From Student Athlete to Working Professional with Troy Doris

In today’s episode, Pierre Michiels interviews Troy Doris. Troy Doris is a former Olympic triple jumper for Guyana, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and current marketing professional and city councilman. In the interview, Troy shares his journey from student-athlete to Olympian, the challenges of transitioning out of professional sports, identifying transferable skills, and framing athletic experience for resumes and interviews. After listening to this episode, we hope you have a better understanding of how athletes can leverage their skills and mindset for career success beyond sports. Full episode transcript can be found on the episode page. Below is a general timestamp summary. 00:00:01 – 00:03:11 | Introduction & Troy’s Background Pierre Michiels introduces Troy Doris, highlighting his Olympic achievements and current roles. Troy shares his early life, athletic journey from College of DuPage to the University of Iowa, and competing professionally for nearly a decade. 00:03:11 – 00:07:02 | Student-Athlete Experience & Discipline Troy discusses the unique challenges of balancing academics, athletics, and social life, emphasizing time management, accountability, and how these habits shaped his professional mindset. 00:07:02 – 00:13:19 | Transition Beyond Athletics Troy explains the difficulties of retiring from sport during the pandemic, discovering his interest in marketing, and leveraging sponsorship and content creation experience to build a new career. 00:13:19 – 00:20:15 | Translating Skills to the Workforce Conversation focuses on framing athletic experience for resumes, cover letters, and interviews. Troy shares strategies for highlighting transferable skills like discipline and adaptability rather than just athletic achievements. 00:20:15 – 00:27:02 | Mindset & Career Readiness Troy reflects on remaining coachable, embracing feedback, and applying an athlete’s structured approach to professional growth. Discussion includes why career readiness integration for athletes is essential. 00:27:02 – End | Final Advice & Closing Troy offers advice for athletes: leverage networking, recognize the value of your skills, and prepare early for career transitions. Episode closes with key takeaways and encouragement for listeners. Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website. All other listeners are encouraged to view the resources of their local community college, WIOA training programs, or other local support centers.Send us YOUR Listener Questions at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @codcareercenter