From Creighton Basketball to VP of Sales: McKenzie Swanson's Career Playbook

From Creighton Basketball to VP of Sales: McKenzie Swanson's Career Playbook

#34: Former Creighton women's basketball player McKenzie Swanson didn't set out to build a career in sales. After realizing physical therapy wasn't the right path, she earned her MBA from Penn State and took a chance on an SDR role that would completely change the trajectory of her career. In this episode of Changing the Game, McKenzie shares how she went from Division I athlete to VP of Sales, why sales is one of the best career paths for former athletes, and the lessons she's learned leading teams at Hudl, Podium, and Element 451. A conversation about embracing uncertainty, chasing growth, and why the opportunities that scare you the most are often the ones that change your life. In this episode: * Why McKenzie chose sales after college * Breaking into tech with no sales experience * Why athletes have a competitive advantage in sales * Lessons from Hudl, Podium, and Element 451 * What separates great salespeople from good ones * Why your first job doesn't have to be your forever career * Women in sales and stepping into leadership * Why you should run toward the scary opportunities Follow McKenzie on LinkedIn: @McKenzie Swanson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenzie-swanson/]

How to Figure Out What You Really Want (And Stop Holding Yourself Back) | Tammie Bennett

#33: What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't a lack of talent or opportunity, but the way you talk to yourself? This week on Changing the Game, I'm joined by mindset coach, entrepreneur, and Show Up Society host Tammie Bennett. From running at UNC and attending Pepperdine Law School to building a coaching business focused on helping women get unstuck, Tammie shares how self-trust, clarity, and kindness can create lasting success. We discuss career pivots, sustainable goal setting, why so many high achievers struggle to know what they really want, and Tammie's powerful "Universe's Drive-Thru" exercise for gaining clarity on your next step. In this episode: * Building self-trust during times of uncertainty * Why process matters more than outcomes * The importance of celebrating small wins * How to reconnect with what you truly want * The "Did It List" and Universe's Drive-Thru exercises * Creating success without constant self-criticism If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next move, this conversation is for you. Follow Tammie Bennett Instagram: @itstammiebennett [https://www.instagram.com/itstammiebennett] Website: https://itstammiebennett.com/ [https://itstammiebennett.com/]

Chelsea Poppens on Retirement, Reinvention, and Finding Purpose After Pro Basketball

#32: Former WNBA player Chelsea Poppens spent years chasing her dream on the court. But like many athletes, the hardest transition came when the game ended. In this episode of Changing the Game, Chelsea shares her journey from Iowa State to the WNBA, overcoming career-ending injuries, finding her identity beyond basketball, and building a new chapter as a COO, entrepreneur, broadcaster, investor, wife, and mother. A powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and why your next chapter can be even bigger than your first. In this episode: * Chelsea's path from Iowa State to the WNBA * Playing professionally around the world * Recovering from multiple ACL injuries * Becoming a broadcaster and podcast host * Transitioning from athlete to business leader and COO * Finding identity beyond sport * Motherhood and redefining success * Why athletes are built for reinvention Follow Chelsea: @chelseapoppens [https://www.instagram.com/chelseapoppens/] Listen to Champion This Podcast on Spotify! [https://open.spotify.com/show/5rwpfWyCNOk9eTvxtCCKfV?si=WeWmeNOST2itljq2r1jLvg&nd=1&dlsi=d2f553c506144c31]

The Hidden Pressure Female Athletes Face | Marina Paul, Founder of SuperHera

#31: Follow Marina on Instagram: @marinapaul [https://www.instagram.com/marinapaul/] Learn more: superhera.com [https://superhera.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnilPUdg194gIken4wuhW9u8jdLdtHTXUY8YUD5lklel2S7ycq-HCDb-ogtYs_aem_HKh90Vf2AxYxMa5FPF9UMA] Former Georgetown soccer captain Marina Paul joins Changing the Game to talk about the realities many female athletes experience but rarely talk about openly. We discuss the pressure women face around body image in sports, the identity shift that comes after athletics, and how Marina went from Division 1 soccer to a career at Accenture before founding SuperHera, a company redesigning sports apparel specifically for women’s bodies. This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and an important look at the future of women’s sports. Topics include: *  D1 soccer at Georgetown  *  Athlete identity after sport  *  Body image & disordered eating in women’s athletics  *  Leaving corporate life to become a founder  *  Building SuperHera  *  The future of women’s sports apparel

Dr. Jo Shattuck on Trusting Your Gut and Rewiring Movement with PantherTec

Dr. Jo Shattuck is a former world-ranked racquet sports pro who started at 17, climbed to No. 6 in the world, and later walked away mid-season the moment her intuition told her it was time. She shares what it felt like to quit suddenly, why she needed a full year to grieve, and how that decision reshaped her identity. Now a neuroscientist and the founder of Panther Tec, Jo explains neuroplasticity, proprioception, and why real-time feedback helps athletes learn movement faster than watching film. This conversation is for anyone rebuilding after sport, chasing mastery, or learning to trust what their body already knows.