From Club Sports to the C-Suite: What College Volleyball Taught Former Sun Bum CEO Cynthia Herrera

NCAA sports aren’t the only path to executive leadership, just ask former Sun Bum CEO Cynthia Herrera.Cynthia spent more than 20 years in executive sales and marketing roles at global consumer goods giant SC Johnson (think Windex, Pledge, Raid, and Method), including a six-year stint leading Sun Bum.In this conversation with Bonnie Bernstein, she shares how her club volleyball experience at Western Michigan helped shape the leadership style that propelled her into the C-suite centered on communication, quick, clear decision-making, and building trust through inclusion.With more than 2 million college club athletes in the U.S. each year, about four times the number of NCAA athletes, Cynthia’s story highlights an often-overlooked path beyond high school sports, where athletes can continue developing real-world skills that translate directly into career success.But this episode goes beyond milestones. Cynthia opens up about vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and setting boundaries, and shares stories highlighting why the strongest teams are built on trust, honesty, and real human connection.If you’re a student-athlete, or a parent of one, contemplating life after high school sports, this episode is for you. Especially if the NCAA route isn’t in the cards.Follow Cynthia Herrera on...Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiamherrera/Instagram: @cmh929The Athlete Effect™:instagram.com/the_athlete_effect tiktok.com/@theathleteeffect www.youtube.com/@TheAthleteEffect  Bonnie Bernstein:twitter.com/BonnieBernsteininstagram.com/BonnieBernsteinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bernstein/