Send us a text

Ever wondered how the grit of a sports field can pave the way for success in the corporate world? Join us as we sit down with James, whose journey from elite rugby to a vibrant career at Unity is nothing short of inspiring. Our conversation peels back the layers on the transformative power of opportunities, even those seeming miles away from the try line.

James candidly shares the emotional upheavals of leaving a professional sports career, the tenacity required to overcome injuries, and how such setbacks can lead to unforeseen ventures like coaching. His story champions the idea that life's crossroads, while daunting, are brimming with growth potential. Through our discussion, we uncover the parallels between the determination on the rugby pitch and the corporate hustle, offering you a playbook for channeling your own inner resilience.

Tune in to learn more about:

• James' childhood aspirations of his rugby venture as an eight-year-old and how they shaped his journey
• Reflections on his total dedication to rugby and invaluable lessons learned from those moments
• Importance of embracing challenges as opportunities for learning and growth rather than fixating on them as setbacks
• James’s feelings of betrayal  from rugby, his fallout from the game, and how he found his way back to rekindling his love for rugby
• How James cracked his way into his dream industry gaming and finding new sense of fulfillment beyong  the sports
• Events that led to his shift in playing rugby for enjoyment and how this positively supplements his off-the-field career
• What success looks like for James in the gaming space
• His passion and dedication for leadership and how he is prepping to make a change and impact the current and next generation of leaders
• What an individual needs to shed to embrace transformative and successful leadership

…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:

Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-thacker/ 

Linkedln Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12949484/ 

Send us a text

Join the conversation as Ryan chats with the extraordinary Chandra Crawford, Olympic gold medalist turned inspiring life trailblazer. Chandra's journey from the snow-clad peaks of Canmore to the uncharted terrains of life beyond the podium is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As we navigate her story, you’ll be privy to an intimate discussion on the transformative power of persistence, the joy of discovering new passions, and the courage to redefine identity when life calls for a new chapter. This is not simply a tale of athletic prowess, but a testament to the undying quest for personal growth and the profound impact one can have on the next generation, affirming that true success is not always measured in medals, but in the milestones of life's relentless race.

Tune in to learn more about:

• A sneak peek into the activities in the Rocky side of Canada and her first love, biathlon
• How she used negative experiences as fuel in her athletic career
• Her first super highs in cross-country skiing 
• How she went around the thoughts of throwing in the towel in the hard phase of her transition
• Redefining her definition of success and how it resulted in a beautiful experience during her last race 
• The values of having interests beyond sports that are worth your every minute  
• Finding the rhythm in her shift to the non-profit world
• Hurdles she had to face whilst building a family, running her charity, and doing her MBA
• What she would opt to do differently about her transition and setting herself up for her present life

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://www.instagram.com/chandracrawford? 

Send us a text

When the roar of the stadium fades into the quiet buzz of an office, life takes an unexpected scrum. Former rugby professional Jason joins Ryan to share his remarkable journey from scoring tries to advising on financial ties. An athlete's path is never linear, and Jason's tale is a testament to the tenacity required both on the field and in the world of finance. We traverse his transition from the Southern Kings to capturing Google Maps footage, then to his adept hand at wealth management — proving it's not just muscle that flexes in the face of change but the mind too.

Our dialogue extends beyond the pitch, focusing on the critical need for financial literacy and tailored advice for those whose careers peak early in life. Tune in for an episode that tackles more than just rugby tales — it's about navigating life's financial scrums and scoring goals for the future.

Tune in to learn more about:

• The deep-rooted significance of rugby in South African heritage and what inspired Jason's journey into the rugby fields
• Jason’s aspirations as a 16/17 year old rugby player in a a professional setup
• His proudest moment playing internationally
• Reflections and insights on getting a degree whilst playing professional sports and how it shapes his future
• Challenges he faced in his effort to strike a balance between sports and his academic life
• The moment it dawned on him to put things in motion for his second wind and the opportunity he went ahead to create for himself
• Financial situations and challenges commonly faced by athletes and invaluable insights on securing a stable financial future
• Jason’s nuggets of wisdom on financially setting yourself up for life beyond 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:

Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbaggott12/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonbaggott12 

Send us a text

• What was on the back of his head juggling three spheres; elite sports, military, and coaching
• His secret to stitching all the three together and making all work out
• The role basketball players in his childhood as one of mixed race
• How to strategize against obstacles that come along in your life and find the solace to trust the process from his personal experiences 
• Transferable skills and lessons he brought from basketball that support his military and business career 
• Get to know his analogy of the two types of Ayers; the piano player and piano pusher 
• Sneak peek of what sports is like in the military and why young athletes that are transitioning should eye on it

Send us a text

Do you ever look at a champion athlete and wonder what mountains they'll conquer when the cheering crowds have faded? Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you the extraordinary story of Peter Bakare, an Olympian whose competitive edge on the volleyball court has spiked into the imaginative realm of creative entrepreneurship. With the launch of Nutritroops, Peter is volleying his way into the hearts and minds of children, educating them on nutrition and health through the captivating world of animation.

Navigating through career transitions is no small feat, as Peter attests with the mental fortitude and strategic steps he employed. He shares practical tips on breaking down grand ambitions, utilizing networks, and positioning unique skills for success. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or someone at the threshold of change, Peter's insights are a playbook for transforming passions into purposeful pursuits. So come along and get inspired to set your own career transition in motion with wisdom from an Olympian who's rewritten the rules of the game.

Tune in to learn more about:

• How he's changing the lives of the youths through his organization, Nutritroops
• Peter's first love, basketball, and how he got into playing it
• His frustrating transition to volleyball and when he became good at it
• Why did he sacrifice his passion for animation and script writing to play volleyball he didn't hold dear and the mental dilemma his decision beared
• What motivated his focus on making it to the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Profound insights on breaking down the fears you built up and how to reaffirm yourself
• The dynamics of starting afresh that athletes face after the sporting dreams they pursue come to an end
• The process he followed in pursuing his passion and building the right nodes
• What he would change in his history but still end up doing the amazing work he is doing today 

… 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 http://www.2ndwind.io/

Links

Website Website: https://www.nutritroops.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterbakare/ 

X: https://twitter.com/peterbakare

    https://twitter.com/nutritroops  

Send us a text

From the relentless push of an oar against water to the strategic planning within the halls of Volleyball England,  Guin Batten's story is one of incredible transformation. As a world-class rower turned Deputy CEO, she joins us to unravel the journey that connects the adrenaline of elite sports with the finesse of sports administration leadership. In our conversation, Guin charts a course through the challenges of career transition, reminding us that success is hardly ever a straight sprint to the finish line.

Tune in to learn more about:
- The diverse existing and emerging disciplines encompassed within Volleyball England
-  Playing loads of sports when she was younger as a means to get respect 
- Nostalgia of how the one sport that she wasn't instantly good at brought her fond memories and adventures
- How she embraced the shift from being a team athlete to an individual athlete
- Beautiful perspective on caging out your inner confidence from her confidence battles
- The time she realized her rowing flame had dimmed and the first step she took
- How she learned to build and maintain a meaningful network as an athlete
- Insights on the struggles athletes undergo when pitching themselves in their post-sports career
- Motivation behind the amazing helpful work she has been doing 
… 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 a text

Have you ever wondered what it takes for an elite athlete to pivot into a successful business leader? Come along as Kari, whose journey from the softball diamond to the boardroom at Life Fitness and Sweat Marketing Lab is nothing short of inspiring, shares her story. Kari opens up about the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from a collegiate athlete to a professional player in Europe, and finally to a powerhouse in the sports marketing industry. Her unique perspective illuminates the evolving landscape of personal branding and the critical steps for athletes, especially women, to carve out their place in the competitive world of endorsements and partnerships.

Tune in to learn more about:

- Carrie's background in sports and fitness, including her experience playing college softball and coaching
- Transitioning from athletics to corporate America and finding her niche in sports marketing
- The pivotal moment of being laid off and using it as an opportunity for self-discovery
- Drawing inspiration from Phil Knight's "Shoe Dog" and recognizing the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals
- Balancing her corporate job with running Sweat Marketing Lab and leveraging technology to manage time effectively
- The significance of staying true to one's passions and pursuing opportunities aligned with personal values and interests.
... 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 a text

When the final whistle blows on an athlete's career, the silence can be deafening. But for one former football enthusiast from Manchester, that silence heralded the start of an unexpected journey in recruitment and ultimately, a transition to professional running. This episode weaves through the guest's early days, where the stark realities of a small town with limited career guidance clashed with dreams of athletic grandeur, and how a seemingly temporary job became the launchpad for a fulfilling career shift.

Sport teaches us discipline, teamwork, and a relentless drive for success—and these lessons don't end on the pitch. Our conversation traverses the unlikely odyssey from the football fields of Manchester to the recruitment offices and, astonishingly, onto the running tracks of Granada and Chiang Mai. Discover how our guest harnessed the skills honed in sports to navigate the corporate world and redefine success, swapping the roar of the stadium for the milestones of business and the runner's high.

Turn in to learn more about:

• The profound significance of having difficult but right discussions with upcoming athletes
• Why you should seize every opportunity even those from unfamiliar paths
• Switching his definition and vision of success
• What drew him back to running and why he thought he'd be good ín it
• The changes in lifestyle and routine he enforced to optimize his running career
• Significance of learning what it takes for you to succeed 
• The hardest part of trying to maintain a balance and how he dealt with it 
• What he had to let go of and is working to let go to grow in the corporate world

… 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/leegrantham 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jungle.vip?ig 

Send us a text

When the roar of the crowd fades and the medals settle in their cases, what happens to the titans of the sports world? Join us as Paralympian David takes us through the labyrinth of life after elite competition, laying bare the complexities of transition that go far beyond the podium. From the unanticipated stillness of lockdown to the daunting reality of a personal divorce, David's candid revelation of the highs and lows of his botcha career underscores the resilience required to pivot from athletic glory to new ventures.

As we traverse David's journey, we uncover the pivotal moments that shaped his post-athletic life, where the tenacity honed on the boccia court finds new expression in the realm of wellness coaching. This episode intertwines the delicate dance of balancing ambition and practicality, as David shares the insights gleaned from facing down the challenges of disability in his daily life, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of education and personal growth. The fortitude that propelled him to become a world champion now fuels his passion for empowering others through nutrition and wellness—a testament to the indomitable spirit of a true champion.

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out https://www.2ndwind.io/

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered what it takes to tackle a career pivot with the same force you'd tackle an opponent on the football field? Andrew, a former collegiate football star turned senior people partner in the cybersecurity industry, joins Ryan to unravel the playbook of his impressive transition. Together, they chart the course from the adrenaline of recruitment to the strategy behind talent management, offering you a seat at the table of an athlete's mind turned corporate maven.

Shifting gears from the gridiron to the corporate ladder, they unpack the emotional intelligence and tenacity required to excel in human resources. Andrew brings to light the unexpected parallels between athletic coaching and corporate mentorship, sharing how the skills honed in competitive sports serve as a strong foundation for building relationships and fostering continuous improvement in business. His candid narrative, filled with personal growth and universal lessons, will ignite your appreciation for the transformative power of sports on professional development.

This conversation highlights the importance of finding balance after hanging up the cleats, as Andrew reveals how personal hobbies and a supportive network are crucial in navigating life's transitions. Whether you're a player on the field or a professional charting your next move, this episode promises to inspire and equip you for the journey ahead. So, lace up your cleats one last time and join in for this engaging dialogue that transcends the boundaries of football and forges a path to success in the corporate world.

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out https://www.2ndwind.io/