The Athlete2Business Podcast

#60 – Ben Madgen – NBL Rookie of the Year to Wealth Management: How to Back Yourself After Sport

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 opens up about growing up as a late bloomer in South Australia, how adversity at a young age became his superpower, and the frameworks behind having difficult conversations that shaped him as a leader and captain. We get into the 80 coffees he had before landing his role, how he pitched a job that did not exist, why your network as an athlete is bigger than you realise and the financial advice he wishes someone had given him earlier in his career. If you are an athlete figuring out what comes next, or someone mid transition wondering whether the grind is worth it; Ben's story is proof that backing yourself and getting out of your comfort zone is always the right call. Hosted by Alex Opacic, founder of Athlete2Business and former professional basketball player. 🎧 Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 📲 Follow us on Instagram @athlete2business 🔗 Learn more at athlete2business.com

#59 - Patricia Amalm - 10m Platform to Med-Tech Leader. How an Olympian Found Her Second Sport in Sales

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 episode, Alex and Patricia get into the full journey: growing up at the pool chasing her brother, making the national team, competing at a home Olympics, dealing with injury at the event, and then navigating the messy, non-linear path into a career she didn't plan for. They cover: * Why Trish didn't fall in love with sales until year 15 (and what finally changed) * How the discipline of elite diving translated directly into business performance * Why sales is the best unpaid university degree you'll ever get, except it pays you * The leadership principle she borrowed from her coach * What athletes get wrong about sales (hint: it's not about pitching) * This one is for every former athlete who's ever thought "what now?" and who hasn't quite found their second sport yet. 🎙️ Presented by Athlete2Business | athlete2business.com [http://athlete2business.com]

#58 – Michael Reid – From Enterprise Sales to Entrepreneurship: Mindset, Manifestation and the Leap of Faith

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 corporate for real estate, nearly going broke, discovering high ticket sales, and how one conversation with a mindset coach changed the entire direction of his life. Michael now runs his own mindset coaching business and in this episode he breaks down the science behind manifestation, why your subconscious mind is either working for you or against you, and the daily practices that separate people who achieve their goals from those who just talk about them. This one goes deep. Whether you're an athlete figuring out your next move, an entrepreneur in the middle of a leap of faith, or someone who just knows there's more — this episode will hit differently. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify.

#57 – Dan Parks – Life After the Final Whistle: Rugby, Reinvention and the Corporate World

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 corporate world. We get into the power of networking, why vulnerability on LinkedIn landed him his current role, and what businesses and athletes are both getting wrong about the transition. If you're an ex-athlete figuring out your next move — or a business wondering how to get the best out of one — this one's for you.

#56 – Mark Knowles – From Olympic Gold to Leadership: Building High Performance On and Off the Field

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 elite teams, and the hard truths about maintaining high performance over time. This episode is a masterclass in leadership, self-awareness, and transitioning from sport into business; packed with lessons for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing excellence.