Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves
Former professional footballer Ryan Gonsalves dives deep into the unique challenges and triumphs of transitioning from elite sports to fulfilling careers. Through candid conversations with athletes, the Career Clarity Podcast explores their inspiring journeys, uncovering lessons on identity, resilience, and reinvention. Whether you're an athlete or simply seeking inspiration for your next chapter, this podcast will empower you to unleash your second wind.
Ryan Gonsalves transitioned from professional football with Huddersfield Town in the English Footbaal League, to a career in financial services by leveraging his adaptability, transferable skills, and willingness to embrace new opportunities.
While playing semi-professional football, he pursued education and began working at GE Money Capital Bank, where he gained global experience and developed expertise in Lean Six Sigma and process improvement. His sports background often helped him stand out during interviews, creating memorable connections with hiring managers.
Later, Ryan joined HSBC in Hong Kong, where he worked for nearly a decade in consumer banking, focusing on global projects such as researching homeownership behaviors. His ability to understand consumer insights and behavior became a cornerstone of his success in the financial sector. After over 20 years in banking (including back in Australia at AMP, Westpac, COmmenwealth Bank and NSW Treasury, Ryan transitioned into career coaching, inspired by helping fellow athletes navigate their post-sports careers.
Ready to take the next step? Connect with Ryan at letschat@2ndwind.io.
Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves
EP 60: Simon Mason - From Olympic Hockey to Unlocking The Most Valuable Skill for Athletes: Time Management
In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Simon Mason, a former British Olympic hockey goalkeeper and Managing Director at Mercian Sports Company. Simon served as the president of the England hockey board from 2010 to 2013 and presently works as a sports commentator while also being a member of the executive board for the European Hockey Federation.
Aside from being a high-achieving triple Olympian, Simon joined the company straight out of university. His firm, Mercian Sports, is a specialist field hockey equipment company that has remained at the forefront of product development, offering unwavering support to players throughout multiple Olympic games & World Cups, and even assisting beginners with their very first sticks.
Tune in to learn more about:
- What Simon considers the pinnacle of his hockey career
- The two stories that hugely influenced his sporting career
- How he managed to strike a balance between his hockey pursuits and academic prowess
- Why he opted to do his best on his last roll of the dice
- The importance of putting yourself out there to grasp the opportunities around you
- The struggles he faced when retiring from elite sports and how he handled them
- Insights from running Mercian sports for 25 years
and so much more!
Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-mason-64b45419/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonmasonGB?paipv=0&eav=AfYxpwqndQz29TBdEtgHZ1Bi0wTrNw8XzX3M3MbKSjz-wPtKhCynP4l6JGwkB9CD9Kk&_rdr
Website: https://mercianhockey.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercianhockey/?hl=en
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