At Jones Whyte, we value excellence in all forms—and one of our team is proving that both in the office and in international sport.
We sat down with Elisha Shaw, a Client Service Advisor at our Glasgow office and a dedicated international Taekwondo athlete, to learn more about her remarkable journey. From representing Scotland and Team GB to balancing elite sport with her career, Elisha is now setting her sights on qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
In this interview, Elisha shares the challenges, triumphs, and motivations behind her pursuit of Olympic success—and how Jones Whyte is proudly supporting her every step of the way.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your role at Jones Whyte, and the sport you’ve qualified to compete in at the 2028 Olympics?
To introduce myself, my name is Elisha and I’m an international Taekwondo athlete. I compete in the Olympic style of Taekwondo, and I compete all across the world representing Scotland and my club, Momentum Taekwondo. I have also represented Great Britian at major championships. I have been a Client Service Advisor at Jones Whyte for almost a year , after completing an MA (Hons) in Politics and Central and Eastern European Studies at the University of Glasgow in 2024. My role involves being the first point of contact for new clients within the Family, Immigration, and Dispute Resolution departments.
How did your passion for Taekwondo begin, and what has your journey in the sport been like so far?
I began taekwondo when I was around 6 years old at my local traditional taekwondo club in Falkirk. Here I learnt the basics of the sport and began to take part in small local competitions. As I grew older, I fell in love with the competitive side of the sport, specifically the sparring.
A few years into my taekwondo journey, my father passed away. Before he passed, I promised him I would do everything I could to be successful and represent his name on the world stage.
This has been a been a large source of motivation for me throughout the years. When I was 14, I made the decision to move to a Glasgow based sport taekwondo club, which would allow me to compete at larger and more frequent sparring competitions. The move was difficult, now competing against much more experienced and advanced opponents, it took me a few years to find success at these competitions. Whilst in high school studying for my exams, I would be training 6 days a week and competing Internationally 1-2 weekends a month. This is when I was selected to represent Great Britain for the first time, at the U21 European Championships. I continued to train and compete throughout my years at Glasgow University and was lucky enough to receive a sports bursary to help fund my training.
I qualified to represent Great Britian at the University European Championships, and in 2022 I became European Student Champion. I have also claimed various international medals, including a bronze at both the Asian Open in Islamabad and European combat games in Croatia. I am also currently British Champion in the -53kg senior division, and part of the British Taekwondo performance squad. My journey so far has been filled with ups and downs, from gold medals to reconstructive surgeries.
I have dedicated every minute of my free time to bettering myself as an athlete, and my aim is to one day represent my country at major championships, such as the World Championships, Commonwealth games, and the Olympic games.
What does the qualification process look like for the 2028 Olympics?
To qualify for the Olympics, you must be ranked top 6 in the world in your respective category. I compete in international ranking events which allow me to earn Olympic ranking points based on the amount of matches I win. There is also the possibility of qualifying through the continental qualifier, which will take place in 2028. Next year, the current world rankings will be cleared, and it is a 2-year race for points to qualify for the Olympics.
What advice would you give to others trying to pursue elite sports?
The advice I would give to others trying to pursue elite sports is be prepared to make sacrifices and most importantly, trust the process. As an elite athlete we have to miss out on a lot of things like time with family and friends, holidays, and weekends off. This can feel frustrating and lonely at points, but you have to remain focused on your goals. Putting trust in the process and accepting there will be ups and downs will allow you to stay motivated throughout setbacks.
What does the qualification process look like for the 2028 Olympics?
On an average day, I start the day off in the gym completing my strength and conditioning training for around an hour. I then head to the office and begin the working day. During my lunch hour I often have meetings with my sport psychologist or nutritionist, to catch up and prepare for upcoming competitions. Once the working day has finished at 5pm, I head straight to training where I will train from 6-9pm. I get home about 10pm each day and refuel, ready for the next day.
In what ways is Jones Whyte supporting you on your path to the Olympics?
Jones Whyte have been extremely supportive towards my sporting aspirations. Firstly, they have allowed me to work flexibly around training and competition commitments.
Without this, there is no way I would be able to train and compete as often as I do. Secondly, they have now provided me with a sponsorship which will allow me to fund all of my training and competitions. I am immensely grateful for this sponsorship opportunity, as previously I was a self-funded athlete.
After my father passed away, my mum had to work 3 jobs to allow me to compete internationally. Therefore, I recognise the value of this sponsorship, and I am beyond grateful to Jones Whyte for supporting me on my journey.
Elisha’s story is a powerful example of passion, resilience, and the importance of support—on and off the mat.
We’re proud to back her as she works toward Olympic qualification for LA 2028, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves next.
Want to be part of a team that supports your goals inside and outside the office?
Explore careers at Jones Whyte or get in touch with us today.
Please note: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. If you need advice on a legal matter, get in touch with our team.
