Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Karl Blum—a former college baseball player who pitched for both Duke and Rutgers before transitioning into the world of private equity and sports investment. Today, Karl is a Principal at JDS Sports, where he helps shape the future of sports and entertainment through strategic business leadership.Karl shares how his identity was shaped through baseball, an...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Vonn Webb—a former Division I head basketball coach, high school principal, and educator who has taken his life experience and turned it into a powerful mission.

Vonn shares his emotional and purpose-driven journey that led him to found StayShaded.org, a nonprofit focused on educating youth, parents, and athletes about the deadly dangers of fentanyl.Vo...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Jess Cerra—a former professional cyclist, entrepreneur, and current VP of Product Development, Quality & Community at Alete Active Nutrition (makers of SaltStick).

Jess shares her powerful story of transitioning out of elite athletics into entrepreneurship, advocacy, and impact-driven leadership.From overcoming injury and identity loss to launching bus...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Ali Cox—a former Olympian in rowing turned successful marketing entrepreneur. From her unexpected start as a collegiate walk-on to competing on the world stage, Ali shares the incredible journey that led her to founding Noble West, a firm that merges her passion for agriculture with her leadership and branding expertise.

Ali opens up about how the disci...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Ryan Whiting —a former Olympian and track and field champion who’s transitioned from world-class competition to coaching, entrepreneurship, and mentoring the next generation of athletes.

From the thrill of international competition to the realities of life after sports, Ryan shares his powerful story of personal growth, identity shifts, and building a ...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs, Rob Finkelstein sits down with John Stetson—a former athlete who’s blazed an impressive trail through the worlds of finance, private equity, regenerative medicine, and national franchising. From competing in sports to closing multimillion-dollar deals, John shares how the lessons of the game prepared him for the complexities of business leadership.

John dives deep into the mindset sh...

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...