In this episode of From The Players, host Sydney Supple appears as a guest on the "Athletes to Entrepreneurs" podcast. In this episode, Sydney opens up about her experiences at Northwestern University, where her passion for softball and journalism flourished. The conversation navigates through the role of networking, the importance of social media, the implications of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), and the sometimes challenging transition from athletics to other careers. Sydney also shares her enthusiasm for stepping into the field of journalism.

Key Takeaways:

• Networking for Athletes and Careers: Athletes are urged to connect with mentors and alumni to help navigate their careers, both during and after sports. Having someone who believes in you is a powerful tool to overcome setbacks.
• Social Media as a Tool: The potential of social media as a networking tool is highlighted, offering a platform to connect with fellow athletes, mentors, and industry professionals.
• Athlete Transition Out of Sports: The focus is on the mental health of athletes transitioning out of sports. Sydney praises Northwestern University for providing valuable resources and support for this critical phase.
• Career Aspirations: Sydney shares her excitement about her aspirations to pursue a career in journalism, encouraging others to find a passion that ignites a fire similar to their sports.
• Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL): A nuanced discussion around the new ability for college athletes to profit from their NIL, touching on potential disparities between athletes and the need for financial literacy. The pros and cons are examined, calling attention to the need for further exploration.

About Sydney Supple

• Born and raised in Oshkosh, WI
  • Pitcher and First Baseman for Northwestern University
  • 2022 Big Ten Champion and 2022 Women’s College World Series 
  • Majoring in Journalism at Medill 
  • Content Creator for CBS Sports on the We Need To Talk show
  • Big Ten and ESPN+ color commentator and play-by-play analyst 
  • Host of the Podcast, From The Players
  • Northwestern Wildcats player page
  • Social Media handles: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

About the Athletes to Entrepreneurs podcast

Athletes to Entrepreneurs is a podcast where Rob speaks with former college and professional athletes from all over the world as they share the joys, successes, failures, and lessons of their entrepreneurial journey. Hosted by Rob Finkelstein of Alumni Direct, the number-one network for alumni worldwide. Listen to the AtoE podcast.

Let's Connect:

• Sydney Supple: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Northwestern
• From The Players pages: SportsEpreneur | KazSource Podcast Network
• SportsEpreneur: TikTok | Instagram | Twitter
• Athletes to Entrepreneurs: Podcast
• Rob Finkelstein: LinkedIn 
• Alumni Direct LLC: Website

Related Episodes on SportsEpreneur:

• Empowering Women and Northwestern Softball
• Finding Identity Outside of Sport

Credits:

• From The Players is the property of KazSource, Inc. Produced by and Part of SportsE Media
• Music provided by Haley Hooper | Website | Song: Love Me Anymore on Apple & Spotify