Former MLS Player, Co-Founder of USLPA & SVP of Sales for Onrise

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Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey

Rob Finkelstein | Founder of Alumni Direct

172 episodes

3 days ago

'Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey' is a podcast where we speak with former college and professional athletes from all over the world as they share the joys, successes, failures and lessons on their entrepreneurial journey. Key topics include transitioning out of sports and teaching athletes that there is life after sports. Hosted by Rob Finkelstein of Alumni Direct, one of the top networks for alumni worldwide.

Entrepreneurship

Business

RSS

All content for Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey is the property of Rob Finkelstein | Founder of Alumni Direct and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Entrepreneurship

Business

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Former MLS Player, Co-Founder of USLPA & SVP of Sales for Onrise | Brad Ring

Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey

36 minutes 19 seconds

2 weeks ago

Former MLS Player, Co-Founder of USLPA & SVP of Sales for Onrise | Brad Ring

In this episode of Athletes to Entrepreneurs: The Alumni Journey, host Rob Finkelstein, Founder & CEO of Alumni Direct, sits down with Brad Ring — former **professional soccer player and MLS 17th overall draft pick, who has successfully transitioned from the pitch to the world of sales and athlete mental health advocacy.A High School and Collegiate All-American and team captain at Indiana University**, Brad played nine professional seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes, Portland Timbers, and Indy Eleven** before co-founding the USLPA (United Soccer League Players Association). Today, he’s also a color analyst for Indy Eleven Pro Soccer and a passionate advocate for athlete mental wellness through his work with OnRise.Together, Rob and Brad dive deep into the **realities of life after sports** — from identity loss and transition challenges to the power of networking, education, and community. Brad shares how athletes can leverage their competitive mindset to build success in business and sales, while emphasizing the importance of **mental health, mentorship, and alumni engagement** in creating a sustainable life beyond the game.---Rob and Brad unpack:- The identity challenges athletes face when retiring from professional sports- Why networking during your playing career sets you up for future success- The role of education and mentorship in career transitions- How alumni networks create valuable support systems- NIL’s growing impact on college athletics — and why it needs clearer regulation- The transferable skills athletes bring to entrepreneurship and sales- The importance of prioritizing mental health post-career- How organizations like OnRise are reshaping athlete wellnessIf you’ve ever wondered how athletes transform their drive and discipline into business success, this episode is packed with insights on **turning transition into transformation**.Because as Brad reminds us:Life after sports is possible — if you prepare for it early.”Connect with Brad Ring- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-ring-2018)- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bradring87/)- [X (Twitter)](https://x.com/BradRing87)🎧 Hosted by Rob Finkelstein, Founder & CEO of **Alumni Direct**Connect with Alumni Direct:- 🌐 [alumnidirect.com](http://alumnidirect.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)- 📱 Instagram: [@alumnidirect](https://instagram.com/alumnidirect?utm_source=chatgpt.com)- 🕊 X (formerly Twitter): [@alumnidirect](https://twitter.com/alumnidirect?utm_source=chatgpt.com)- 💼 LinkedIn: [Alumni Direct](https://linkedin.com/company/alumnidirect?utm_source=chatgpt.com)- 👍 Facebook: [Alumni Direct](https://facebook.com/alumnidirect?utm_source=chatgpt.com)---Discover how focus, preparation, and community can help athletes build purpose-driven success — on and off the field.