In this episode, host Greg Glynn, is joined by Rob Connolly is a seasoned entrepreneur and the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Finlete, a pioneering sports tech company based in San Diego, CA.

With an impressive track record of founding and scaling startups, Rob has not only led two companies to successful exits but has also cemented his reputation as a visionary leader in the sports technology arena. His extensive experience in sales and business development forms the backbone of his approach to building and growing innovative platforms. At the helm of Finlete, Rob is revolutionizing the way fans interact with high-potential athletes. Finlete stands out as a unique platform that empowers minor league baseball players by enabling them to sell a small percentage of their future earnings directly to fans. This model not only provides athletes with fair market value for their talents but also builds a strong community of supporters who share in the athletes' journey both emotionally and financially. Under Rob's leadership, Finlete is redefining athlete support and engagement, making it more than just a platform—it's a movement. Driven by a passion for empowering athletes and enhancing fan experiences, Rob's vision for Finlete is rooted in creating meaningful connections and ensuring athletes have the resources they need to excel on and off the field. His innovative approach and unwavering commitment to the sports community are what set Finlete apart in the competitive sports tech landscape.

In this episode:

What is Finlete?

How does Finlete work?

Athletes Finlete is working with

How can athletes get started with Finlete?

Who can invest in Finlete athletes?

Why Finlete is looking for brand ambassadors and new NIL opportunities

How to get in touch with Finlete.

Links:

Finlete.com

PliableMarketing.com

Guest contact information:

Rob Connolly

Rob@Finlete.com

Host Greg Glynn sits down with Ryan Schachtner, a former college baseball player that turned a career and MLB dream ending injury into one of the fastest growing financial planning firms in the Southeast. While working with professional athletes, Ryan was encouraged to write a book to help guide future generations manage and keep their money. His book, The Foundation for Financial Excellence was released July, 2021 shortly after Name, Image and Likeness went live and quickly became an international best seller.

Ryan quickly noticed that the athlete development space needed some disruption and co-founded Success Beyond Game Day. The focus of Success Beyond Game Day is to help athletes, while they continue to develop athletically, build a parallel path to maximize success in life after sports. Through a custom assessment, a neuroscience-based platform and an online education community they are able to create a unique and relevant development path for every athlete. Working with colleges and teams from DIII to Power 5, High School, NFL and international soccer clubs their goal is to impact 1 billion athletes.

In this episode:

• How Ryan started his baseball career
• The shoulder injury that ended his baseball career
• Ryan shares how he selected a college to play baseball
• Why Ryan felt like he lost his identity after his athletic career was over
• How the COVID-19 pandemic led to his book, Success Beyond Game Day
• Why he credits name, image and likeness (NIL) court ruling for turning his book into an international best seller
• Ryan talks about the challenges for athletes at the end their career
• The importance of a parallel personality
• Ryan’s recent experience at the NFL combine
• Greg talks about personal branding and athlete branding and why it matters
• What his program does to help athletes become more mature and focus on longevity
• What Ryan thinks are the best opportunities for NIL
• The definition of the true NIL and story behind Katie Shanahan
• What Ryan is working on next, including working with the NFL
• The impact of the transfer portal on colleges and career development for athletes
• Ryan’s advice for today’s college athletes

Links:

successbeyondgameday.com

Social Media

@amust.win - instagram

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanschachtner/

Katie Shanahan: https://www.instagram.com/katieshanahannn/

Connect with Ryan:

ryan@successbeyondgameday.com

About Pliable Marketing:

PliableMarketing.com

Monique A.J. Smith, is a Leadership Strategist that guides Athletics Departments/Sport Organizations and Individuals who wish to advance in Athletics Administration/Sports Management careers through her company, Seeds of Empowerment LLC ®.

Smith, a Sports Management veteran of 30 plus years, was Adjunct Faculty at Hampton University teaching Sports Management Courses. In 2023, Monique published her 6th issue of Significance in Athletics and Sports Magazine that features Black Women sharing their ‘Specialized Knowledge’ in the Industry. All issues can be found it www.seedsofempowermentstore.com or Amazon. She is most known for her 10 seasons as the host of the internationally recognized weekly podcast "A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith”, that spotlights Women of Color in Athletics/Sports.

In this episode:

• How Monique got into the sports industry
• How she turned her passion for sports into her career
• Advice for athletes to get local news coverage
• Why leadership is important
• Her opinion on name, image and likeness opportunities for college athletes
• Why educating influencer is important to reaching decision makers
• The importance of mental health for college athletes
• Why she think hometown NIL partnerships are some of the best partnerships
• Greg and Monique talk about local outreach to businesses to support athletes
• The role that compliance departments play in NIL
• The impact of state by state laws for NIL and why educating is so important
• Media training advice for athletes during interviews
• Why internships are so important for college students
• The sociology of sport and how NIL can change women’s sports
• Why she encourages women to intentional.
• The importance of a good NIL contract and marketing agent
• Why the NCAA should standardize NIL contracts

Links:

PublicFiguremask.com

Monique’s Podcast:

ChatintheGarden.com