We were teammates at Canisius so I know you played 4 years of D1 Baseball. Did you play any other sports growing up? I grew up playing every sport I could, which often meant 2-3 sports at a time, but competitively it was hockey during the winter and baseball during the summer. To compete at the highest level, I knew I had to make a tough decision and make a full time commitment to one sport. That ended up baseball because I felt it would open up the most opportunities to play at the collegiate or professional level. I ended up landing a NCAA Division 1 scholarship, and also had the chance to represent Canada at the Junior World Baseball Championships.
What an honor it must have been to represent your country! Switching gears, can you tell us a little bit about your professional work experience? Sure, I recently started a new job as a scientific regulatory compliance officer within the Canadian Federal Government. While I did not have previous experience in this field, I have a lot of transferable skills that I gained through sports and my previous work experience. I previously worked within the Quality Control (QC) department at a biotechnology company in Toronto, Canada. I was able to work my way up from a laboratory technologist into a management role over several years.
You mentioned how your athletic career helped prepare you for a new role where you had no previous experience. Can you elaborate? As a full time student-athlete my time management skills were essential to success. I also learned to communicate effectively with different personalities and levels of authority, deal with high pressure situations, and play different roles on my teams. I also feel being coachable has allowed me to learn to quickly and efficiently process new information. I have also heard over and over again that I have the ability to stay calm under pressure, which I also attribute to my many years of playing sports.
Sticking with this theme, can you also explain your journey from collegiate athletics to your professional work career? I really struggled to find employment and what to do next. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science and had no relevant work experience or contacts to start my career. I tried to be proactive and connect with professors at the local university with the hopes of boosting my resume with a postgraduate degree or experience. Ultimately I was unsuccessful. I eventually found a post graduate program focused on direct job skills which offered co-op work placements. This was the “get a foot in the door” type of experience I needed and once I found a suitable co-op it didn’t take long before the skills I previously mentioned helped me secure full time employment.
Athletes generally seem to have similar experiences transitioning into the workplace. Why do you think that is? When we graduate we really lack the contacts necessary to hit the ground running. There is also a lack of awareness on the potential benefits of employing athletes, especially in Canada. I also think there are preconceived notions on what an athlete is capable of. If athletes only have achievements in their sport, why should it matter? Employers simply don’t know what they are missing and they often don't understand the commitment it takes to be a student-athlete.
You mentioned some differences in Canada. How do you think the AEAS Program could specifically benefit Canadian athletes? I think there could be an even bigger benefit for Canadian athletes that return home after attending a U.S. College/University. The Canadian educational system, and athletics in general, are very different. For example Canadian colleges often offer specialized degrees, such as a professional trade or skill, and are not held in the same regard as a degree from a four year university. When I returned home I had to specifically call this out on my resume. In addition, Canadian universities do not offer sport scholarships, and there is no awareness around the rigorous practice and training schedule we went through. It put me at a big disadvantage and it took some time to learn to navigate those structural differences.
What skills did you gain through baseball and sports in general, that have helped make you successful in your professional work career? The list is extensive but in no particular order: coachability, time management, determination, self-motivation, resilience, working well in a team and individually; the ability to learn from my mistakes and not dwell on the past. The last one is a big one. People often make the same mistakes but also have a hard time letting go and moving on. Integrity is also one of those intangible skills. My employer always knows I am going to do what is needed even when no one is looking. Lastly, I acquired the skills to execute a plan and achieve my goals. As an athlete your innate talent will only take you so far. It’s really work ethic that will separate you, and the same goes for the workplace.
I feel like this is a good time to transition. I’d like to discuss how your workplace is advocating for diversity and inclusion in the workplace? I’ve been lucky enough to work for two large organizations which have the resources and means to support D&I in the workplace. Both organizations had robust training programs. When I moved into a management position, D&I training was mandatory to ensure equitable hiring practices. Now that I have started a role within the Canadian Federal Government, I am proud to say the diversity of our country is represented at work. I have attended routine seminars on this topic. It's an ongoing effort to continue to improve and spread awareness, but as an athlete, I have an advantage. Athletes are taught we are all equal once we step on the playing field, and to support your teammate no matter what their background, race, or identity may be. Any biases disappear quickly or you will not be able to last on a team, which is also valuable on a professional level.
You had to navigate your way through corporate America alone. What advice do you have for others transitioning from athletics to another field?Be confident that you have skills that employers are looking for. Commitment to a sport and by extension a lack of work experience, is not a detriment. I would argue that these experiences are more important than any part time job or internship you could have held during school. However, it is our responsibility to show employers that these skills are invaluable and prove what we are saying is true.
What resources or do you wish you had available to you when you were still playing collegiate sports? It is going to vary person to person, but for me personally, interview preparation would be number one. It was something I really didn’t go through until after my athletic career was over. Despite being prepared, it was very apparent it was my first interview. Every question is an opportunity to showcase one of your skills, and practice is key to feeling comfortable. It is no different than being out on the baseball field.
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