Women college athletes have vast career potential, making up only 2% of college students, but representing 52% of
women in the C-suite
(reporting to the CEO).
Rookie Career Accelerator
From Athlete to Leader - Faster
The Rookie Career Accelerator is a nine-month leadership and career acceleration experience designed specifically for high-potential former women college athletes in the first five years of their careers.
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Through retreats, monthly learning labs, one-on-one mentoring, and curated community experiences, participants strengthen their leadership identity, build critical professional skills, and develop the network and confidence to accelerate into impactful leadership roles.
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Each cohort includes 15 driven women ready to translate the discipline, resilience, and competitive drive they developed in sport into meaningful career momentum.
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Our Why
Women remain underrepresented in leadership across nearly every sector — and the gap is even wider for women of color.
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Sports are one of the most powerful incubators of leadership talent. Former college athletes already possess grit, teamwork, accountability, and the ability to perform under pressure. Yet the transition from sport to career can disrupt identity, networks, and momentum.
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The Rookie Career Accelerator exists to bridge that gap — unlocking the full leadership potential of women athletes and strengthening the pipeline of women leaders.
GET INVOLVED IN THE ROOKIE CAREER ACCELERATOR
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Take Charge of Your Career!
Apply to be part of the 2026 Rookie Career Accelerator Cohort
September 2026 – May 2027
30–35 hour total commitment
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The Rookie Career Accelerator is a selective, high-impact opportunity to intentionally design and accelerate your career trajectory.
As a participant, you will:
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Clarify your purpose and define your authentic leadership style
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Build a trusted peer cohort of high-achieving women
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Receive tailored one-on-one mentoring from experienced leaders
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Strengthen critical skills including communication, negotiation, personal branding, and relationship-building
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Develop financial literacy and long-term earning power
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Expand your professional network across Minnesota
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Build inclusive leadership capabilities
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Leave with a clear, actionable career acceleration plan
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If you are a former college athlete (within five years of graduation) living or working in Minnesota, we invite you to apply.
Apply Here →(link to application)
Mentor the Next Generation of Women Leaders
We are seeking former college athletes in business, law, nonprofit, healthcare, and sports leadership roles to serve as mentors.
Mentors:
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Provide guidance during the critical early career years
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Join a powerful community of women leaders and former athletes
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Attend 2-3 Rookie Career Accelerator program events
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Participate in 5-6 structured mentoring meetings throughout the nine month program
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Mentoring is a meaningful way to invest in the next generation while strengthening your own leadership network.
Learn more and sign up to mentor → (link to mentor application)
Join Us on the Field - Become a Rookie Career Accelerator Sponsor
When you invest in the Rookie Career Accelerator, you invest in the next generation of women leaders.
Sponsors and scholarship partners help:
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Accelerate women athletes into leadership roles
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Strengthen the Minnesota leadership ecosystem
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Advance women in leadership across sectors
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Increase access to meaningful career building opportunities
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Together, we can unlock leadership potential that already exists — and accelerate it.
Learn more about sponsoring a cohort member (link scholarship brochure)
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The 2021-22 Rookie Career Accelerator Cohort was filled with members that had careers spanning over 17 companies, 14 industries, 15 colleges, and 9 sports, they represent the future of women leaders.
Members of the 2021-22 Cohort had the opportunity to attend various workshops that brought attention to utilizing the skills you develop through playing sports to advance your career. The workshops were a mix of interactive activities and guest speakers; both aspects brought attention to certain skills that can be an asset to career growth. Mentors were connected with members as a resourceful relationship that could provide insightful advice and act as a guide when working towards accelerating your career.
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There was a lot of success within the inaugural cohort, both within personal and professional growth. Members gained a whole new level of confidence and a support system to follow along throughout the early years of their careers.
MEET THE 2021-22 INAUGURAL COHORT
Rookie Career Accelerator Team
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Stacy Solow
Adrienne Jordan
Sara Wegmann
Elise Ryan
Sydney Seeley
"I LOVED the opportunity to connect and build friendships with other women in a very similar life situation as myself. Former women athletes in the professional world isn't something that you see often so I loved meeting others who can relate to me. I feel like we will keep in touch post-RCA."
CAN Member