About us

Two different journeys.
One shared mission.

Mental Ascend was founded by two sports mental coaches to help athletes step onto the field more prepared, resilient and balanced.

Our shared mission

We want to contribute to the next generation of sporting success by helping athletes stay composed and focused, even in the final seconds. We support young people in building inner strength that serves them both in sport and in everyday life.

The founders

Who is behind Mental Ascend?

Two different sport and professional backgrounds, united by one goal: developing mental readiness with intention.

Co-founder

Zoltán Stieber

Mentor · Sports mental coach · Former Hungary international
“Professional sport taught me that talent alone is not enough. When the decisive moment comes, the advantage belongs to the person who is ready mentally, too.”

I spent more than twenty years in professional football. I moved abroad at a young age and played in England, Germany, the United States and Hungary. My career took me to the Bundesliga and MLS, and I represented Hungary 26 times. I also played at UEFA Euro 2016, where I scored against Austria.

My career was not only about success. I know the pressure to perform, uncertainty, injuries, time on the bench, changes of coach and the challenge of rebuilding yourself. As a young athlete abroad, I had to adapt to a new country, manage expectations, learn from setbacks and believe in myself when circumstances were difficult.

My most important realisation was that mental strength is not simply something you are born with. It can be developed just like technique, stamina or physical strength, through the right tools, regular practice and trustworthy support.

What I bring to our work

I do not hand out ready-made answers. I combine my experience as an elite athlete with thoughtful questions and honest feedback, helping athletes understand themselves, make considered decisions and find approaches that work for them.

Co-founder

Zsófia Boros

Sports mental & team coach · ICF ACC credentialed coach
“In sport and in life, the goal is not to avoid difficult moments. It is to have the tools to respond to them well.”

Sport has always been a constant in my life. I played competitive handball for thirteen years and still seek out new challenges, from long-distance running to diving and tennis. For me, sport is not only physical performance; it is also inner strength, focus and intentional action.

I spent ten years in leadership roles in multinational organisations, lived abroad and led multicultural teams. Most recently, I worked as Central European Marketing Director at Procter & Gamble, where high performance, constant pressure and responsibility were part of everyday life.

As an ICF ACC credentialed coach, I bring together my experience in sport and business with structured approaches to sports mental and business coaching. I believe mental preparation is an integral part of an athlete's development, just like technical, tactical and physical training.

What I bring to our work

I combine international leadership experience and a competitive-sport mindset with structured coaching. I support athletes, parents and teams in understanding how they work, managing pressure consciously and finding inner stability in challenging situations.

One team, multiple perspectives

Our professional team

At Mental Ascend, we believe in a holistic approach and that performance development is most effective when tailored to the individual needs of each athlete. That is why we work with experienced professionals across several fields, from sports mental coaching to sports psychology, so every athlete receives the support they truly need.

Fejes Dóra

Fejes Dóra

Psychologist, sports psychologist

Dóri is a qualified psychologist and sports psychologist who supports professional and amateur athletes in developing their mental performance. Her work includes, among other things, managing competitive situations, performance anxiety, motivation, self-confidence, and mental adaptation to injuries.

Learn more about Dóri

Her key areas include managing performance anxiety and high-stakes situations, developing motivation and self-confidence, preventing burnout, conflicts within teams, and mental recovery following injuries or changes in physical condition.

Her own sporting experience—including completing several half-marathons, a marathon and a half-distance triathlon—gives her personal insight into the mental challenges of performance, competition and injury. She combines a sports-psychology approach with practical sporting experience.

Dóri also focuses on the relationship between running and psychology. She developed her own method, FDRT® running therapy, which combines cognitive therapy tools with mindful running.

Your next level takes more than physical preparation.

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