On this episode of Alumni Direct's show "ATHLETES TO ENTREPRENEURS: The Alumni Journey," we chat with Eileen Shanahan, former softball player at New York Tech, former television producer, and Founder and President of the Warrior Ranch.

Eileen talks about growing up in Queens, NY playing all kinds of sports, including stick ball, stoop ball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball in a time when girls weren't really playing sports. She shares about the values she learned through sports, her advice to current student athletes, and what she's up to today.

How did growing up in sports shape you from a skills perspective?

"Playing all those sports, you become disciplined, for sure. I was always taught the Vince Lombardi rule about showing up 15 minutes early and staying late. You become physically fit, and when you're physically fit, you feel good. You have to sacrifice a lot, including time off when other kids get it. The other thing I learned was about commitment. Once you commit, you're committed. You're part of a team and you can't bail...you learn a lot about teamwork and camaraderie. You learn to play together and to work together as a team, because the ultimate goal it to win...you want to win."

What is some advice that you would give to other athletes?

"Remember who you are. Be an individual. You are a ball player, but make sure you have a backup. Because if you get hurt, you don't play. Don't let your sport totally define you, and don't forget about the education."

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Check out Eileen's website: warriorranchfoundation.org

Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn

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