Athletes have a big leg up in the world of entrepreneurs. When you grow up playing sports, hard work, grit, and perseverance are values that are ingrained in your mind. You learn how to keep working even when things aren't going your way, how to lead a team, and when to take risks. These are all extremely important values and skills to have if you are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur. Here is a list of six entrepreneurs who had these values and skills from being a college athlete.
1. Phil Knight: Co-founder of Nike Inc.
The first of our entrepreneurs is Phil Knight. He ran track and field for the University of Oregon in the late 1950s. Knight was a walk-on athlete and ran mid-distance. Knight ran for Coach Bill Bowerman, one of the most legendary track icons of all time. In 1964, Knight and Bowerman used their love for sports to develop Blue Ribbon Sports, eventually known as Nike.
2. Kevin Plank: Founder of Under Armour
Kevin Plank played college football at the University of Maryland from 1992 to 1996. Plank was the special teams' captain and also played running back. Plank started Under Armour because of his teammates. He noticed that he and his teammates always had sweat-soaked T-shirts after practice. Plank designed the first shirt made out of synthetic fabrics, and Under Armour only grew from there.
3. Mark Parker: Former CEO of Nike Inc.
Mark Parker ran both cross country and track and field at Penn State University in the 1970s. Although he did not start the company, Parker joined early on in Nike's journey and worked himself up to CEO.
4. Howard Schultz: Former CEO of Starbucks
Howard Schultz played college football at Northern Michigan University in the early 1970s. Schultz received a scholarship to play football, but later lost it when he suffered a jaw injury during practice. However, as an athlete, Schultz knew what hard work and perseverance looked like. Schultz said in an interview with Harvard academic Bill George, “I got a football scholarship to Northern Michigan University, and it's what set me on the path to success.”
5. Brian Chesky: Co-founder of Airbnb
Brian Chesky played college hockey at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the mid-2000s. Chesky joined the team during his freshman year. The school only has club sports, so Chesky and his team developed their own league and thought of ways to get people to go to their games. The team created a mascot, a cheerleading team, and fundraised all on their own. Chesky's creativity on the ice helped him develop Airbnb into a massive company.
6. Joe Gebbia: Co-founder of Airbnb
Joe Gebbia played college basketball at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the mid-2000s. Similar to his co-founder Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia created RISD's basketball team. Creating their respective sports at RISD is actually how the two met. In an attempt to pay rent in San Fransisco, Gebbia and Chesky accidentally became business partners when they started renting out their rooms to people.
