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

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Shannon Cole, a former professional footballer, football coach, trained actor, and author. At 24, Shannon signed with Sydney FC, but before that he traversed the globe looking for opportunities. Leaving his acting classes at university behind for the New South Wales State League, he soon left for the US to play college soccer, before trying his luck in New Zealand, Israel, and the lower leagues of England.

Fast forward to today, Shannon has transitioned to be a successful recruitment consultant. He now balances that with being a family guy and also being a football coach and a mentor to the next generation of players coming through. He has also penned down his series of sci-fi e-books. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• Shannon's total dedication and drive early in his life
• His experiences before making his professional debut
• How what he loved the most turned out to be his top stressor
• Shannon's impact in creating a culture for meetups in football
• His amazing adventures after the league
• The time and steps he took for his 2nd wind before his life after 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: Shannon Cole 

Twitter: @shannon_ cole

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This episode is special. Ryan invites The Schofield brothers; Jayden and Luke Schofield, Sydney University club Elite triathletes. They recently finished 1st and 2nd in the pro field at the Nepean Triathlon in 2019, and in February 2021, Luke and Jayden earned podium finishes in the Australian National Triathlon Sprint Championships against the elite and u23 field. 

The duo is in their final year of combined Engineering and Science degrees and are earning distinctions despite their busy schedule of training and competing in triathlons. They share valuable insights and perspectives on how to achieve a smooth balance in your chosen field. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• Their early sporting experience
• Why they found it hard to figure out what they wanted to do ad ho they chose what they are pursuing
• How they have been managing a smooth balance between competition and studies
• What's next for them from a triathlon perspective
• How to find balance in achieving excellence in a chosen field 
• The added advantages of having a twin in the same sports and career line

… 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:@theschofieldtwins

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Eleanor Webster-Hawes, a senior jockey from Bathurst. Webster-Hawes recently became a part of racing history in New South Wales as one of the first to be granted a dual trainer-jockey license, a career path also taken by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne.

Eleanor had 12 years of being a jockey with over 1,200 competitive races. She grafted from working on the horse racing track to becoming a jockey apprentice before breaking into the men's world of horse racing. Today she's finalizing her degree to eventually become a qualified paramedic.

Tune in as Eleanor shares about:

• How she became a jockey 
• How she recognized her racing career was coming to a close when she started to hate the sight of weighing scales
• How  sexism is diminishing in the hockey space
• How Eleanor became brave by recognizing her future would eventually need her to focus on para-medicines
• Having the courage to experiment till you fulfill your passion 
• Going from an industry that she is so comfortable in but being excited by the next challenge as a paramedic

… 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:

Facebook: Eleanor Webster-Hawes

Instagram:@eleanorwebsterhawes

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 In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Stephen Dennis Surridge, a former New Zealand Rugby Union player and two times Super Rugby winner with the Crusaders. He also played with the All Blacks that toured Great Britain and Ireland. Steve's disciplined and focused nature, coupled with a drive towards high performance from sports helped him transition successfully to a corporate career. 

Steve is the founder of Forbury, a Commercial Real Estate Valuation Software that is redefining commercial real estate investment tools by providing tools to quickly and confidently determine the value of property assets. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• His interesting sporting childhood playing various sports
• How Steve juggled between rugby, rowing, national championship with judo, and Engineering 
• His journey while pursuing his passion for an executive corporate career 
• The steps he took to transition from being a high-performing rugby player to his second wind
• The key trade lessons he brought from sports to his business

… 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: Steve Surridge 

Company's Website:www.forburyproperty.com 

Company's LinkedIn: Forbury

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Mick Griffin, a former professional rugby football league player in Salford, England. Mick is also a  keynote speaker and educator in sales and Business development. His journey through sales began when he looked for a career that didn't require a degree but could play to his core strengths around resilience. 

He is a consummate e-commerce and e-marketing professional. Mick has also ventured into the world of Recruitment Tech and ATS and is now the co-founder and chief growth officer at a tech company based out of Poland. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• How Mick's opportunities in professional rugby led him to  turn down his levels course
• The end of his professional sports career
• How being a sportsman landed him a role in sales with no degree and zero qualifications
• Why and how young professionals are romanticizing their opportunities in sports
• Mick's great insights and valuable perspective on how parents, players, and clubs should help young players identify and practice their 2nd wind career whilst in the game

… 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:Mick Griffin 

Twitter: @MickGriffin

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Max Cotton, an endurance athlete and former professional mixed martial art fighter based in the UK. Max came to MMA whilst at the University studying English literature and had to balance fighting and injuries alongside a sales career that ultimately relocated him to the London scene, where it all started to check. He is the founder and CEO of Another Round. 

Max is currently a serial entrepreneur and they're having this particular chat with Ryan a week or so ahead of the launch of his AI-driven training app. His company, Another Round, offers personal training enhanced with artificial Intelligence tailored to your goals, likes, and dislikes. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• How Max got into a martial art career and the  highs and lows he experienced before being a professional 
• The disappointments and death of his fighting dream that led to his debut of being a serial entrepreneur
• The difficulties he faced during his 2nd wind having built his identity around being a fighter
• What he brought from MMA to entrepreneur and how it now translates into his business
• The eve of his AI training App release on his 3rd startup 

… 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:

Company's Website: http://anotherround.co.uk  

LinkedIn: Max Cotton LinkedIn  

Company's LinkedIn: Another Round 

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Laura Gallagher, a world-class gymnastics trampolinist who has so far been awarded eight World and European Championship medals. Having begun competing at just 12, Laura competed internationally from 15, won the junior world championship in 2007. She represented Team GB at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is aiming to represent once again at the 2023 World Championships in the UK. 

Laura's career also came with mental stress and anxiety that had her taking time away from sports, rehabbing, and even exploring opportunities outside sports. For Laura, getting back to sports was what got her through all the strain and helped her come out stronger and more resilient as an athlete and a person. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• Laura's upbringing, her first trampoline breakthroughs from age 15, and her fantastic senior career 
• The struggles to keep up with the  expectations that came with being a world junior champion 
• Her first and second rock bottom mental journey and how she out more resilient and stronger than before 
• Laura’s  routine of excellence when she was rock bottom
• Laura's exciting explorations out of sports 
• Finding a stable competitive mindset whilst balancing part-time work and studies
• Training whilst pregnant

… 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: Laura Gallagher 

Twitter: LGallagherTra

Instagram: @Lauragallagher26

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Dan Annan, former professional footballer and chief executive officer of Cosmos Asset Management. Dan has extensive experience in the local and global funds management industry, with over 15 years having been dedicated to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). He has prior experience with BetaShares, BlackRock, and AllianceBernstein. 

Cosmos Asset Management enhances investor portfolios by providing access to digital asset opportunities with zero hassles. The Australian asset management company oversees a range of digital assets, including digital currency and indexed funds with the goal of bringing innovative exposure to investors. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• Annan's transition from free football to organized soccer
• How his father instilled in him the fundamentals of after sports career from a young age
• Turning down his athletics scholarship to join a small liberal college
• What playing pro soccer has taught him about success in any space 
• How maintaining a healthy network helped him in his transition to EFTs and Crypto

… 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: https://cosmosam.com.au  

LinkedIn: Dan Annan

                Cosmos Asset Management 

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Stephen Baster, a top-class former jockey and Chairman of the Victorian Jockeys Association. Having left home at the young age of 15 to follow his career, Stephen has experienced a 30-year successful career and over 1200 wins in horse racing. He is also the first Australian jockey to compete in Ninja Warrior. 

He has brought the same passion and competitive drive to deliver successful results for his clients in real estate. Stephen is currently the real estate agent for Marshall White on Morning Peninsula. With a long-held interest in the property including buying and selling numerous properties of his own, he provides professional service and support to clients who need to take the next step on their journey as homeowners. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• His experience leaving home at 15 to apprentice as a jockey
• His thrill and love in riding for his loyal and close support crew
• Stephen's experience being the  first Australian jockey to compete in Ninja Warrior
• How early planning, hard work, and work ethic helped him during his career transition 
• What he found most difficult with the transition from jockey to realtor 

… 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: Stephen Baster 

Twitter: @stephenBaster

Email: [email protected]

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Alex Opacic, a former NCAA Division 1 player whose first sporting love was football. Alex gained a full scholarship to Furnham University in South Carolina where as a four-season USD one college Pro, he played against the likes of Steph Curry. Over the years, he has gained professional contracts and has also played in some of the top European basketball leagues. 

Fast forward to today, Alex is the founder and CEO of the Australian-based company Athletes2business. Alex’s company is a recruitment agency specializing in placing former professional athletes into roles that maximize their unique skills and experiences.  The company also helps athletes transition into a post-sport career by teaching them how to utilize their skills & experiences from sports to gain a competitive advantage in the business world.

Tune in to learn more about:

• His first love is football and how he transitioned to basketball 
• Alex's basketball college route and what was his success there
• His clear focus on what he was set to achieve
• When his dream of playing in Europe for a long time and joining the NBA crashed 
• Gaining back his fulfillment but in another field 
• His transition from basketball to being a business owner 
• Great insights on athletes thinking about their 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:

Website:http://www.athlete2business.com.au

LinkedIn: Athletes2business

LinkedIn: Alex Opacic 

Twitter: @aopacic