Path to Becoming Our Story
Our Story
Path to Becoming was built by two people whose understanding of performance, adversity, and care came from living all three.
Co-Founder
Michael Argyrides
Co-founder & Athletic Performance Coach
Michael Argyrides is a Certified Life Coach (ACC) through Canada Coach Academy. He specializes in mindset development and athletic performance.
Michael’s understanding of performance began long before he became a coach. As a goalkeeper in both competitive hockey and soccer, he learned to perform in a position where one decision can drastically change the outcome of a match. He went on to play professional soccer in the Northern Irish Premiership, experiencing firsthand the pressure and demands that accompany high-performance sport.
In 2024, after returning to Canada, Michael was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Cancer treatment and an allogeneic stem-cell transplant placed him in circumstances for which study could not fully prepare him, yet the mindset he had built through years of competition became central to how he moved through them. Recovery deepened his understanding of adversity and what it means to rebuild when your life and identity has been disrupted.
The experience gave new direction to Michael’s longstanding interest in supporting others. Today, he works with youth, high-performance, collegiate, and professional athletes across sports, as well as individuals committed to their own personal development. His coaching is grounded and individualized, helping each client build mental skills they can access when they need it most.
Michael also uses his platform to advance cancer awareness and advocate for greater attention to the mental side of sport. His work reflects a clear conviction: mindset should not be left to chance. It can be developed with the same intention athletes bring to the physical and technical sides of performance, and it can remain a source of strength long after competition ends.
Co-Founder
Amalia Kontolemos
RSW Co-Founder
Amalia Kontolemos is a Registered Social Worker and Masters of Counselling Psychology student whose work centres on mental health and the design of meaningful support for individuals and families.
Throughout her career in the disability sector, Amalia has developed programs responsive to unmet needs and secured funding to bring them to life. Her experience includes leading teams and working closely with individuals and families to strengthen well-being and access to meaningful support.
Amalia’s perspective is also shaped by sport. As a former York University varsity soccer player and OUA champion, she understands the expectations and identity demands of competitive athletics. She brings that perspective to Path to Becoming’s workshops and educational content, helping translate ideas about mental performance into language and tools athletes can use.
When Michael was diagnosed with blood cancer, Amalia became his caregiver throughout treatment and stem-cell transplant. Living through serious illness beside him gave her a personal understanding of the sustained emotional responsibility carried by caregivers. It now informs her advocacy for cancer caregivers and has reinforced her belief that individual well-being is inseparable from the relationships, environments, systems, and structures surrounding a person.
Path to Becoming brings together Amalia’s commitment to mental health with the worlds of sport and caregiving that have shaped her personally. Her contribution helps keep PTB’s work thoughtful and grounded in the needs of the people it serves.
Press & Publications
In the media
Michael’s story has been shared on Toronto radio, in the football press, and on screen — from his years as a professional goalkeeper to the mindset work behind Path to Becoming.
Press & publications →