Meet the Olympians Going For Gold At Business School, After Taking The Sports World By Storm

• Name: Alyce Wood
• Job title: Project Manager in the Construction Industry
• Sport: Kayak – Competing at the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and currently competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
• Representing: Australia
• Studies: Master of Business Administration, majoring in Public Policy, at Griffith University 

Can you describe your journey to becoming an Olympian?

Growing up it feels like becoming an Olympian is a near impossible feat, and that someone like ‘me’ won’t be able to do it. So I think the biggest challenge has been believing in myself and feeling like I belong amongst the world best.

What does a typical day look like for you as an Olympic athlete?

I’m currently training for the Paris Olympic Games, so not quite an ex-athlete yet, but when I get home from the Olympics I’ll be moving into full time work as a Project Manager in the Construction Industry. I’ve never been able to work in the business world full-time as being an athlete and a Mum demands so much time, so I’m really looking forward to throwing myself into the business world and finding my ‘new normal.’

What would you describe as your greatest achievement in sport?

Returning to the top level of my sport after having a child, and being faster than what I was pre-baby. Being an athlete is incredibly time consuming and you have to be quite selfish at times, so I’m really proud of how I’ve been able to switch my focus and juggle both motherhood and elite sport. Whilst there’s been some really challenging days, I think being an athlete has made me a better Mum and being a Mum has made me a better athlete.

What made you decide to pursue a business degree during/post your career as an athlete?

When you’re an athlete it can feel like your career outside of sport is stagnant, so I’ve always seen it as important to continually challenge myself and upskill. I saw an MBA as the perfect way to take a deep dive on business practices and challenge what I’d learnt in my career at the time. It’s also highly regarded amongst top employers, so has helped bolster my resume as I transition out of sport.

How do you see your future career developing with the combination of your athletic achievements and your business education?

The sporting and business worlds have so many similarities that I’d love to continue to explore. I think people in both professions can learn a lot from each other, so I would love to be a link between the two in the industry that I’m working in. 

What skills or lessons from your sports career do you find most applicable to your business studies and why?

People Management. Whilst sport is all about winning medals, there are a myriad of complex relationships and situations that need to be managed on the way to the podium. Learning how to balance people with performance is an art, and a skill that I will be forever fine tuning.

What advice would you give to other athletes considering pursuing higher education or a career in business?

Throughout my athletic career I’ve changed my mind on what career I want to pursue in my retirement more than I’d like to admit. That’s why getting an MBA was the perfect way to upskill myself without cornering myself into one role.

“Whilst there’s been some really challenging days, I think being an athlete has made me a better Mum and being a Mum has made me a better athlete.”

The skills you learn and the knowledge you develop throughout a business degree translates across many roles and industries. Every workplace needs someone who understands business, so as I transition out of sport I’ve been able to find a role that is well outside of what I ever thought I’d be doing, but is something that really excites me.

Interview by Peter Remon

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