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What happens when the goal you've chased for years is no longer there? For many athletes, that question arrives suddenly.
For former Dutch international rower Bo Wullings, it became an opportunity to explore something many athletes struggle with: who they are beyond performance.
Bo's journey is unique, he began as a competitive swimmer, earning the opportunity to study psychology in the United States while pursuing his sporting ambitions. When swimming didn't take him where he ultimately hoped, he didn't walk away from sport, he reinvented himself, transitioning into rowing, Bo rose through the Dutch system to represent TeamNL on the international stage, competing at World Cups, European Championships and World Championships.
While many athletes wait until retirement to think about what comes next, Bo was already investing in himself through education, relationships, curiosity and conversations.
Today, as founder of PX Base and a performance psychologist, he helps leaders, teams and organisations create environments where high performance and wellbeing can coexist.
In this episode, Bo shares why networking changed the trajectory of his career, why curiosity is one of the most powerful traits athletes can develop, and why finding your next goal may be one of the most important challenges you'll ever face.
In this episode we discuss:
Why reinvention is one of the most powerful skills athletes possess How a career in swimming ultimately led to international rowing The importance of building relationships long before you need them Why networking is simply curiosity in action How conversations opened every professional opportunity after sport The challenge of finding a new goal after elite competition Why athletes need to find their people and community beyond sport The role education played in creating options and opportunities How performance, wellbeing and fulfilment can coexistAbout the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Emily Craig spent nearly a decade inside one of the most demanding performance systems in global sport, the Great Britain Rowing Team, where everything is measured, selected, and optimised for one outcome: Olympic success.
Across her career she became:
Olympic Champion (Paris 2024) in the Lightweight Women’s Double ScullsWorld Champion (2016, 2022, 2023)European Champion (2022, 2023)Multiple-time World Cup gold medallistA consistent presence at the very top of international lightweight rowing for over 9 yearsEmily opens up on what it really looks like to transition out of elite sport at the highest level, after success, and why even a perfectly timed exit still comes with complexity.
She discusses:
Why “it’s inevitable… nobody can go on forever” became a grounding truth in her approach to sport and lifeHow she intentionally explored life outside rowing between Olympic cycles to better understand herselfWhy she actively built a CV beyond rowing, even when it didn’t immediately lead to opportunitiesThe importance of exposure to different industries in shaping clarity over timeWhat most CVs miss about elite athletes - and what actually makes employers take noticeThe reality that transition is not a single event, but an ongoing process of identity evolutionWhy parts of the athlete identity never fully disappear even after Olympic goldKey themes for athletes listening
This episode explores the questions many current athletes avoid until it’s too late:
What happens when the structure that defines you disappears?How do you build identity when performance is no longer the metric?What does “preparing for transition” actually look like in practice?How do you balance elite performance with exploring your future at the same time?About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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We sit down with Steve Bate MBE, a Paralympic gold medallist, 5x World Champion, and one of the most decorated para-cyclists in British sporting history. With visual impairment caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa, which has left him with just 6% field of vision, Steve competed in tandem para-cycling at the highest level for over twelve years on the Great Britain Cycling Team's Paralympic performance programme.
His record is extraordinary. Gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in both the individual pursuit and road time trial. Double World Champion in 2018. Silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Silver at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where he and pilot Christopher Latham set a new world record in qualifying, and in October 2025, gold at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships - the final world title of his career.
Then, at the peak of what any athlete could achieve, Steve Bate announced his retirement, not because he had to, because he chose to.
In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, Steve speaks with rare honesty about what it takes to make that call, and the years of planning that preceded it. His transition wasn't impulsive, it was, in his own words, three years in the making - shaped by the honest admission that he stayed longer than he might have because he didn't yet know what he was stepping towards.
This episode is for every athlete who is somewhere in the middle of their career, who knows that transition is coming but hasn't yet looked it squarely in the eye. Steve's message is direct, practical, and delivered from the perspective of someone who has just lived it.
Key Takeaways from Steve Bate MBE
• Choosing to walk away when you're still competitive is the hardest retirement of all - and one of the most courageous decisions an athlete can make
• Appreciate the environment you are in right now, world-class coaching, world-class support, world-class people, because it is not ordinary and it will not last forever
• Have a plan, and start building it early, Steve's transition plan was a year in formal development and three years in total in the making
• Uncertainty about what comes next is one of the main reasons athletes stay in sport longer than they need to, clarity about your next chapter is the most powerful exit strategy
• Be honest with your organisation, if you've given your sport everything, most bodies will want to support your transition out if you have those conversations early and openly
• Don't wait to be forced out, take control of the conversation and the timeline while you still have the leverage to shape it
• The world-class environment of elite sport is a privilege, recognise it, absorb it, and carry everything it has taught you into what comes next
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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We sit down with professional footballer Jack Baldwin - a player who refused to wait until retirement to start building his future.
At 21 years old, Jack sat in a surgeon’s office after a devastating knee injury, facing the possibility that his career could end overnight. Since then, he’s approached football with a different mindset:
Stay curious Explore early Build relationships Create options before you need themThrough conversations, networking, and a willingness to step into unfamiliar spaces, Jack discovered an interest in property and entrepreneurship.
Now, while still actively playing professional football, he has:
· Completed the ATA x Associate Yopa property programme
· Undertaken industry training and onboarding
· Built relationships with leading figures in property
· Launched his own estate agency - Jack Baldwin Property
The pressure and fear that many athletes carry around transition has been replaced with confidence, direction, and purpose.
In this episode, Jack shares:
How injury forced him to think differently about his future Why curiosity is one of the most important traits athletes can develop How LinkedIn completely changed his perspective on networking Why athletes massively underestimate how much free time they actually have The mindset shift that allowed him to explore opportunities without fear How building something outside football improved his mental clarity inside it Why every athlete should start conversations long before they retireWebsite - Jack Baldwin | Bespoke Agent
LinkedIn - Jack Baldwin | LinkedIn
Instagram - jackbaldwinproperty
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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We sit down with Catherine Spencer, former England Women's Rugby Captain, World Cup finalist, six-time Six Nations champion, five-time Grand Slam winner, and one of the most decorated players in the history of English women's rugby.
63 international caps, over three years as captain, two World Cup Finals, and a career that defined an era of the women's game.
And she walked away from it on her own terms.
What followed was, in Catherine's own words, a wobbly path. Development roles with the RFU, setting up Inspiring Women, teaching, coaching, writing, commentating. A journey shaped not by a clean plan but by a willingness to step into the unknown and figure it out along the way.
Key Takeaways
• Retiring on your terms is one of the most powerful decisions an athlete can make
• Purpose is not optional. Without something to aim for, transition can have a serious impact on mental health, and that must be confronted honestly
• Athletes are adaptable by nature
• The ability to communicate with a wide range of people is a world-class professional skill, even if it doesn't feel like one
• Your network is one of the most valuable assets you carry out of sport - most people in business spend years trying to build what you already have
• Don't be afraid to ask for help
• Recognising your own value is not arrogance
• A wobbly path is still a path
www.inspiringwomen.co.uk
Catherine Spencer – Inspiring Women
LinkedIn - Catherine Spencer | LinkedIn
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On 1st September 2022, Tom Bosworth woke up unemployed for the first time in his life.
For thirteen years, he had been an athlete. A Double Olympian, a three-time World Record holder, a six-time British Record holder, the captain of England's athletics team at the Commonwealth Games, TeamGB's first ever openly gay track and field athlete. Someone who always had something to aim for, a big race, a championship, a personal best to chase.
And then, suddenly, nothing.
"From September the first I was basically unemployed, and I'd never been in that position before. I always had something to aim for. So it was daunting. It was terrifying."
We sit down with Tom Bosworth MBE for one of the most candid, wide-ranging conversations we've had on this podcast. Tom talks openly about the terror of stepping into the unknown, the challenge of learning to communicate in a world that doesn't operate at the pace and intensity of elite sport, the identity that comes with being an athlete, and why he believes most athletes don't celebrate their achievements nearly enough.
Tom's post-sport journey has taken him into sports media, commentary, broadcasting, and athlete management as a Sports Agent at Blue Carpet Sports Management, as well as founding Walking With Purpose, a movement championing the transformative power of walking for mental and physical health. A campaigner for LGBTQ+ equality in sport, and having faced his own battle with depression in 2018, Tom is also one of the most authentic voices in conversations around mental health in elite performance environments.
Key Takeaways from Tom Bosworth MBE
• Retirement can feel like sudden unemployment, even for a Double Olympian, the first day after sport ends can be terrifying
• Entering the workplace as an athlete is a collision with a world that doesn't operate at high-performance speed and learning to adapt is its own skill
• Athletes carry an abundance of skills most people don't have - commitment, dedication, resilience, the ability to show up and figure things out
• Identity in sport is powerful but limiting
• Elite athletes don't just accept difficulty, they expect it and move forward anyway
• The best days in sport should be celebrated more
• Dragging out a career past its natural end serves no one
• The values that drive an athlete – self-motivation, discipline, resilience, are exactly what the business world struggles to develop
• Sport helps you become you. What you do next builds on that foundation
Find Tom Bosworth: LinkedIn | Instagram | walkingwithpurpose
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What happens when you stop waiting and start building your next chapter while you’re still competing?
This week, we sit down with Cameron Mackenzie - Olympian turned world-leading entrepreneur, and the driving force behind one of the most awarded gin brands globally.
But this isn’t just a story about success after sport. It’s a masterclass in thinking ahead, acting early, and building leverage while others wait.
After an injury forced time away from the track, Cameron didn’t sit still. He drove into an industry he knew nothing about, knocked on doors, asked questions, and that single moment turned into a 3-hour conversation, and ultimately, a job.
In this episode, Cameron shares:
Why knowing “what the next day looks like” changes everythingHow curiosity and action open doors faster than waiting ever willWhy athletes underestimate their most valuable skillsThe truth about feedback, and why it’s a superpower in businessHow pressure, accountability, and organisation translate directly into successWhy being “comfortable being uncomfortable” is your greatest advantageHow building a network while competing creates momentum post-sportAbout the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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When you've spent your entire life being an athlete, that identity isn't just what you do, it's who you are.
So what happens when the game ends?
We sit down with Lauren Ferreira, a former professional golfer who competed on the Ladies European Tour for four years before navigating one of the most emotionally complex transitions any elite athlete can face.
Lauren's story is one of honesty. The decision to step away from professional golf wasn't clean or sudden. It was slow, messy, and shaped by financial reality, physical niggles, and a deep, persistent question that she couldn't answer for years: "Who am I now?"
After stepping back from tour golf, Lauren took on a series of different roles: coaching, estate agency work, even returning briefly to competitive play before deciding, finally, that she was ready to fully close that chapter. Each experience was part of a process of discovery, figuring out not just what she was good at, but who she was beyond the sport.
Today, Lauren is a Financial Planner at MKC Wealth, a role she arrived at through persistence, resilience, and a willingness to try different paths.
This conversation is for every current athlete who has ever pushed the thought of 'what comes next' to the back of their mind. It's a reminder that the uncertainty is real, the identity shift is hard, and the process takes time. But it's also proof that it works out, and often leads somewhere better than you could have imagined.
Key Takeaways from Lauren Ferreira
• Stepping away from professional sport is rarely a clean decision, it's a process shaped by finances, injuries, identity and emotion
• Financial instability is one of the most underacknowledged realities of professional sport, especially in sports with no guaranteed income
• Identity is the deepest challenge in transition – when being an athlete is all you've known, losing that label can feel like losing yourself
• It's okay to try different things before you find your direction – Lauren's path included coaching, estate agency, and financial planning before she found her home
• Athletes often don't recognise the value of their own skills until they enter the corporate world and see how different they are
• The pressure management and self-discipline athletes develop in sport are exactly the qualities organisations struggle to find and develop
• Surround yourself with good people, talk to other athletes, and seek out those who have already made the transition
• The mindset that carried you through sport, the belief that hard work leads somewhere, is the same mindset that carries you through transition
• Life after sport can be really good. It just takes time to get there.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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When you’re young and chasing the dream, you don’t think about the end. You’re focused on selection, contracts, and performing next week.
But at some point, every athlete faces the same reality: the career ends far sooner than expected.
In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, we sit down with former professional cricketer Matthew Lamb, who spent a decade in the professional game with Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
Matthew opens up about the emotional reality of leaving professional sport earlier than expected, and the one thing he wishes he had done differently while he was still playing: used the time better.
Like many athletes, Matthew admits he never truly listened when people spoke about preparing for life after sport. When you’re young and competing, those conversations feel distant, until suddenly they aren’t.
Now Head of Cricket at Complete Sports Group, Matthew works directly with athletes navigating their own careers and transitions, and he sees the same pattern repeatedly.
Athletes underestimate:
how much time they actually have during their playing careershow many doors their sport opensand how valuable their mindset becomes outside the gameThis conversation explores the psychology of transition, the fear of becoming a beginner again, the challenge of stepping away from something you’ve mastered, and the importance of taking control of your future while you’re still competing.
Matthew shares why exploring options alongside your sport doesn’t distract you from performance, it often enhances it, because when your identity isn’t solely dependent on results, pressure changes.
This episode is essential listening for any athlete who has ever thought:
"I’ll deal with it later."
Key Takeaways from Matthew Lamb
Perspective matters: the ten-year-old version of you would have grabbed the career you’ve hadFinishing earlier than expected is difficult, but preparation makes it manageableAthletes often waste the most valuable asset they have: time during their careerCourses, shadowing, and industry exposure can completely change your trajectorySport gives you access to people and industries most individuals never reachHaving something outside sport actually improves performance within itElite sport builds rare transferable skills: pressure management, self-drive, resilienceTransition can feel intimidating because athletes go from expert to noviceBut the same mindset that built your sporting career will accelerate the next oneBecause the end of sport isn’t the end of performance, it’s the start of a new arena.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Most athletes don’t plan their exit, it happens to them, an injury, a contract ending, or a conversation they didn’t expect. For Toby Salmon, former professional rugby player with Exeter Chiefs, Newcastle Falcons, Agen Rugby and Rouen Normandie Rugby, injury was the catalyst, instead of ignoring it, he used it.
In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, Toby shares how injury forced him to confront the question most athletes delay: “What happens when this stops?”
He didn’t panic, he explored. While still playing, Toby began speaking to athletes who had already transitioned. He researched programmes, he asked questions, and he weighed up whether another two years would genuinely move him forward, or simply delay the inevitable.
Today, he is a Senior Consultant at KPMG China, specialising in finance transformation, and a graduate of the EY Athlete Transition Programme. What makes this episode powerful isn’t just where he landed, it’s how he thought.
This conversation unpacks:
Why corporations actively seek athletesWhy soft skills are your unfair advantageWhy trying something new is rarely as hard as you imagineWhy networking isn’t transactional - it’s curiosityAnd why waiting until the final whistle is a risk you don’t need to takeToby reframes transition as a strategic decision, not an emotional reaction. If you’re still competing and telling yourself “I’ll think about it later”, this episode challenges that narrative.
Key Takeaways
Injury can be a catalyst, not a catastropheAsk: will another contract add growth - or just time?Corporations value athletes for mindset, not technical skillHard skills can be taught - leadership, resilience, and drive can’tTrying something new is usually easier than you thinkUse the “safety net” of sport to exploreNetworking = curiosity, not asking for favoursAthletes are in a unique position - people want to speak with youThis is not about leaving early, it’s about leaving intelligently.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What happens when the pressure lifts, but the drive doesn’t?
In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, we sit down with Shea McAleese - Olympian, Commonwealth Games medallist, Olympic coach, and one of New Zealand hockey’s most respected high-performance leaders.
Across more than 20 years in elite sport, Shea has lived every angle of performance: athlete, coach, mentor, and now leader beyond the game. What he shares in this conversation is something many athletes struggle to give themselves permission to explore:
Stepping away doesn’t mean stepping down.
Shea opens up about the importance of creating space from your sport, not to lose connection with it, but to rediscover joy, perspective, and balance. He explains why athletes who stay too close for too long often burn out, why doing something different can make you better at who you are, and how pressure-free environments are often where the biggest learning happens.
This episode challenges the idea that athletes must cling tightly to one identity. Instead, Shea reframes transition as a natural evolution of performance, one that rewards curiosity, self-awareness, and courage.
Whether you’re still competing, approaching the back end of your career, or quietly wondering “what else could I do?” this conversation will resonate.
Key Takeaways from Shea McAleese
Stepping away from your sport can reignite love, not weaken itBurnout often comes from staying in high-pressure environments too longIf something makes you unhappy, it eventually affects everythingEntrepreneurship demands passion - perseverance only comes if you care deeplyYou do have time - athletes just need to use it intentionallyYou don’t know what you don’t like until you’ve given it a fair runOrganisations want athletes - don’t undersell yourselfAthletes persevere, execute fast, and finish what they startResilience is a transferable superpowerFeedback is not personal - it’s performance informationUnderstand when athletes typically transition - awareness mattersMentors accelerate growth where you have blind spotsAbout the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Dara Alizadeh - Two Olympic Cycles, One Hard Stop: Navigating Life After Elite Sport
For most athletes, retirement isn’t a single moment.
It’s a psychological shift, a loss of structure, and a quiet question that lingers long before the final race.
In this episode of Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game, we sit down with Dara Alizadeh - two-time Olympian, Cambridge Boat Race President, Bermuda flagbearer, and now Infrastructure Transformation Specialist at Accenture.
Dara represents something many elite athletes feel but rarely articulate:
“Rowing was my world, and then, suddenly, it wasn’t.”
Having competed at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, Dara speaks openly about the reality of finishing in August 2024, the emotional challenge of stepping away, the importance of having something lined up immediately, and why uncertainty is often the most dangerous part of transition.
This conversation goes beyond job titles. Dara unpacks:
Why structure matters more after sport than during itHow exposure to industries while still competing reduces fearWhy athletes must stop outsourcing responsibility for their futureWhy ignoring what’s coming doesn’t delay it, it just removes choiceThis is not a story about “moving on.”
It’s a conversation about owning the next chapter with intent.
Key Takeaways:
“Rowing was my world, and it changed overnight.” - Transition is emotional, even when you’re prepared.Having something lined up matters - Athletes without a runway often struggle most.Explore without pressure - Side projects, courses, teaching, all clarity compounds.Familiar language reduces fear - Exposure builds confidence before you ever step in.Athletes need structure - If it’s gone, you must recreate it.You are the main stakeholder - No one will build your next environment for you.Put yourself in rooms where you’re challenged again - Growth doesn’t stop with sport.Thinking about what’s next doesn’t distract from performance - it enhances it.You always have time - Excuses didn’t get you to elite level, they won’t help now.If you’re still competing and telling yourself “I’ll deal with it later”, this episode is for you.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Michael Wells played Super Rugby for nearly every major Australian franchise, the Brumbies, Waratahs, Rebels, and Western Force, and represented his country in Sevens. But the story he shares in this episode isn’t about tackles or caps, it’s about the mindset that allowed him to step into retirement with confidence instead of fear.
While many athletes reach the end of their careers unsure of what comes next, Wells took a different approach. He started planning early, building networks, seeking guidance, testing industries, and understanding the reality of working life long before he needed to.
In this conversation, Michael breaks down the exact steps he took to avoid the transition cliff so many athletes talk about:
Key Themes & Athlete Takeaways
Certainty reduces fear - knowing what you want to do next makes the transition exponentially easierYour network is bigger than you think - people are far more willing to help athletes than you realiseLeverage your platform while you have it - curiosity now opens doors laterExperience matters - part-time work gave him exposure, structure, and clarity earlyTime is a choice - most athletes underestimate how much time they actually haveHaving a plan enhances performance - when you know what comes after, you can commit fully to the presentFeedback is a superpower - especially when entering a new industry where you’re the novice, not the expertDon’t wait until the end - exploring options early gives you a runway, not a cliff edgeEnjoy the now - the future matters, but not at the cost of losing joy in the sport you loveMichael’s journey is a powerful example of ownership. It shows athletes that transition doesn’t have to be chaotic, it can be structured, intentional, and empowering, if you start early and stay curious.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Marcus Watson’s career spans Premiership rugby, international Sevens, and an Olympic silver medal, but the story he shares with us goes far deeper than medals or appearances.
A player who moved between formats, countries, and teams, Marcus built his second chapter with intention before he retired, through education, curiosity, family support, and staying connected to the game in a way that protected his identity.
In this episode, Marcus opens up about:
Why having some form of backup, even subconsciously, eases the pressureHow education became a foundation that helped him approach transition with clarityThe role of team-mates and contacts in shaping unexpected opportunitiesWhy identity feels manageable for him now, and why it might not have if he’d walked away completelyThe importance of giving back and staying connected to what you loveHow networking evolves with maturity, from “awkward rooms” to genuine curiosityThe power of asking questions and uncovering what excites peopleThis is a grounded, relatable, open conversation about transition, not from crisis, but from awareness, implementation, and reflection.
Marcus shows athletes that you don’t need to wait for the end to begin.
You can build clarity, confidence and options while you compete.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Shelley Dowling-Holroyd lived a career most athletes only dream of. The sixth British woman ever to throw over 60 metres, English Schools record-holder, A World Championships competitor at 19, An Olympian before she turned 23, and then, in an instant, it was gone.
Two major accidents, a broken elbow, and years of fighting to keep her career alive eventually forced, Shelley out of the only life she had ever known. Not on her terms, not on her timeline, and not in a way she felt remotely ready for.
In this deeply honest conversation, Shelley opens up about the emotional crater that follows an involuntary retirement, the depression, the identity loss, the silence that comes when the structure disappears, and the moment she realised she no longer recognised herself.
But she also shares something even more powerful:
How she rebuilt her identity, rediscovered her purpose, and found belonging again through coaching and helping athletes with disabilities.
This episode is a masterclass in honesty, transition, resilience, and using your sporting past as a foundation, not a definition, for what comes next.
Key Themes & Lessons for Current Athletes:
• When retirement comes suddenly, the identity impact is real, and ignoring it only makes the fall harder
• Lost confidence, lost structure, lost purpose… these are normal, human responses, not personal failures
• Belonging matters, coaching and connection helped Shelley find herself again
• The discipline, resilience and emotional strength you gain in sport are transferable, you just need to recognise them
• Listen to older athletes, the warnings, the wisdom, the preparation they wish they’d done
• Funding doesn’t last forever, education and backup planning matter more than you think
• Your network is already huge, ask questions, be curious, use the doors your sport has opened
This is a powerful conversation for any athlete trying to understand who they are beyond their sport, and how to start building the next chapter with intention, not fear.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week, the podcast takes a different turn, because we’re announcing something that changes the landscape for athlete transition.
After speaking to hundreds of former elite athletes, a message became impossible to ignore:
“I wish I had explored options earlier.”
“I felt I had no time, no structure, no flexible opportunities while competing.”
“I didn’t have the confidence or the commercial skills to build something for my future.”
“If something like this had existed when I was playing… everything would have been different.”
This episode is the story of that problem, and the launch of the solution.
For the first time, ATA has partnered with Associate Yopa, one of the UK’s leading estate agencies, to create a truly athlete-led entrepreneurship pathway. A model designed by athletes, for athletes, built entirely around the realities of high-performance sport. No jargon, no theory, and no pressure. Just a structured, supported, flexible opportunity to build your own estate agency business while you compete.
Why We Built This
Based on years of conversations with athletes from rugby, football, Olympic sport, cricket, hockey and more, the pain points were consistent:
• No early preparation
• No flexible opportunities
• No commercial experience
• No confidence using networks
• No clarity about what careers fit
• And transition always hitting too late, too hard.
This partnership is a direct response, the first athlete-built pathway of its kind in the UK.
Why Associate Yopa?
We partnered with Associate Yopa because:
• They already run a proven associate model for self-employed agents
• Their infrastructure mirrors athletic learning, reps, feedback, performance
• They see athlete traits as advantages, not barriers
• They want athletes in their ecosystem
• Together we designed a system that complements performance, not competes with it
The Opportunity
Athletes can now:
• Start and run their own estate agency
• Build it around training & competition
• Create a secondary income stream
• Leverage their network & personal brand
• Build something small, steady or scalable - their choice
• Learn real commercial skills while still playing
Why It Matters
Athletes gain:
• Identity beyond their sport
• Confidence and control over their future
• Reduced pressure on performance
• A mental reset and sense of purpose
• Clarity in a space where most athletes feel lost
• The ability to build life after sport before they need it
This is how we change athlete transition in the UK.
Connect and Contact
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Few athletes have conquered the sporting world like Joyce Sombroek. Olympic gold and silver medallist, double World Goalkeeper of the Year, and Dutch field hockey legend, Joyce has stood at the pinnacle of elite sport, and faced the difficult reality of what comes next.
In this powerful and honest conversation, Joyce opens up about the injury that ended her career, the emotional challenges of stepping away from something she’d given her life to, and the deliberate, structured approach that helped her move forward. She shares how developing her identity beyond hockey, through medicine, study, and purpose, gave her a smoother transition, and why athletes must never wait until it’s too late to start thinking about life beyond the game.
Key takeaways:
Plan your transition before you live it, don’t wait for injury or circumstance to force it.Your sport is part of who you are, but it isn’t all you are.Taking control of your transition in steps allows you to move forward with clarity, not crisis.Balance performance with preparation, discipline off the field can extend and enrich your career.If you don’t know what’s next, talk to people, try new things, and stay curious, exploration leads to clarity.About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
Website:
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn:
Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/
Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Three-time Olympian and one of Britain’s most decorated divers, Tonia Couch knows what it means to live life on the edge, literally and figuratively. After nearly two decades competing at the highest level, Tonia opens up about what happens when the roar fades, the funding stops, and you have to rebuild life outside the pool.
In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, Tonia shares:
Why every athlete must understand their funding and future early, because when it ends, it ends fast.How stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new things builds the confidence you’ll need after sport.The importance of being brave enough to fail forward, and why curiosity always wins.Her real experience of falling into the deep end of life beyond the sport, and how she found her way back to purpose and joy.A reminder that the same courage that took you to the Olympics will take you through transition, if you’re willing to trust it.This episode is raw, emotional, and packed with insight for any athlete preparing for their next chapter, a reminder that there’s a whole world waiting beyond the game.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
Website:
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn:
Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/
Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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After 15 years in professional rugby, former England international Tommy Taylor knows what it means to prepare for what’s next. With over 200 Premiership appearances for Sale Sharks and Wasps, and a reputation built on hard work and humility, Tommy’s story is one of curiosity, reflection, and quiet preparation for life beyond the game.
In this episode, Tommy opens up about how injury gave him time to think, to step back, explore, and get ready for his next chapter before the final whistle blew. From testing out accounting exams and surveying to dog training and leadership coaching, his journey is a powerful reminder that exploration is progress, even when it leads you away from what you thought you’d do next.
He shares the importance of utilising your platform while you’re still playing, giving yourself space to decompress when the boots come off, and surrounding yourself with a support network that keeps you grounded.
Key takeaways:
Start early - Explore and educate yourself before your career ends, opportunity fades quickly once the lights go out.Experiment and eliminate - Every “no” gets you closer to what fits.Take a breath - Give yourself grace and time to process before diving into the next chapter.Lean on others - Connection and conversation are powerful antidotes to isolation.About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
Website:
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn:
Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/
Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Charlie Sharples lit up Kingsholm with his speed and finishing ability, racking up 266 appearances and 455 points for Gloucester, plus four caps for England. But what really sets Charlie apart is how he approached life after rugby.
In this episode, Charlie opens up about:
Why witnessing teammates struggle in retirement sparked him to prepare early.How studying for a degree and financial planning qualifications gave him focus beyond the pitch.The power of networking, work experience, and upskilling in making his transition feel organic rather than daunting.Why approaching retirement with curiosity and intent turned an intimidating change into an exciting new chapter.For athletes, Charlie’s story is proof that putting in the work before you need it creates clarity, confidence, and opportunity when the final whistle blows.
About the hosts
James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.
Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.
Connect and Contact
Website:
www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com
LinkedIn:
Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/
James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/
Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10
Instagram:
@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator
Email:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Visa fler
