PEN’s goal is to provide relevant, convenient educational resources to help professional athletes successfully manage their lives at every phase of their careers. By educating players on key topics such as money management, financial planning, life management skills, and career planning, we help them understand and control their greatest challenges and opportunities.
The two main components of the PEN program are educational workshops and an on- and offline network.
We offer a variety of workshops for athletes covering topics such as money management, career development, entrepreneurship, and life management. These workshops help players address major personal and professional questions. All courses are lead by experts in their field and include MBA professors, life coaches, entrepreneurs, business executives, and players.
Introduction to Managing Your Life and Money (3 days)
We cover five areas: money management, investing, career planning, life skills, relationships. Our goal is to educate using real-world, relevant examples; elicit questions and answers; guide participants in forming achievable plans; and equip them with reliable strategies and resources.
Life Management (2 days)
How do I balance all the demands in my life and manage the pressures? How do I determine priorities, make the right decisions, and allocate the proper time and energy to my profession, personal relationships, society—and myself?
Money Management (2 days)
What do I have and spend? What lifestyle can I afford now and in the future? How do I set up and maintain a money management system?
Financial Planning & Investing (2 days)
How do I take ownership of my investments? How do I plan and execute a sound financial strategy? What should I look for in financial advisors/managers?
Entrepreneurship & Angel Investing (2 days)
How do I evaluate business opportunities? Is my future as an entrepreneur or angel investor?
Elective: Post-play Career Planning (2 days)
What are my opportunities, interests, and strengths off the field? How do I sort through what’s next and map out a strategy to achieve my goals?
The second component to our program is a private, password-protected online community of PEN workshop graduates. We recognize that one of the toughest challenges players face is isolation from trusted peers, lack of structure, and an underdeveloped professional network. Our network addresses these issues, offering resources on finances (management, investing, taxes, etc.) and career planning.
Among the network features:
Portfolio and Investment Review Groups
We facilitate the formation of groups with similar investment goals, then stage virtual or on-site meetings for members to see how they are tracking against goals, discuss new opportunities, and make informed decisions.
Online Education and Information
We offer free, online educational and informational materials on high-interest topics, available in a variety of formats from newsletters to blogs, videos, forums, and more.
Connections
The network provides access to classmates, industry figures, instructors, and other athletes with similar interests.
Meetings and Events
We facilitate offline networking sessions, seminars, and other events on topics that appeal to members. Players can join notification lists regarding events and opportunities of interest.
