Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey
'Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey' is a podcast where we speak with former college and professional athletes from all over the world as they share the joys, successes, failures and lessons on their entrepreneurial journey. Key topics include transitioning out of sports and teaching athletes that there is life after sports. Hosted by Rob Finkelstein of Alumni Direct, one of the top networks for alumni worldwide.
Episodes
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Trevor Schrier—former collegiate wrestler turned finance professional and founder of an innovative AI solutions company. Trevor shares his powerful story of transitioning from the grind of athletic competition to the fast-paced world of business, breaking down the mindset shifts, relationships, and lessons that fueled his transformation.
Having walked t...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Jedidiah Collins—former NFL fullback turned certified financial planner and founder of Money Vehicle, a groundbreaking financial education platform. With a heart for service and a mind for strategy, Jedidiah shares his powerful journey of reinvention—from professional sports to personal finance education—and the mission behind helping young athletes build ...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Steve Davis Jr., founder of Strive Higher After Sports and passionate advocate for helping athletes redefine themselves beyond the game. Steve brings a powerful blend of insight, experience, and heart to a conversation centered on athlete transition, identity, and building meaningful connections that fuel life after sports.
As a former athlete who walke...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Rhonda Rajsich, a world champion racquetball player and passionate advocate for athlete empowerment, youth engagement, and mental resilience. Rhonda’s story is one of perseverance, purpose, and using the power of sport to inspire others long after the competition ends.Coming from a high-achieving athletic family, Rhonda embraced pressure as a privilege and...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Joey Cioffi, a former Monmouth University football player turned entrepreneur, to discuss the transition from sports to business ownership. Joey is the Founder and CEO of Salad House, a fast-casual health-focused franchise brand known for its fresh chopped salads, made-to-order proteins, and Create-Your-Own salad options.Coming from a family rooted in the ...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Selina Li, a former collegiate golfer turned entrepreneur, to discuss the journey of transitioning from sports to business. Selina shares her experiences at the University of Pennsylvania, the challenges of leaving competitive athletics, and the importance of networking and alumni connections in carving out a new career path.Selina and Rob dive into the of...
In this episode of The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Zaire Franklin, an NFL player, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to empowering athletes beyond the game. As a current professional football player, Zaire has successfully leveraged networking, alumni connections, and strategic planning to build a career both on and off the field.Beyond football, Zaire has embraced entrepreneurship, owning a franchise b...
In this episode of The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Jermal McCoy, a former professional basketball player, educator, and nonprofit leader dedicated to mentorship and community empowerment. With over 22 years in education, Jermal currently serves as the Graduation Coach Manager at Georgia Cyber Academy and is the founder of Life After Ball (LAB), an organization that helps athletes transition beyond sports. He is a...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Garrick Jones, a former professional athlete and founder of 73 Holdings. They dive into the challenges athletes face when transitioning out of sports, the power of networking, and the importance of financial literacy.
Garrick shares how athletes can leverage their current status to create opportunities, build strong relationships, and prepare for long-...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Adam Constantine, a former college and pro basketball player and the founder of Ace Creatives. They dive into the challenges athletes face when transitioning out of sports and the importance of networking. Adam shares how the skills learned in sports can be directly applied to business and how he successfully transitioned from college and professional bask...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs , Rob Finkelstein sits down with Rodney Williams, a former college basketball player who transitioned into a professional career in Europe before entering the business world. They discuss the challenges that athletes face when stepping away from sports and how networking, alumni engagement, and mentorship play a crucial role in post-athletic success.
Rodney shares his journey from col...
In this episode ofAthletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein interviewsTJ Wright, a former college and professional athlete who has successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship.
They explore the challenges athletes face when stepping away from sports, the importance of financial literacy, and how networking plays a pivotal role in post-athletic success.
TJ shares his insights onleveraging NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunit...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein interviews Adam Dailey, a former NCAA athlete turned successful real estate entrepreneur. They discuss the challenges athletes face when transitioning out of sports, particularly the lack of resources and guidance available for this shift.
Adam shares his experience navigating the world of real estate, highlighting the role that networking, alumni connections, and his at...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, host Rob Finkelstein sits down with former Major League Baseball player Ryan Lavarnway to explore his inspiring transition from professional sports to entrepreneurship. Ryan’s story is filled with valuable insights on personal growth, networking, and embracing change beyond the playing field.
After a successful career in the MLB, Ryan faced the challenges that many ...
In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, host Rob Finkelstein chats with Todd Stephens, the founder and CEO of Titan Bats. Todd’s journey is a powerful story of unexpected twists, resilience, and entrepreneurial grit.
After a successful college baseball career at Indiana State University, Todd initially ventured into the medical device sales industry. But his deep love for baseball and his competitive spiri...
On this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein talk with Mark Burwell, a former All-American runner turned award-winning entrepreneur and business advocate. Known as the "Evolutionary Entrepreneur," Mark shares his transformative journey from athletics to the business world, emphasizing how the skills developed in sports—like perseverance and leadership—can fuel entrepreneurial success.
Mark open...
On this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Dr. Erik Korem, a High Performance thought leader who introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football. Erik transitioned from being a college football player to becoming a leader in sports science and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Erik Korem has worked with the National Football League,...
On this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein interviews Hall of Fame football player Nik Lewis, who shares his inspiring transition from the field to the business world.
They dive into the challenges athletes face when stepping away from sports, the importance of having a clear plan for life after athletics, and how networking and alumni engagement can open doors. Nik also discusses the struggle...
In this episode of Athletes and Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein interviews former NFL kicker Mike Hollis, who shares his journey from sports to entrepreneurship. They discuss the impact of sports on personal development, the challenges of transitioning out of athletics, the importance of education and networking, and the need for athletes to find their passion post-career. Mike emphasizes the significance of building relationships w...
On This Episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey with Dr. Matt Wilson
Rob Finkelstein sits down with Dr. Matt Wilson, a successful speaker, educator, fundraiser, consultant, and connector with over 20 years of experience in college Sport Business teaching. Dr. Wilson, a former Division I student-athlete, has built a thriving consulting business working with athletes, sport teams, athletic administrations, and executi...
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