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Have you ever wondered what a career development journey looks like for a student-athlete? It requires time management, hard work, and resiliency which are all traits Kari Brekke has.
Kari Brekke received her undergraduate degree from Bentley University in December 2021 with a major in Information Design and Corporate Communication. As a varsity player and captain of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball team, Kari managed to graduate early and start her MBA program in the Spring of 2022 at Bentley University with a concentration in leadership.
Varsity sports consume a lot of time for a student, so I asked Kari what challenges she has faced in grad school. She explained how master’s classes are a big step up compared to undergraduate classes. The content is more advanced, and she started grad school right in the middle of the 2021-2022 basketball season. However, she consistently thrives academically by being on top of her syllabus and having clear communication with her professors.
For any recent college graduate, getting a master’s degree is something to consider. I asked Kari why she chose to get her master’s and why specifically at Bentley. Kari came to Bentley with college credit and knew she could graduate early. She said to herself, “Why not start grad school?” Here is how she put it:
I had two options. My first one was to have an easier senior year by taking fewer classes. My second option was to challenge myself and become a full-time MBA student in the spring.
Then, COVID-19 happened, and I got a year of eligibility back. I could play a fifth year on the basketball team.
Bentley has a strong reputation in business, and I had teammates who went through the MBA program and enjoyed it. I chose Bentley for my MBA since there is a comfort in knowing professors and buildings from undergrad which made for an easier transition.
Kari will be graduating with her MBA in May 2023. After graduation, she will be moving to Columbus, Ohio to work for VIUM, a senior housing firm. She secured this full-time offer through connections she has made in her basketball journey.
Her high school basketball coach does mental training for professional sports teams and finance teams. Specifically, he improves corporate culture and demonstrates how to maximize employee potential. He had a connection with VIUM and it was perfect timing. The company was looking to expand and hire women of color.
One thing Kari values is culture. The company flew her out to Ohio to meet with the team and from that visit, she decided it was the perfect match. She will be starting her analyst position on August 1st, 2023, at VIUM.
Basketball has had an immense influence on Kari’s career development journey. The number one lesson she has learned is resiliency. This was her take on it:
A big part of basketball is failing fast and being okay with it because it happens all the time. You train every day, and you don’t always see the results, but you trust the process. When applying for jobs, you get rejection email after rejection email, but you have to continue to apply and believe in yourself. Basketball has taught me how to handle adversity. You can’t let one failure shut you down, you need to keep working hard and believing in yourself and the right opportunity will come.
The last question I asked Kari was the advice she would give to a student-athlete that is currently in a job search and feels overwhelmed. This is what she had to say:
Break it up into little chunks and do what feels manageable that day. If you have free time, go to that networking event, but if you are having a long day, take it easy.
Do things over a longer time and not all at once. For instance, start job searching early as possible such as in the summer. Time management is key.
When you are in the thick of it and not hearing back from companies, keep your head high. For every company that says no, you are one step closer to a company saying yes.
Overall, Kari has been successful both on the court, in the classroom, and in the professional world. Athletics has helped Kari land a great future by teaching her invaluable skills that she plans to use in the workplace.
