From Creighton Basketball to VP of Sales: McKenzie Swanson's Career Playbook

Former Creighton women's basketball player McKenzie Swanson didn't set out to build a career in sales. After realizing physical therapy wasn't the right path, she earned her MBA from Penn State and took a chance on an SDR role that would completely change the trajectory of her career. In this episode of Changing the Game, McKenzie shares how she went from Division I athlete to VP of Sales, why sales is one of the best career paths for former athletes, and the lessons she's learned leading teams at Hudl, Podium, and Element 451. A conversation about embracing uncertainty, chasing growth, and why the opportunities that scare you the most are often the ones that change your life. In this episode: Why McKenzie chose sales after college Breaking into tech with no sales experience Why athletes have a competitive advantage in sales Lessons from Hudl, Podium, and Element 451 What separates great salespeople from good ones Why your first job doesn't have to be your forever career Women in sales and stepping into leadership Why you should run toward the scary opportunities