The Athlete2Business Podcast

Susannah Klean has spent a decade recruiting CEOs, founders and heads of investment banks and private equity funds. She works at the very top of the market and she's seen what separates the people who get there from the ones who don't. In this episode, Susannah breaks down the high performance habits she sees consistently in the highest earning, highest performing leaders she works with —...

Jack Oujo spent 8 years grinding through the minor leagues as a professional baseball umpire. 1,500 games. Rock bottom pay. One shot at the majors. At 30, he got released. A supervisor told him he was "too smart to be an umpire." So he went back to zero. Ernst & Young hired him. He studied every single night for four straight years — CPA, CFP, Master's in Taxation, securities and i...

Ben Madgen won NBL Rookie of the Year in his first professional season after being dropped after just four games. He went on to captain the Sydney Kings, play in Europe against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, complete a 14 year MBA, become CEO of the Sydney Basketball Association; and then walked away from everything he knew to start again from scratch in wealth management. In this episode Ben open...

What happens when an Olympic diver hangs up her chamois and walks into a pharmaceutical sales role with zero experience, and then spends 15 years quietly becoming one of the best in the medical device space? That's exactly what happened with this week's guest, Patricia; former Australian Olympian in platform diving (Sydney 2000) and now Head of Regenerative Aesthetics and Medicine. In this...

Michael Reid is back for round two — and a lot has changed since we last spoke. In his first episode, Michael broke down the mechanics of high level enterprise sales. This time, he opens up about walking away from all of it. The secure salary, the corporate ladder, the identity he'd built over 15 years — and why he gave it all up to bet on himself. We get into the raw reality of leaving corpor...

Dan Parks earned 67 caps for Scotland over a nine-year international rugby career. But when the final whistle blew, he faced the same question every retiring athlete does — what now? In this episode, Dan opens up about the reality of life after sport, how he translated elite habits and routine into a high-performing sales career, and why culture fit can make or break your transition into the corpo...

Olympic gold medalist and former Australian hockey captain Mark Knowles joins the Athlete2Business podcast to unpack what it truly takes to perform at the highest level, and sustain it. From growing up in regional Queensland to standing on top of the Olympic podium, Mark shares the mindset, resilience, and self-determination that shaped his career. We dive into overcoming injury setbacks, leading...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business Podcast, Alex sits down with former Australian Boomers basketball player Matt Hodgson to unpack the mindset behind elite performance — both in sport and in business. Matt shares his journey from discovering basketball late, to competing at the highest levels internationally, and ultimately transitioning into performance advisory work with organizations. The...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business Podcast, Jackson Gray shares his journey from being an elite swimmer and triathlete to becoming a successful strength and conditioning coach. He discusses the challenges of transitioning into personal training, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence in connecting with clients. Jackson also highlights the competitive nature of the fitness indust...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, Meghan Musnicki shares her journey from a late start in rowing to becoming a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of resilience, and how her competitive spirit has shaped her career. Meghan also reflects on her transition from elite sports to the business world, emphasizing th...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, Ben Lucas shares his journey from a professional rugby league player to a successful personal trainer and entrepreneur. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from sports to business, the importance of process over outcome, and how he founded Flow Athletic , a unique fitness studio that combines yoga and strength training. Ben emphasises the s...

Join us on the Athlete2Business podcast as we welcome Jazz Ferguson, a professional basketball player turned life coach. In this episode, Jazz shares his inspiring journey from his rookie season in 2012 to becoming a motivational force in the world of life coaching. Discover how his relentless work ethic and positive mindset have driven his success on and off the court. Tune in for insights on con...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, Ariah Michel shares his inspiring journey from being a promising football player to navigating the challenges of college sports in the US, facing setbacks, and ultimately finding success in the business world. He discusses the importance of resilience, leadership, and the transition from sports to entrepreneurship, highlighting the lessons learned a...

Final episode of they year, we go out with a bang! Nour Ettaieb - 3 time Olympian, rower and elite finance professional! She shares her incredible story from Tunisia to the global stage. Discover how her father's influence led her to rowing, her initial resistance, and the eventual love for the sport that propelled her to the Olympics. Nour opens up about the challenges and triumphs of balanci...

Join us on the Athlete2Business podcast as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Bill Gordin, a three-time world cycling champion and successful entrepreneur. Discover how Bill transitioned from a champion cyclist to a thriving business owner, sharing insights on balancing sports and entrepreneurship. Tune in to learn about his journey, mindset, and the lessons he's gathered along the wa...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, join host Alex Opacic as he delves into the inspiring journey of Matt Waugh, a former elite rugby player turned serial entrepreneur. Discover how Matt transitioned from the rugby fields of Hong Kong and England to becoming a tech entrepreneur and senior sales director. Learn about the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the challenges he faced,...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, I sit down with AJ Walters , a former professional tennis player turned recruitment powerhouse. AJ opens up about her journey from the ATP circuit to building a thriving career in sales and recruitment, sharing the challenges she faced and the lessons she’s learned along the way. We dive into how her athletic mindset and competitive nature helped sh...

Join us on the Athlete2Business podcast as we sit down with Jason Cadee , a former professional basketball player who has successfully transitioned into the corporate world. Jason opens up about his journey from the basketball court to building a strong personal brand and thriving in business. He shares valuable insights on the power of networking, the importance of authenticity, and how athletes...

Join us on the Athlete2Business podcast as we explore the inspiring journey of Todd Balkin , a former professional golfer who successfully transitioned into a thriving career in commercial real estate. Todd reflects on his time competing in college golf in the US, the challenges of shifting careers, and the mindset required to reinvent yourself beyond sport. He shares how his relentless work ethic...

Join us on the Athlete2Business podcast as we explore the inspiring journey of Andrew Heath , who made the transition from a professional rugby career to becoming a successful business leader at Data#3. Andrew shares how his time on the field shaped his leadership style and approach to business, the challenges he faced along the way, and the invaluable lessons he’s learned throughout his career. F...

Join us on the Athlete2Business podcast as we dive into the inspiring journey of Paris Matin , a former elite tennis player whose career was unexpectedly cut short by injury. Paris shares how he successfully pivoted from the tennis court to the world of recruitment, using his athletic mindset and relentless work ethic to rise as a leader in the industry. In this episode, we explore the challenges...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, Todd Liubinskas shares his dynamic journey from competing in rugby league, rugby union, and basketball at a semi-professional level to building a remarkable career in sales, marketing and fitness. Todd reflects on his time as Director of Men’s Health magazine and how those experiences shaped his path to becoming CEO of Yohka Sport, a fast-rising obs...

Former elite Kickboxing athletes Alfonso Asensio and Harry Hill team up to launch Chief Kickboxing Officer (CKO) - using principals from fighting to succeed in business. There's a much bigger corelation with MMA and business than you think. Harry is the CEO of UFC Gym Japan, with a business career that spans several decades, including Wall Street. Alfonso is the Japan Managing Director of a gl...

Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of Marc Nudelberg, a former college football coach who transitioned into a successful sales career and now a sales coach with On The Ball . Discover how Marc's experiences on the field shaped his approach to leadership and sales, and learn about the challenges he faced along the way. From the high-pressure world of Division I football to the dynamic...

In this episode of the Athlete2Business podcast, we dive into the transformative power of sports in shaping leadership skills. Join us as Mike Bagnall shares his journey from aspiring rugby player to successful business leader. Discover how the discipline, resilience, and teamwork honed on the field translate into effective leadership in the corporate world. Whether you're an athlete consideri...