Athletes dedicate years of their lives to honing their craft, pushing their bodies to their limits, and developing the mental resilience necessary to compete at the highest levels. However, the transition from student-athlete to life beyond sport can be daunting. This is where organizations like Global Sports & Events (GSE) and Athlete Assessments step in, providing essential tools and experiences to extend the student-athlete beyond the playing field.
A Passion for Sport and Athlete Development
Sara Mosiman, Partner – Strategy & Growth at GSE, has always had a deep-rooted connection to sports. “I’m from Seattle, born and raised here, grew up a Husky fan, and was fortunate enough to play for the Huskies,” she shares. While injuries sidelined her at times, they also opened the door to new opportunities, with Sara explaining “Because of that, I was able to really lean into some things outside of the sport, including job shadowing and internships.”
This early exposure to the broader world of sports business fuelled her passion for athlete development, eventually leading her to GSE, where she now plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s strategic vision.
GSE, founded in 2020, is more than just a sports event management company with over 30 years of expertise and a sprawling global network. “We run, operate, and partner with organizations to produce sports events,Sara explains. From preseason basketball events to international impact tours, GSE curates experiences that take athletes beyond their comfort zones and uses travel to change lives. Sara emphasized,
“Our sweet spot, what makes us unique, is the layering in of student-athlete development on top of the work that we do.”
Aligning Missions: Athlete Assessments and Global Sports & Events
The partnership between Athlete Assessments and GSE was a natural fit, built on shared values of athlete development and personal growth. Athlete Assessments’ Business Specialist, Rebekah Box, highlights the alignment between the two organizations.
“The reason that we exist is that we’re passionate about people, but we also see people as being the most critical element of performance. Being able to provide that development for the student-athlete as a whole person, is so critical alongside any technical development.”
One of the most transformative programs within GSE is their Impact Tours, which provide student-athletes with international and domestic experiences designed to broaden their perspectives. “We’re the first company to put something like this together”, Sara shares. “We are tying in elements of student-athlete development and making them part of an international experience.” The tours incorporate mental health and wellness, career development, diversity and inclusion, and community service, providing a holistic approach to personal growth.
Athlete Assessments’ AthleteDISC Profile has been seamlessly integrated into these tours, helping student-athletes gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their transferable skills, with Sara adding,
“Even the practice of going through the assessment, meeting together with other student-athletes, and learning about what DISC is, that in itself is out of the student-athlete’s routine and such a benefit,”
The GSE Program Extending the Athlete
Sara highlighted that role that GSE’s Impact Tours play in personal development, “Sport is a Trojan horse for all these other things that are so amazing – community, long-term friendships, and life skills that translate into life after sport.”
“We really get to focus in on the athlete and their experience, without a reliance on wins and losses.”
However, she acknowledges the challenge athletes face in identifying how to translate these skills into real-world applications.”A lot of athletes are told, ‘Oh, all these skills are so transferable,’ but then you get down to it and you’re like, ‘How do I actually transfer them?'”
Athlete Assessments’ DISC Profiles help bridge this gap by providing concrete insights into athletes’ behavioral styles, with Sara noting,
“One, you know more about yourself. Two, you learn how to be a better teammate. And three, you understand how to work with others in different environments.”
A prime example of this impact is Brown University Athletics. , which participated in an Impact Tour last summer. They had a mix of student-athletes from football, basketball, crew, swimming and diving, softball, cross country and track and field, volleyball, and more. “Speaking with their staff, what they experienced over there was this cohesion and learning about themselves that they brought back home and leveraged into their respective seasons.”
Fostering a Future for Student-Athlete Development
Both Sara and Rebekah emphasize the importance of protecting and prioritizing student-athlete development in an evolving collegiate landscape.
“I think there’s a real change in how the athlete is being viewed and how athletic departments are starting to plan and think about the future.
Student-athlete development needs to be protected in all ways possible.”
Rebekah echoes this sentiment,
“The college experience is so special and so valuable. You get an education, and athletically, you get to compete at the level you should be competing at, developing alongside other athletes who are at the same growth stages as you.”
And highlighting the most valuable element of the student-athlete experience, Rebekah adds, “You can be technically skilled, but understanding the people side and how to apply those skills, is where we’ve seen the best performances.”
The Power of Partnership
The collaboration between Athlete Assessments and GSE is a testament to the power of combining behavioral insight with experiential learning. “It really is about people,” Sara concludes.
“Networking, asking questions, being curious, that’s what has gotten me to this point in my career. And that’s what we want for our athletes too.”
As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, partnerships like this will ensure that student-athletes are not just prepared for competition, but for life beyond the game. Athlete Assessments and GSE are proving that with the right tools, mentorship, and experiences, the impact of sport extends far beyond the final whistle.
Where to From Here?
If you’re interested in equipping your student-athletes with the tools, insights, and support to thrive, on and off the field, reach out to learn how this partnership can benefit your program.
Whether you’re part of a university athletics department, a coach, or a leadership educator, Athlete Assessments and Global Sports & Events (GSE) are here to help you make a lasting impact and look forward to working with you.
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