54: Your Volleyball Career Can Build More Than a Resume with Bella Bergmark (Part 2)

What if volleyball could help you build opportunities that last long after your playing career ends?In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with professional volleyball player Bella Bergmark, they shift the conversation off the court and into NIL, social media, personal branding, and what athletes can start building while they’re still playing.Bella shares how she went from being skeptical of social media to growing an audience, working with brands, and creating income through content. She explains why athletes don’t need a massive following to get started, what brands are actually looking for, and how sharing her own experiences with burnout and mental health helped her connect with thousands of other athletes.They also get practical about overcoming the fear of posting, staying consistent, approaching brands, working with agencies, and creating content that fits into an already busy athlete schedule.More than anything, Bella and Susan explore how athletes can use the opportunities available today to build skills, income, relationships, and a personal brand that can create more options when their playing career eventually ends.Chapters00:00 – Building opportunities beyond volleyball 02:05 – Bella’s introduction to NIL 04:25 – How athletes can build an audience 06:05 – Why brands work with athletes 07:40 – Getting over the fear of posting 10:10 – Sharing her mental health journey 15:10 – Using content to help other athletes 18:40 – Creating content consistently 22:15 – Brand partnerships and agencies 27:40 – Turning what makes you different into an advantage 30:00 – Create more than you consume 33:00 – The growing opportunities in volleyball 35:15 – NIL and life after sports 39:45 – Final takeawaysAbout the Guest:Bella Bergmark is a professional volleyball player and coach originally from San Francisco. She played her undergraduate volleyball at UC Berkeley before transferring to the University of Texas, where she won two national championships.Since turning pro, Bella has competed across three professional seasons — in Puerto Rico, France, and most recently with LOVB Austin, where her team won the league championship last season.Beyond competing, Bella runs volleyball clinics around the country each year and coaches athletes online through her program, the Bergmark Performance Academy, offering personalized film review and 1-on-1 coaching for players looking to take their game to the next level. She's also active on social media, sharing volleyball tips, strength and conditioning content, and volleyball humor with her audience. Off the court, she lives with her dog Freyja and her cat Mochi.Connect with Bella:LOVB Website: https://www.lovb.com/teams/lovb-austin-volleyballInstagram:@bella.bergmarkConnect with Susan:Check out the website: www.nxtvb.comFollow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susankwww.rallysend.comLooking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time.Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.