Feb 18 2025 55 mins
Transitioning out of a professional sports career is never easy, and for former international badminton player Mithula Umakanth, it was a journey of loss, self-discovery, and reinvention. In this episode, Mithula shares her raw and inspiring story - moving from the highs of elite sports to the uncertainty of finding a new career path.
Now a Master’s student in Finance at UC Irvine, Mithula opens up about navigating identity loss, learning to embrace change, and using the athlete mindset to adapt to new challenges. Her story is one of resilience, learning, and ultimately, self-growth.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- The emotional toll of retiring from elite sports and the process of grieving an old identity
- How Mithula explored different career paths, from public policy to finance, before finding her next passion
- The athlete mindset and how it helped her adjust to an entirely new life abroad
- The importance of building a strong support system during career transitions
- How she secured a spot in the EY Athlete Program, designed for elite athletes transitioning into corporate careers
- The power of short-term goals over long-term planning in uncertain times
- Practical advice for athletes preparing for their post-sport careers
Key Quotes from This Episode
💡 “I realized that I wasn’t just an athlete—I was someone capable of so much more. But figuring out what that ‘more’ was took time.”
💡 “At first, I stayed away from badminton altogether. I had to find myself outside the sport before I could even think about what was next.”
💡 “Asking for help was the hardest part. But once I did, I realized how many people were willing to guide me.”
Resources & Links
📌 Connect with Mithula Umarkant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mithula-umakanth/
📌 Read Mithula’s recommended book: The Forest of Wool and Steel
📌Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io