it's done in the right way.
My masters degree helped me shape the foundation of the work I do now - combining the strategic side of coaching with the relational, empathetic approach of a mentor and sport psychology professional.