One extremely valuable application of purpose is in navigating transitions, whether through a promotion, company move, company sale/exit as a founder, or retirement.

A transition especially close to my heart, and often overlooked by the general public, is that faced by elite-level athletes. The loss of structure, community, identity, and focus—combined with the pressure to find the next career move and often a need to bridge an experience gap—presents major challenges for many exceptionally talented individuals.

Elite-level athletes have reached their potential under immense pressure, often on a global stage in front of millions. They have demonstrated the qualities needed to sustain high performance at levels many of us may never reach. They know how to win. They reflect when they lose. They continuously build their skills and resilience. They bounce back.

With the high rate of attrition in sports, elite athletes represent an incredible, replenishing, and largely untapped pool of talent for corporate America. Yet, few companies have formal programs to intentionally develop and recruit these athletes. This is the first in a series of conversations designed to change that.

As an initial step to ignite a journey bridging athletes to companies through shared opportunity and purpose, I hosted a panel discussion featuring former Welsh International and Captain Andy Moore, Olympic Rugby Co-Captain Kelly Griffin (no relation), and NFL Player and Coach Phil McGeoghan.

You can download the summary of the panel discussion or watch the video here.

I am dedicating Season 3 of the Connecting with Purpose podcast to the ecosystem surrounding elite athlete transitions. By continuing the conversation, I aim to identify and build opportunities for companies to bridge the gap to this largely untapped talent pool. Join this journey and be part of the solution by listening in here.