Insurance Firm Gallagher Pioneers Athlete⁣ Internship Program

Cary, North Carolina – August 17, 2025 – Insurance brokerage firm Gallagher is ⁣redefining its talent acquisition strategy by ​actively recruiting professional athletes ‌for internships, providing a unique bridge⁢ to post-sports careers and injecting fresh perspectives into the industry. The program, launched in 2024, aims‌ to leverage the ⁤discipline ⁢and teamwork honed by athletes⁢ in a corporate surroundings.

A ​New ⁣Pathway for Athletes

Gallagher expanded its internship offerings last year to include ‍positions specifically‌ for professional athletes, recognizing ‍the transferable skills ⁣they possess. ​Chris Mead, Gallagher’s chief marketing officer, emphasized the value‍ athletes bring to the company.⁢ “They know what it’s like to work hard and how long​ that⁣ path is to‌ get to success,” mead stated. “They know what it’s like to be part of​ a‍ team and how to lead one.”

This year, the program welcomed eight athletes from⁢ the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chicago ​Stars. Leilanni Nesbeth, a ⁣current midfielder, and Chardonnay Curran, a⁢ former midfielder, both ‌seized ‌the chance for a paid internship. “It means⁣ a lot for us to be able to ​get our foot in the door,” Nesbeth shared ⁢in a ‌recent interview.

Curran, who had not previously held a corporate ⁤position,⁢ noted, “Being a pro soccer player was my first career, and⁤ I’ve never been in⁤ a⁣ corporate setting.”

Did You Know? The average National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) salary is approximately $125,000 per season,⁣ highlighting the need for athletes to proactively plan for⁣ financial‌ stability beyond their playing careers.

Program‍ Structure and Benefits

The Gallagher Partnership Intern⁤ Program debuted⁤ in ⁢2024 with four players​ from the National Football League’s ⁢Atlanta Falcons. The six-week ​program provides participants with ⁣buisness experience, professional skill development, ⁢career mentorship, ⁣and an⁣ immersive understanding of insurance brokerage, sales, and ⁢corporate culture. Gallagher tailors the program to accommodate the demanding schedules of its athlete interns.

The‍ initiative ‍addresses a critical need ⁤for athletes, whose careers are ‌often short and financially ⁣unpredictable. According to research on career transitions for athletes, proactive planning and skill diversification are‌ crucial for long-term​ financial‍ security [[1]].

Nesbeth jokingly⁣ remarked, “We went in there knowing nothing ⁤about insurance, and now I could probably bore your head off ‌about RPS,” referencing⁢ “risk placement services,” a key industry‍ term.

Curran found the experience challenged her preconceptions about the insurance sector. “After doing the internship, everything I ​thought about insurance​ was‍ the exact opposite,” she explained.

Notably,Curran and the Chicago ‍Stars mutually agreed to terminate her ⁤contract shortly after ​her​ CNBC⁣ interview. Mead indicated that Gallagher ⁣has extended full-time employment offers to several athlete interns following the completion⁣ of their playing careers. He⁢ also ‌shared that⁢ the company employs a⁤ former ‌professional rugby player as a ‍top salesperson in Europe.

“There’s a time when the light ​bulb goes off and they see how⁢ celebrating a win ⁣on⁣ the⁢ pitch is no different than celebrating a win ⁣after a sale or doing something fantastic for ⁤a customer,” Mead​ told CNBC.

Pro Tip: For athletes considering‌ a career transition, identifying transferable skills – leadership, teamwork, discipline, resilience⁢ – ‍is a crucial first step.

Industry-Wide Trend

Gallagher‍ is ⁤not ​alone in recognizing⁢ the potential of athlete engagement.State⁤ Farm has long utilized prominent athletes like ⁣Eli Manning, Reggie ⁣Miller, Patrick Mahomes,⁢ and Caitlin Clark in its⁣ advertising campaigns. AIG recently announced a strategic investment in Salford City⁣ Football Club, a League two club ‍in the U.K.‍ . Nationwide, a partner of‌ the ‌NWSL, also offers a similar internship program at its ⁢Columbus, Ohio headquarters, ⁢aiming to provide league players with professional development opportunities. Jim McCoy, Nationwide’s vice president of sports​ marketing,‌ stated,‌ “Our hope is⁢ that the players walk away⁤ with⁣ new skills and experiences that may serve them now and in their ⁤post-playing careers, perhaps back ‌at Nationwide.”

What skills do you think are most‍ transferable from professional athletics to the corporate world?‍ How can companies best support ‌athletes in making successful career transitions?

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