Lauren Walsh | Identity, NIL, and Building Legacy Beyond the Game

Branding strategist and mentor Lauren Walsh joins the pod for a powerful conversation on identity, authenticity, and building a purpose-driven career. From her early days as a competitive gymnast on Chicago’s South Side to working with elite athletes and entertainers in the NFL, MLB, and music industry, Lauren shares her personal evolution—how burnout and motherhood led her to redefine success and rediscover her “why.”

We dive into the realities of NIL, the misconceptions around personal branding, and how young athletes can shift from transactional deals to transformational legacies. Lauren offers insight into the importance of being fully known, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and how true branding begins with self-awareness.