Beyond the Uniform: Career Venture Prepares Wolverines for Life After Sport

By Gerardo Tinajero

For University of Michigan student-athletes, much of life is built around a demanding schedule. Practices, classes, competition, strength training, travel and recovery leave little time to consider a question every student-athlete will eventually face: What comes after sports?

The Graham Family Athletic Career Center's Career Venture Program is helping Wolverines explore that question before their playing careers end.

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Career Ventures are weeklong immersive career and professional development experiences designed exclusively for Michigan student-athletes. Through company visits, conversations with industry professionals and Michigan alumni, community service, city exploration and team-building activities, participants gain exposure to potential careers and the places they might someday call home.

For Julie Fielding, director of the Graham Family Athletic Career Center, the program provides student-athletes an opportunity to invest in their futures despite schedules that can make traditional professional experiences difficult.

"A Career Venture is an immersive and exploratory career and professional development program exclusive to Michigan student-athletes," said Fielding. "It's an opportunity to learn and discover what life after sports can look like, while tapping into a student-athlete's career curiosity along the way."

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The program has expanded considerably over nearly a decade. What began with one Career Venture has grown to five trips each summer, allowing 56 student-athletes to participate annually. Demand has grown with it. Roughly 150 student-athletes apply each year for the available spots.

In 2026, Wolverines traveled to Houston, Los Angeles, London, New York and Chicago. Houston and Los Angeles were first-time destinations, continuing an effort to expose participants to different cities, industries and Michigan alumni communities.

For student-athletes whose athletic commitments can make completing a traditional summer internship difficult, that exposure provides another form of valuable experiential learning.

"My Career Venture was a valuable eye-opening experience, particularly when, as a student-athlete, it is often difficult to find time for a traditional internship," said baseball's Wyatt Novara of the Chicago Career Venture. "It was an incredible opportunity to make new connections, create stronger bonds with fellow student-athletes, and see the possibilities of post-grad life after sport."

A typical Career Venture begins by allowing student-athletes to experience the city itself.

The opening days feature city exploration and team-building activities, allowing Wolverines from different teams to get to know one another while considering another important question: Could they envision themselves eventually living and working there? From there, the professional experience accelerates.

It broadened my horizons to different industries and potential career paths. Not only did I have the opportunity to network with and learn from amazing alumni, but I also loved getting the chance to connect with other student-athletes during the trip. It was an unforgettable week.

-- Grace Hunter, Field Hockey

Participants may visit between one and three companies in a day, with experiences varying by organization. Visits can include office tours, panels featuring Michigan alumni and former student-athletes, career conversations, mentoring sessions, question-and-answer opportunities and business case studies.

Companies are encouraged to make each visit their own, providing student-athletes with an authentic look at different industries, job functions and workplace cultures.

Fielding describes the philosophy behind that exposure simply: “try it on before you buy it.”

For student-athletes who have spent much of their lives competing at a high level, experiencing a professional environment firsthand can turn an abstract career interest into something tangible. Just as importantly, it can help them begin to understand which industries, workplaces, and career paths align with their interests -- and which ones may not.

Men’s golfer Nicolas Simon experienced both sides of that process during the Los Angeles Career Venture. Beyond gaining exposure to potential career opportunities, Simon valued the chance to learn alongside student-athletes from other Michigan teams, build new relationships and get a closer look at what life after college and competition could entail.

“Being able to spend time with other athletes you have never met -- as well as networking -- and seeing possible early career opportunities was remarkably valuable,” he said. “Both when it comes to seeing what you want to do and also what you wouldn’t want to do professionally.”

That ability to explore without having to immediately choose a direction is part of the value of the experience. A company visit or conversation with a professional can reinforce an existing interest, introduce an entirely new possibility or help a student-athlete recognize that a path they had considered may not be the right fit.

The experience also allows student-athletes to take what they have learned in the classroom and see how it translates to a professional setting. For track and field’s Payton Smith, her Career Venture helped bridge that gap.

By exploring different industries and experiencing a variety of workplace environments firsthand, Smith gained insight that complemented her classroom education and helped her better understand the possibilities available beyond college.

“From building my resume to exploring a variety of career paths and experiencing what it’s like to work for different companies in a major city, the trip broadened my perspective in ways that many of my classes could not,” said Smith. “It gave me practical knowledge, professional confidence, and a clearer vision for my future.”

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That confidence is among the transformations Fielding and her staff see develop throughout the week.

Some student-athletes arrive at a Venture unsure of what to expect. As the week progresses, they become more comfortable introducing themselves, articulating their career interests and asking questions of C-suite executives.

“I think a lot of them, when they go into it, are thinking about the company visits or the professional development, and they don’t always focus on the personal development. It’s incredible to see how much they grow in just one week,” said Fielding.

For some, the experience validates an existing career interest.

For others, it opens the door to possibilities they had never considered. Men’s soccer student-athlete Jake Tatch entered the New York Career Venture without a clear picture of what he wanted to pursue after soccer.

“Prior to deciding to sign up for the New York Career Venture, I was a bit lost as I really had no thought of what I might want to do past my career in soccer,” said Tatch. “After experiencing the trip, it truly transformed my perspective.”

Michigan Athletics has seen participants change or affirm academic majors, discover new industries, develop mentorship relationships and even find internships and jobs through Career Venture experiences.

Attending the Career Venture was the highlight of my summer. It was an amazing experience that I’m so grateful I was able to attend. We visited so many amazing companies. It was so cool to see how each company operated, but the most memorable part was the people we met from each company. Everyone truly cared to teach us about what they do and answered all of our questions. There were so many Michigan alumni at each company. I left the trip with so many new mentors.

Truus van Wees, Women’s Lacrosse

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2026 Career Venture Michigan Network Header

Along the way, participants also experience firsthand one of Michigan’s most significant resources: its alumni network.

Throughout the week, student-athletes interact with Michigan graduates at different stages of their careers, from recent graduates who understand the transition from college to senior executives who can share perspectives developed over decades.

For men’s gymnast Solen Chiodi, those relationships stood out during the Houston Career Venture.

“It gave me the chance to meet so many incredible and successful people from different career paths, and every conversation taught me something new. It really opened my eyes to what life after sports can look like and helped me grow as both a person and a student-athlete," he said. "Most importantly, it connected me with Michigan alumni who genuinely want to see me succeed, and I know the relationships I built on this trip will stay with me for a long time.”

Those interactions can also change how student-athletes see themselves.

In competition, they are often identified by the jersey they wear or the sport they play.

During a Career Venture, the conversation shifts to their interests, academic backgrounds, professional aspirations, and what they might contribute to an organization.

For Fielding, watching student-athletes experience the Michigan network in that context is one of the program’s most meaningful elements.

“They’re talking to you as the business major, the econ major, the political science major and getting to know you as someone that they’d want to hire,” Fielding said.

Student-athletes often hear about the strength of Michigan’s alumni network. Career Ventures give them an opportunity to experience it firsthand -- and understand that those relationships can extend well beyond their time in Ann Arbor.

My experience was amazing. The connections I made, friendships I formed, and memories I created will last me a lifetime. I’m so fortunate for the opportunities that Michigan provides its student-athletes, and how we have people here to help us succeed in life after sports.

Andrew Babalola, Football

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Student-athletes often hear about the strength of Michigan’s alumni network. Career Ventures allow them to experience it firsthand -- and understand that those relationships can extend well beyond their time in Ann Arbor.

The impact, however, goes beyond professional connections.

Because each Venture brings together student-athletes from different Michigan teams, participants often begin the week knowing few of the Wolverines traveling alongside them. By the time they return to campus, many have formed friendships that extend beyond the experience.

Women’s soccer student-athlete Beanie Harshe found that during the London Career Venture.

“The career venture was truly such a transformative experience,” said Harshe. “It left me feeling genuinely excited about my career journey. I got to have at-length conversations with incredibly successful businesspeople who made it clear that they’re here to help us in any way they can. I also got to experience everything with such an amazing group of student-athletes who are now some of my best friends.”

Community service adds another dimension to the experience.

Career Ventures incorporates service opportunities when possible, giving participants a chance to experience the communities they visit beyond corporate offices and city attractions. During the 2026 Houston Venture, for example, student-athletes helped prepare approximately 3,000 sandwiches for children experiencing food insecurity.

For Fielding, the service components give student-athletes an opportunity to gain perspective while giving something back to cities that are hosting them.

Together, the professional, personal and community experiences make Career Ventures more than a week of company visits. Student-athletes return to Michigan with exposure to new industries, connections with alumni and professionals, relationships across Wolverine teams and, in many cases, greater confidence about what their futures might hold.

And the impact can extend well beyond the trip itself.

Fielding has watched participants secure professional opportunities, reconsider career paths and discover interests they had never previously explored. She also sees student-athletes return with a deeper appreciation for the network they became part of when they chose Michigan.

“They can feel the energy and the support of that,” she said. “They know that that’ll carry with them long after their time at Michigan.”

For student-athletes accustomed to preparing for the next practice, meet, match or game, Career Venture offers an opportunity to prepare for a different kind of next step.

The uniform will eventually come off.

But the relationships, experiences and Michigan network built along the way will remain with Wolverines long after their time in Ann Arbor -- and into whatever comes next.

I can’t explain how much of a rewarding and exciting experience it was.

Beanie Harshe, Women’s Soccer

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To learn more about The Graham Family Athletic Career Center, please visit https://macc.ath.umich.edu.