Breaking Barriers: Jessica Campbell on Making NHL History and Empowering Women in Sports

This International Women’s Day, L’Oréal Paris is celebrating a new kind of trailblazer—Jessica Campbell, the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history. As the newest Canadian ambassador for the brand’s Worth It Program, Jessica embodies strength, resilience, and the power of breaking barriers in male-dominated spaces. From coaching in Europe to making history behind the bench in the NHL, her journey is nothing short of inspiring. We sat down with Jessica to talk about her groundbreaking career, the importance of representation in sports, and what it means to be part of L’Oréal Paris’ mission to empower women everywhere. —Noa Nichol

You’ve made history as the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history—what does this milestone mean to you, and how do you hope it inspires future generations of women in sports?

I think while this milestone is incredibly humbling and special for me, I also realize the magnitude and importance of it for so many other people. For me, being hired as an assistant coach in the NHL is truly getting to live out my dreams, reaching that next stage in my hockey career but I know for other women around me, it also means they have someone that looks like them behind the bench – someone they can look at and think ‘that can be me one day’. I hope that in earning this role, I’m able to make someone else’s path easier or that the door may be held open for other women to be behind the NHL bench one day. 

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a woman breaking into professional men’s hockey, and how did you navigate them?

When it comes to challenges, I believe the biggest one I faced at the beginning of my career was that I didn’t see someone like me coaching behind a bench in the NHL. I had to bet on myself and despite not seeing it, I still believed it was a possibility. I think the biggest challenges we face are often the ones we create for ourselves and maybe if I let an unclear path dictate my dreams, I maybe wouldn’t be here today but I think I used that as an opportunity to build a meaningful path in my own way.  

You’ve coached at multiple levels, from international teams to the AHL and now the NHL. How has each experience shaped your coaching philosophy?

At every level of coaching from junior to pro, the AHL to the NHL, I’m always gathering new experiences. Even now, as I go through my first NHL seasons there are new challenges I face. I think with these experiences my coaching philosophy has always been rooted in building relationships. Something I take a lot of bring in is my ability to communicate with players and pay attention to all the little details of the game. Like any job you have, the more you work at it and gain experience, the more confident you become.

Before I started coaching myself, I was a player and had many great coaches. I try to model my coaching after Doug Derraugh – he was my college coach at Cornell and cared about us as people first. I think for me that’s paramount and at the forefront of my coaching philosophy – through my different experiences at multiple levels i have seen first hand that if I can get to know a player as a human being, how they operate and what gets them going, then I can start to access the hockey conversation and ways to support them. 

What advice would you give to young women and girls who dream of working in professional sports but feel held back by barriers?

I think we’re asked a lot of questions about how women are held back by gender but the more I’ve gone through my career, I’ve seen how my differences are a strength and not a weakness. I hope that any young woman or girl who dreams of working in professional sports can believe in themselves – I think my biggest advice is even if you don’t already see visibility and representation, you can chase after your goals. There are so many remarkable women in management, scouting and player development. With the Kraken organization alone, I’m lucky to work with amazing women on a day to day basis, many of whom broke barriers before me and I know that so many young women and girls will continue to carry the torch after me. 

You’re now part of L’Oréal Paris Paris’ Worth It Program, which celebrates female empowerment. What does this partnership mean to you, and how does it align with your personal journey?

I’m incredibly excited to be working with L’Oréal Paris. In hockey, It’s not always traditional for coaches and assistant coaches to partner with brands. Whenever I make a decision to work with a company, it’s really rooted in value alignment. L’Oréal Paris has always been a brand that celebrates powerful female stories, encouraging women to believe in their personal worth and overcome any self-doubt. The Worth It Program celebrates strength, resilience and individuality. For me, working on this campaign is about helping others recognize their own value – whether that’s their careers, their personal lives or their self-esteem. I think it’s crucial that we celebrate those stories and lift each other up. 

Strength and confidence are key both on and off the ice. What role does self-belief play in achieving success, and how do you maintain that mindset in high-pressure situations?

I think self-belief plays a big role in achieving success. When I’m in high-pressure situations I try to stay rooted in the lessons that got me to where I am and lean into my preparation, trusting the work I have done along the way. In times of high-pressure I remind myself that it is a privilege to be in this situation.  

As a leader in a male-dominated space, how do you empower other women to own their worth and take up space in industries where they’re underrepresented?

I would encourage every woman to lean into what makes them unique and to see those differences as a strength. 

Coaching at the NHL level is demanding—how do you prioritize self-care and balance your physical and mental well-being amidst a fast-paced career?

If you don’t care of yourself, it’s hard to lead others. So I am very active and prioritize sleep (even when its hard with our game count). I try my hardest to fuel myself as an athlete would, or I once was – to stay on top and ensure the demands of travel and our schedule don’t wear on me mentally or emotionally.

Most importantly, surround myself with good people and mentors that allow me to talk through any stress or difficulties that come with the job.

International Women’s Day is all about celebrating progress while advocating for more inclusion and equality. What message do you hope to share with women and girls on this day?

I hope that today and every day women and girls can remember that even if you can’t see someone who looks like you in a room, it doesn’t mean that you don’t belong in that room. Dream big but start small… then connect the dots.