Hi everyone! I'd like to welcome you to the first Athletes Excelling After Sports (AEAS) blog post/interview. I pleased to announce our first honored guest is Ian Choy, who happens to also be our founder and CEO. Ian, welcome! Let's get started.
1. Which sport(s) did you play and what was your highest level of competition?
I fell in love with the sport of baseball from the age of 5, and was lucky enough to be a natural. I was also lucky to have great coaches and teammates every step along the way. I received a scholarship to play NCAA D1 baseball at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. After college, I had a short but sweet professional baseball career with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.
2. Let's change gears and talk about your current career. Can you tell us a little bit about your current role? Can you also explain your journey from collegiate/professional athletics to a career in corporate America?
Sure, I am currently a Senior Risk Manager at TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, which I am proud to say because TD is a great company to work for. The journey to get there was not easy though. I really struggled to find work after returning to Canada from Australia. I had a bachelors degree but had little work experience outside of athletics. Many finance majors participate in internships during the summer months. Instead, my summers were spent playing summer ball and making sure I could continue to compete at the highest level. After returning home to Canada it took several months to obtain a part time job as a bank teller. I worked my way up from teller to financial reporting analyst. Later, I held several different roles across risk and finance.
3. What inspired you to start AEAS?
I feel athletes already possess many of the skills that employers are looking for, but often are overlooked due to a lack of work experience.The purpose of my organization is to support athletes as they transition into the professional fields of their choice. Additionally, I want to help employers recognize the valuable transferable skills athletes possess that will make them an asset to their organization. Athletes should not be disadvantaged for tirelessly working hard, often year round, to be the best they can be at their respective sport. Grit, commitment and coachability are qualities employers value. I have witnessed this first hand. Many of the soft skills I gained during the pursuit of my professional baseball career prepared me for success in my current field. I’m also excited to announce the one-of-a-kind AEAS program, which looks to provide ongoing support and provide continuous development opportunities to our athletes.
Can you give us some more detail on the AEAS program?
Sure, the AEAS program is all about the continuous development of our athletes. We know athletes train year round and may not have the ability to pursue an internship or a part time job. We also recognize that some athletes may have family commitments in addition to their academics and athletics. The AEAS program works around their busy schedules to make sure that they obtain a broad range of professional development opportunities before and after graduation. We offer independent research projects and case studies, hard and soft skill development, resume writing, public speaking, and interview prep. Students can work with AEAS trainers and mentors in their free time. This allows athletes to obtain the same work skills often obtained during an internship in a more flexible manner. AEAS trainers have a wealth of experience in the field of learning and development. More importantly, we regularly check in on our athletes and have on call support available to support our athletes at any time. We want our athletes to feel supported every step of the way. Our organization is committed to seeing each athlete flourish professionally and personally. That is really what sets our program apart.
Your website mentions valuing diversity and inclusion as well as supporting underrepresented groups of individuals. Can you tell us how AEAS employs these values?
Thank you for asking that question. First off in order to fully understand and support underrepresented groups, one must have a strong background in multiculturalism. Our staff members have had extensive training on multiculturalism and diversity in the workplace. Additionally, our staff consists of well qualified individuals from a multitude of backgrounds. We work to match our athletes with companies/organizations that are committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Sounds like your clients are well supported. You had to navigate your way through corporate America and entrepreneurship alone. What advice do you have for others transitioning from athletics to another field?
I'd like to say you are not alone. For individuals from diverse backgrounds and/or underrepresented groups, AEAS recognizes your value and is committed to helping others recognize it too. To all athletes, we are here to make sure you are supported throughout your athletic career, and your hard work does not go unnoticed in the corporate sector. To employers, I urge you to commit to diversity and inclusion within your organizations. I also encourage employers to recognize the transferable skills athletes possess. If you are an athlete or employer that is interested in AEAS program, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!
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