Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Simon Mason, a former British Olympic hockey goalkeeper and Managing Director at Mercian Sports Company. Simon served as the president of the England hockey board from 2010 to 2013 and presently works as a sports commentator while also being a member of the executive board for the European Hockey Federation.

Aside from being a high-achieving triple Olympian, Simon joined the company straight out of university. His firm, Mercian Sports, is a specialist field hockey equipment company that has remained at the forefront of product development, offering unwavering support to players throughout multiple Olympic games & World Cups, and even assisting beginners with their very first sticks.

Tune in to learn more about:

• What Simon considers the pinnacle of his hockey career
• The two stories that hugely influenced his sporting career
• How he managed to strike a balance between his hockey pursuits and academic prowess
• Why he opted to do his best on his last roll of the dice
• The importance of putting yourself out there to grasp the opportunities around you
• The struggles he faced when retiring from elite sports and how he handled them
• Insights from running Mercian sports for 25 years

and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io  

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-mason-64b45419/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonmasonGB?paipv=0&eav=AfYxpwqndQz29TBdEtgHZ1Bi0wTrNw8XzX3M3MbKSjz-wPtKhCynP4l6JGwkB9CD9Kk&_rdr

Website: https://mercianhockey.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercianhockey/?hl=en

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In today's episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Grace Prendergast,  former New Zealand rower, boasting (humbly) an impressive list of achievements, including Olympic gold and silver medals, fifteen National Premier titles for New Zealand, five World Championship titles, rowing for Cambridge and the World Best Time in the women's pair and four.

In 2021, Grace decided to step away from high-performance rowing and is pursuing a master's of philosophy at Queens College, Cambridge. Her dedication to the sport has earned her recognition, and in 2022, she was honoured with membership in the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her outstanding contributions to rowing.

Tune in to learn more about:

- How she broached the conversation of the impact of stepping away from being an athlete

- Her experience making a tough call between advancing in sports or studying

- How Grace stepped from her first love, netball to go deep in rowing

- When she became Grace the rower

- How she's coping with the new routine that's far from the routine of an elite rower

- Grace's freelancing experience 

- How she feels about her CV and the skill set she's bringing from rowing 

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/graceprendergast.nz?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-prendergast-

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Alexandra Walters, a retired professional tennis player. At the age of 18, AJ made a crucial career move by relocating to the United States to play Division One college tennis in Charleston. During her time there, she achieved the highest number of total wins among all CSU tennis players and earned several prestigious accolades. In 2014, AJ decided to turn professional, reaching a career-high ranking of 590 in the WTA rankings. She competed in 37 countries, secured one pro title, and was a finalist in two other tournaments.

AJ retired from professional tennis in 2018 and ventured into the corporate world, where she is making significant strides in business analyst recruitment in Sydney, New South Wales. Currently, she works as a Specialist FS Business Analyst Recruiter, collaborating with clients within the financial services industry, particularly top-tier Australian & Global Banks. She aspires to become the best analyst recruiter in Australia.

Tune in to learn more about:

-  How it feels to lose in an individual sport

- What role her academics played as she grew up

- How AJ would pick herself up after losing one of two consecutive tournaments

- Her journey to fulfilling her passion for working in the world of Med

- Aj's post-tennis era of her life in the corporate sphere 

- What she brought from the tennis world into business recruitment 

- Alexandra's hardest moment during her transition

- Nuggets on how to get through with your 2nd wind 

 and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/alexandrawalters_?igshid= 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-a-j-walters- 

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In today's episode, Ryan interviews Simon Nesbitt, a former professional golfer from the 1990s. Simon participated in the Dubai Desert Classic tournament during that time and successfully advanced through multiple qualifying stages to join the Asian Tour.

After his golfing career, Simon embarked on a fulfilling transition into sales management in the corporate world. He has thrived in this field for over 25 years, finding his true calling since his second wind. Don't miss out on his invaluable insights! Tune in to hear his inspiring journey.

In a nutshell, Simon and Ryan talk about:

• Simon's aspirations as a young newbie golfer
• What he liked about golf, a sports people term as frustrating 
• How his parents' relocation shaped his golfing career
• When golf felt more like work than a passion
• Golf in the Middle East during the 90s
• How he used his sporting career as a passport to exposure and solid networking
• What he would have done differently from his transition perspective
• Insights on the uniqueness of each career of a sports

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step? For more information or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-nesbitt-30419810/?originalSubdomain=au

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Maddie Parker, a former figure skater who competed at national and international levels and trained for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Maddie's journey took an unfortunate turn when she suffered a hip injury during her Olympic preparation, leading to eight surgeries and a complete pelvic reconstruction. This injury ultimately marked the end of her competitive figure skating career over 14 years.

Drawing from her experience as an elite athlete, Maddie brings tremendous value in helping individuals regain their peak performance. She has a deep passion for Podiatry and strongly emphasises patient-centred care, with a specific focus on treating musculoskeletal conditions in the lower limbs. Additionally, Maddie has extensive expertise in prescribing appropriate footwear, gained from her work experience. Recently, she achieved a significant milestone by publishing her first research paper in Footwear Science.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Maddie's drive to complete the recent half-ironman marathon
• How she got into her 14-year figure skating career
• Maddie's first international experience and the dream she aimed for
• The injury she sustained and how she got through such a tough phase
• The story behind Maddie's transition into Podiatry
• The importance of support during the transition from athlete to everyday life
• Insights from her reflections on young skaters

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Carissa Gump, a former American Olympic weightlifter from Vermont who participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Carissa is a multi-American record holder and five-time consecutive American Open champion since being singled out as a talent in middle school gym class with her PE teacher. 

Fast forward to today, Carissa who is a fair play and clean sport advocate, is the Foundation Executive Director at National Strength and Conditioning Association NSCA. This organization supports and shares research that helps athletes develop their performance and fitness. Before that, Karissa had worked for nonprofit sports organizations often helping athletes  transition out of sport and this included working for the United States Olympic Committee

Tune in to learn more about:

• Carissa's experience at the Olympic Village
• How her PE teacher helped her unleash her weightlifting potential that she had not discovered 
• The struggle in maintaining a balance between her marriage, training, and academics and how she went through it
• How she mustered the bravery to step away from her career as an athlete
• How still holding to her other identities was key to her smooth transition from sports
• What attracted her to the nonprofit sector
• Why and how your mental shift and lift play a crucial role in eradicating imposter syndrome 

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

LinkedIn: Carissa Gump, OLY

Instagram: @carissa_oly_2008

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Nate Kinch is a socio-technology ethicist, action researcher, and organizational designer. He has worked with renowned organizations such as the Australian Government, VISA, Autodesk, TELUS, and Telefonica, as well as conducted research with CSIRO and Northwestern University. Nate's expertise spans various fields, including moral philosophy, systems theory, and behavioral science. He supports leaders in designing organizations that deliver positive impact. Nate's career transition began after a recurring injury ended his aspiring golf career.

In this episode, Nate and Ryan talk about:

• Nate's golf journey, including starting at a later age and struggling with nerve damage.
• Challenges faced during the transition from junior ranks to college golf.
• Exploring the psycho-physiological impact of sports trauma and self-worth.
• The decision-making process and lack of explicit confrontation regarding the end of Nate's golf career.
• Transitioning back to Australia and seeking new opportunities.
• Nate's involvement in building a clothing label and developing an interest in startups and entrepreneurship.
• Recognizing the injury problem in elite sports and founding Sport Performance Accelerator.
• Using machine learning to predict and prevent soft tissue injuries in elite athletes.
• The significance of optimizing stimulus recovery adaptation cycles in performance.
• Nate's passion for designing trustworthy organizations and making a positive impact.

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Connect with Nate:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathankinch/

Nate’s scope of work: https://www.trustworthyby.design/

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In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Wes Barnett, a former two-time Olympic Weightlifter based in Colorado, United States. Wes' journey in the sport began at the age of 12, and it's remarkable how quickly he found success. In fact, he achieved an impressive 4th place in his very first competition, just one hour after learning to lift. With a remarkable career spanning 17 years, Wes has earned numerous accolades and accomplishments along the way.

Wes embraces his introverted nature and finds it to be a valuable asset in his journey. Currently serving as the vice president at Thorne Health Tech, he uses his strengths to bring peace of mind to athletes through high-quality supplements. Wes attributes his success to his networking skills, which he has developed over time despite being an introvert. His unique perspective and ability to connect with others in meaningful ways set him apart in his field.

Tune in to learn more about:

• How much Wes benches
• His humble beginnings in weightlifting and why he pursued it afterward 
• Wes' fascinating story of his first time in the Olympic arena and how it is a fond memory he holds
• Why he deliberately took steps to build and connect his network
• How the combination of your athletic novelty and networking is a recipe for a successful transition
• Insights on keys to working your way up in the workforce
• What was his drive to provide peace of mind to athletes in the world of supplements 
• Transferable skills that would put athletes in a better position in workplaces

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

LinkedIn: Wesley Barnett

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Ryan engages in a conversation with Joe Edwards, a professional rugby player from New Zealand who has transitioned to playing as a loose forward for RC Vannes in France's Rugby Pro D2. Joe's journey began in the All Blacks under '20s team and has now progressed into his thirties.

In a pivotal moment at the tender age of 22, Joe faced a concussion that threatened to cast a shadow over his promising career. However, rather than viewing it as a setback, Joe perceived it as an opportunity to rejuvenate his sporting journey. Displaying tremendous courage, he made the audacious choice to bid farewell to his homeland of New Zealand, relinquishing the pursuit of his lifelong aspiration to represent the All Blacks on the international stage, and ventured to France instead. Little did he know that this bold move would not only shape his athletic trajectory but also unveil an entirely new passion: the captivating world of property.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Joe's first game playing at the top level
• The injury that almost put Joe's professional career to an end when he was 22 years old
• What makes it hard about being injured when one is a pro athlete and how Joe got through his
• Learning your trade in multiple facets as a pro player
• His bold decision to refresh his career in France
• The amazing French sports culture and passion 
• Why it is important to refine the direction you want to transition to as early as possible
• How he found his other passion out of rugby; in property

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

LinkedIn: Joseph Edwards 

Instagram: @joseph_edwards

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Julien Prosser, a former male beach volleyball international player who represented Australia in three consecutive summer Olympics. Prosser was 17 when he began playing internationally and he is one of the 14 players who participated in the first Olympic Beach Volleyball competition. 

Having developed a unique insight and personal strategies to achieve a level of elite performance in and out of sports, Prosser is now the director at Slight Edge Consulting Australia. He is committed to sharing practical ways to boost human performance in sales, leadership, or team environments and his clients enjoy an engaging and authentic learning experience in the context of their business challenges, issues, and objectives. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• The role of Sports in Julien's early childhood phase
• His journey to becoming a volleyball Olympian 
• What he had to balance to attain his success in volleyball and how he did it
• Importance of leveraging on your network or that of people you know
• Why to Julien, plan B is as important and a necessity as Plan A
• Most challenging moments of his 2nd wind
• His mission is to help athletes deal with the real challenges during their transition to life after sports
• Insights on kicking off your transition phase

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

Website:[email protected] 

LinkedIn: Julien Prosser OLY