Digital Transformation
How Salesforce Trains Team USA Champions for Success After Sports
Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes dedicate their lives to their sport and represent their country on an international stage. When their athletic careers come to an end, however, they often find themselves behind on traditional career skills.
Now, as part of a unique partnership with Salesforce, current and retired Team USA athletes are gaining the expertise they need to succeed in tech careers. The company recently launched an eight-week Athlete CRM Reskilling Program on Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform. To date, the program has helped more than 50 current and retired Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes train on CRM solutions to maximize their career potential.
“These elite athletes are the ideal candidates for the tech industry; not afraid of a challenge, willing to pivot and focus where needed, and eager to excel toward any goal,” said Trailblazer Guide Kurt Iobst, a Five Star Ranger and mentor for the Athlete CRM Reskilling Program.
Program participants are learning in-demand digital skills, getting hands-on experience with Salesforce technology, 1:1 mentorship, and finding a vast network of athletes and Trailblazers who innovate and deliver success with Salesforce to support their next chapter — whether that’s a career at Salesforce, or at one of Salesforce’s customers or partners.
Salesforce is committed to providing top-tier talent to our customers and partners, while helping anyone succeed in the tech industry
Ann Weeby, SVP of Trailhead, Salesforce
“Salesforce is committed to providing top-tier talent to our customers and partners, while helping anyone succeed in the tech industry,” said Ann Weeby, SVP of Trailhead, Salesforce. “Through mentorship and hands-on learning on Trailhead, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes can gain the confidence and skills they need to transition from professional athletes to technology professionals and tech leaders, fueling both their careers and the growth of the Salesforce ecosystem.”
Salesforce helps Team USA athletes succeed in tech
Dani Aravich, a two-time U.S. Paralympian in both track & field and cross-country skiing and biathlon, now training for Milan 2026, and Chris Mazdzer, a four-time U.S. Olympic luger and the first-ever U.S. men’s singles luge medalist, were early participants in the program.
With the knowledge that her athletic career would eventually come to an end, Aravich completed the program while training for the Paralympic Games. She now works as an Account Executive at Parity, an organization that aims to close the gender income gaps in professional sports, and with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as a Social Media Coordinator.
Mazdzer, who completed the Salesforce Athlete CRM Reskilling Program in June 2023, previously sought professional fulfillment in various roles outside his sport but found his tenacity and work ethic from his time as a professional athlete didn’t earn even an interview. Now, having completed the program and earned an Expeditioner rank on Trailhead, Mazdzer is testing through several certifications with the help of his mentor, planning to pursue a career in business analysis, sales, or administration.
“I think that in life, one of the most valuable resources you can have are good mentors,” said Mazdzer. “You need to lean on people, especially in times of stress, times of future unknowns, and especially as an athlete transitioning out of sport.”
Program supports athletes during difficult career transition
Designed to meet the needs of professionals from varying backgrounds and education levels, the new program seeks to ease the well-documented stress and anxiety that comes with the transition from Olympic and Paralympic Games to corporate life.
One such athlete-turned-tech-pro who understands this well is two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon, Ashton Eaton.
After his retirement in 2017, Eaton tapped his long-standing interest in science and technology, his tireless drive, and team-centric mindset, joining a software sales startup run by a former athlete. There, he gained experience working within Sales Cloud to set up sales pipelines and track customer journeys for Fortune 1000 companies.
“It’s very hard to go from athletics and then come into the business and technology world,” said Eaton. “I think a reskilling program will help change athletes’ mindset so they have the confidence to apply some of the things they’ve learned in sport to new fields.”
I think a reskilling program will help change athletes’ mindset so they have the confidence to apply some of the things they’ve learned in sport to new fields.
The Athlete CRM Reskilling Program also helps athletes with what they need most for their career search: a clear path to meaningful employment across the extensive Salesforce ecosystem.
“With the Salesforce Athlete CRM Reskilling Program, athletes are going to be able to find many more opportunities to take the tangible skills learned in sports and use them to then be able to manage a Salesforce platform,” said Aravich.
