Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey

What does it take to turn an athlete's instincts for competition and relationships into a business built on partnerships? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Conner Schenk, a former college baseball player and founder of Constant Sports Management. Conner built Constant Sports around sports business advisory, partnerships, and revenu...

Dave Moss played twelve years in the NHL. When his hockey career ended, he didn't know what came next. Today, he owns multiple franchise locations and helps former athletes find their path through Next Path Franchising. In this episode, we cover: Why networking during your career sets you up for after How the Michigan hockey program prepared Dave for life beyond the game The real emotional cha...

What happens when a professional soccer player decides to bring elite-level recovery to every athlete — not just the pros? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Jack Stewart, retired MLS and USL soccer player turned entrepreneur and Founder of Cool Factor Cryo. Jack played at Notre Dame and went on to play professionally for clubs in Chica...

What happens when an athlete’s drive stays the same — but the structure that once supported it disappears? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with former UC Davis volleyball player, professional beach volleyball athlete, athletic trainer, coach, and founder of Beyond the Game, Jill Muhe. Jill shares how sports shaped her from childhood, grow...

What does it look like to finish your last college game and immediately start building a company? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with Drew Knuppel, a recent University of Tampa graduate, former NCAA Division II basketball player, and founder and CEO of Sports Mentorship LLC. Drew didn't wait around after sports ended. He took everyth...

What happens when a lifelong basketball dream evolves into a mission to impact millions of lives? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey , Rob Finkelstein sits down with former college and NBA basketball player Gary Forbes to discuss his remarkable journey from the courts of Brooklyn to the NBA, and ultimately to becoming the founder of The Sole Survivors. Gary shares how...

Mike Cavallaro’s journey is a powerful reminder that life after sports is about rediscovering purpose beyond the game. After a career-ending back injury cut short his college basketball career, Mike faced the identity loss and uncertainty many athletes experience during transition. He climbed the corporate ladder searching for fulfillment through money, status, and titles—but ultimately realized s...

Marc Winston’s journey is a powerful example of what life after sports can look like. From playing both football and basketball at the collegiate level to building a career in corporate America—and now leading his own consulting business—Marc shares how discipline, resilience, and mindset shaped his path beyond the game. This episode dives into transition, identity, and how athletes can use what t...

What happens when your identity as an athlete ends—and no one prepared you for what comes next? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob sits down with Nicole Bradley — Founder & Partner of 8Nine Agency — to talk about identity, financial literacy, and building a life beyond sports. Nicole shares her journey from Gonzaga competitive dancer to working 20 years in pr...

What happens when your identity is built around sport—and then it ends? In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Taylor Finley shares her journey from Harvard basketball captain to co-founder of Extra Mile Institute. From navigating life after sports to building meaningful relationships and leading high-performing teams, Taylor breaks down what athletes really need to succ...

What happens when the game ends… and the structure disappears? Former college baseball player Brad Steere shares how losing the structure of sports impacted his identity—and how it led him to co-found Continuum Standard , helping athletes build discipline, direction, and purpose beyond sport. You’re living on someone else’s discipline—until you own it The biggest challenge after sport is identity,...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with former Louisville basketball standout, NBA player, and pastor Billy Thompson Sr. Billy shares how sports shaped his discipline and mindset from a young age, his journey through college basketball into the NBA playing alongside legends like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the transitions he f...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey , Rob Finkelstein sits down with former Harvard basketball captain and retired overseas professional player Brandyn Curry. Brandyn shares how sports shaped his identity from an early age, what it was like transitioning from college basketball to playing professionally in Europe, and the difficult reality of having his career cut shor...

In this episode, Kashawn Fraser shares a story many athletes know all too well—the moment when the game you love forces you to choose a new path. After a promising football career was cut short by multiple knee injuries, Kashawn faced a crossroads. Instead of allowing adversity to define him, he used it as fuel. What came next wasn’t just a career pivot—it became a mission. Today, Kashawn is the F...

In this episode of **Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey**, Rob sits down with Notre Dame lacrosse alum turned performance coach, **Ed Lubowicki**. This isn’t just about career transition. It’s about mindset. It’s about identity. It’s about recognizing the skills you built on the field — before you’re forced to figure it out without the jersey. Ed brings clarity and hard-earned perspecti...

In this episode of **Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey**, Rob sits down with former Division I beach volleyball athlete turned clinical psychologist and founder, Hania Taduran. This isn’t just about career change. It’s about identity. It’s about mental health. It’s about who you are when the game no longer defines you. Hania brings honesty and lived experience to one of the most overlo...

In this episode of **Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey**, host **Rob Finkelstein** sits down with **Hewitt Tomlin** — former **Johns Hopkins quarterback** and Co-Founder & CEO of **TEAMBUILDR** — to explore what it really takes to **rebuild identity, purpose, and discipline after sport**. **Hewitt** shares his journey from a **Division III college quarterback** to leading a global...

In this episode of **Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey**, host **Rob Finkelstein** sits down with **Abbie Fish** — former competitive swimmer and founder of **Swim Like a Fish** — to explore what it really takes to **build a life and career after sport**. **Abbie** shares her journey from a **multi-sport athlete with Olympic aspirations** to becoming an innovator in swim education and...

Most athletes aren’t short on drive. They’re short on guidance once the uniform comes off. In this episode, Rob Finkelstein sits down with **John Damon—one of the most trusted performance coaches in the country—to talk about what *really* determines success after sports: **support, standards, and who’s in your corner when the game changes. John has trained Hollywood talent, elite athletes, and For...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, host Rob Finkelstein sits down with Ciaran Brayboy — former Harvard basketball player whose path to elite athletics didn’t begin with early stardom, but with late discovery, discipline, and an open mind. Ciaran shares a refreshingly honest look at what it means to find your lane after the game, especially when your athletic journey...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, host Rob Finkelstein sits down with **Gerald Hearns** — former college football **walk-on turned scholarship athlete**, entrepreneur, and **Founder & CEO of Too Cool Alkaline Water. Gerald shares a raw and real look at what happens when the game ends and life begins. From grinding his way onto scholarship, to building businesses...

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurship: The Alumni Journey, host Rob Finkelstein sits down with Chris Izmirlian, founder of Job Commander — a compatibility-based hiring platform designed to fix what’s broken in traditional recruiting. Chris breaks down why resumes fail most job seekers, how hiring managers spend just 3–6 seconds reviewing applications, and why ghosting has become the norm...

In this week’s episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurship The Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with former NFL offensive lineman and Tully co-founder Adam Redmond— an athlete who went from Harvard football to the NFL, and then forged a new identity as a builder in the sports-tech world. Adam opens up about the real challenges athletes face when the final whistle blows: rebuilding identity, e...

In this week’s episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurship: Alumni Journey, Rob Finkelstein sits down with NBA Champion, broadcaster, and Chosen Family Wines founder Channing Frye — a player who spent 14 years in the league, reinvented himself multiple times, and now uses his platform to help others navigate life after the game. Channing opens up about the emotional, mental, and spiritual shift that h...

In this week’s episode of **Athletes to Entrepreneurship: Alumni Journey**, Rob Finkelstein sits down with former NFL running back **Paul Perkins** — an athlete who took the discipline, grit, and preparation he learned on the field and channeled it into a bold entrepreneurial venture: **SipTale**, a fast-rising canned cocktail brand redefining the category with a non-carbonated twist. SipTale didn...