How to Maximize Post-Sport Success: Utilizing Resources and Social Networks

Life after playing collegiate and professional sports can be challenging for athletes who have dedicated much of their lives to the game. However, it can also be an opportunity for personal and professional growth, including exploring new interests and career paths. But how should former players navigate their newfound post-sport lives?

On today’s episode of Win the Day, host Chase Wasson speaks with Calvin Smith, an Enterprise Account Executive at CORTI, to talk about his journey navigating post-sport life and how he found success through leveraging different social and professional networks.

While some former players become coaches and commentators or work in the sports industry, others choose to transition into completely differnt industries, using the skills and discipline developed through their sport careers.

“To build yourself for success after you have left the sporting level comes down to two things, your ability to network, build the brand you speak about, and your work ethic,” said Smith.

Wasson and Smith also discussed…

  • What traits or qualities do the most successful NFL players possess, both on and off the field?
  • How LinkedIn has helped athletes build success after their sports careers are over
  • How you can leverage social networks to maximize success early on

“Having the fortitude of the bigger picture of what is to come and having that earlier on, especially walking in your career, can set you up for major success,” said Smith.

Calvin Smith has been an Enterprise Account executive with Corti since the beginning of 2023. Prior to this, he worked as a Cardiac Rhythm Sales Representative for Abbott. He is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a focus in healthcare management, while playing football for the University.

Recent Episodes

Leadership right now feels heavier than it did just a few years ago. Teams are stretched, expectations are high, and many employees are quietly disengaged. In fact, Gallup’s 2025 U.S. data shows that only about 31% of employees are actively engaged at work, leaving the majority feeling disconnected or indifferent. For CEOs and senior…

Starting in 2026, The Marketing AI SparkCast alternates between the Marketing AI Pulse Monthly Brief and in-depth interviews with leading marketing AI innovators. This episode is the February 2026 edition of the Monthly Brief and focuses on trust and authenticity in an AI-driven world. Aby Varma and Matt Cyr explore the emergence of advertising inside…

The CFO seat is being rewritten in real time. Today’s finance leaders are expected to drive growth, lead enterprise-wide systems transformations, and shape AI strategy—while still keeping the close, controls, and capital story airtight. Gartner reports that 59% of finance leaders are already using AI in the finance function, underscoring how rapidly the role is…