The Paris Olympics are here, with over 10,000 athletes from around the world prepared to compete in a sport they've likely trained in for most of their lives. But what happens once an Olympian wants
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has partnered with Guild, an education and talent mobility solutions provider, to help athletes answer that exact question. Guild will offer Team USA athletes from the last 10 years free access to their marketplace of tuition-free degree and
"We do an annual athlete listening survey with both our alumni and current competing athletes so we can rank their needs and services we offer them," says Carrie White, the USOPC vice president of athlete development and engagement. "After financial resources and training centers, they told us that career and education support was next up in terms of what they value most."
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For White, it was crucial that athletes feel supported even beyond their Olympic careers, emphasizing that athletes typically sacrifice traditional paths of four-year degrees and internships so they can train and compete. With over 200 programs through Guild that cover everything from skills certificates to master's degrees, White is confident that Team USA athletes can find a career path that interests them.
"Once they're enrolled in a program, a coach will help navigate and persist through the program," says White. "At the end of the program, there's a career coach who will help them navigate what's next. There's support wrapped around the entire learner experience."
For Guild, this partnership marks a big opportunity for employers looking for highly determined and dedicated talent.
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"These athletes have grit, tenacity, strategic horsepower in their ability to navigate their sports careers," says Bijal Shah, CEO of Guild. "Being able to apply those qualities in the workforce is super exciting."
White and Shah agree that athletes competing at the Olympic level have a host of transferable skills — they just need help figuring out where to channel their drive to succeed.
"These athletes have competed and continue to compete against the best, and anyone who gets to the top of anything has already demonstrated an incredible work ethic and resiliency," says White. "They have served as ambassadors and diplomats and overcome injuries. They have been knocked down and got back up. Those are the kind of people I would want on my team."
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White and Shah encourage eligible Team USA athletes to take advantage of this opportunity and not be afraid of imagining what retirement might look like.
"I encourage them to start having those career conversations sooner rather than later, knowing retirement is going to come," says White. "Our hope is that by giving them this opportunity, they feel ready and supported."
