Olympic Medalist Jazz Carlin’s Journey from Athlete to Sales Leader
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June 18, 2025
Summary
Stepping away from elite athletics is never easy. For many athletes, the end of competition can bring a sense of identity loss, uncertainty, and unfamiliar territory, especially when it comes to finding a fulfilling career. Olympic medalist Jazz Carlin knows this firsthand.
On a recent episode of Changing the Game, Jazz shared the story of her transition out of sport and into the business world. Her journey into tech sales is a powerful example of how the qualities developed in athletics, resilience, coachability, and a relentless work ethic can unlock high-performance careers after sport.
Starting Over with no business Experience
After retiring from swimming, Jazz was eager to launch a new career but found herself running into the same wall many athletes do: a lack of “relevant experience.” Despite applying for entry-level roles in business development and tech sales, she was routinely passed over without even getting an interview.
“I was 28 and had never worked in an office. But I’d been training and competing against the best athletes in the world my whole life. That is experience,” she explains.
Everything changed when one company saw her potential and offered her a chance, plus 12 weeks of training. That initial opportunity led to exposure to multiple sectors, sales methodologies, and team dynamics. It gave her the foundation to grow, develop, and ultimately thrive in the business world.
Translating Athletic Skills into Business Success
Once in the role, Jazz did what elite athletes do best: she embraced the learning curve with humility and intensity. She asked questions constantly, shadowed teammates, and took full advantage of the training she received. Her eagerness to learn and comfort with being coached helped her ramp up quickly and start making an impact.
In a short time, she progressed from contributing individually to coaching others. Jazz began mentoring and developing sales reps, eventually managing multiple teams and helping to drive company-wide success. Her athletic background had instilled key traits like resilience, feedback-seeking, and a drive for continuous improvement, skills that translated directly into leadership.
That first opportunity, combined with her determination and coachability, gave her what so many athletes are looking for after sport: a sense of purpose and a new professional identity.
“Once I had that experience,” she said, “everything changed. Suddenly, people wanted to talk to me.” Experience opened doors, but it was her mindset and work ethic that helped her walk through them.
Coaching, Leadership, and Building Winning Teams
Today, Jazz leads sales development at SourceWhale and was recently named one of the Top 50 SDR Leaders. Her passion lies in coaching and team-building, helping others unlock their potential, just like someone once did for her.
“There’s no better feeling than helping someone go from struggling to succeeding,” she says. Her leadership style is rooted in communication, mutual accountability, and a relentless focus on improvement.
In hiring, she looks for candidates who bring energy, curiosity, and a growth mindset—qualities that naturally align with former athletes. One of her most successful hires had no formal sales experience but brought passion, a sports background, and an eagerness to learn. “She asked thoughtful questions, showed hunger, and she’s since been promoted multiple times.”
Jazz also touched on how being authentic in interviews makes a huge difference: “Hiring managers remember stories and energy. Don’t be a robot—be yourself. Tell us what shaped you.”
Her Advice to Athletes Considering a Career Shift
Jazz knows how intimidating it can be to start from scratch in a new industry. But she also knows the payoff is worth it.
“You have to be open to learning and fall in love with the process,” she says. “In both sport and business, it’s the basics done really well, done consistently that drive success.”
Sales is a natural fit for athletes: it’s competitive, team-oriented, and reward-driven. But more importantly, it’s a career where work ethic, resilience, and curiosity can open massive doors, regardless of your resume.
“If you’re an athlete thinking about your next step, give it a shot. You never know what you’re capable of until you try.”
About Shift Group:
Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals.
The Shift Connect platform accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.
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