At The Podium

For years, your sport was your identity. The sweat, the grind, the wins, and even the losses—it shaped who you are. But what happens when the game ends? As a former collegiate athlete and now Head of Recruiting & Career Development, I know the feeling. The imposter syndrome. The uncertainty. The hunger to find something that fuels you like the game did. That’s why I’m on a mission to help athletes like YOU channel that same fire into a career built for competitors. Why Athletes Thrive in Financial Services: ?? A Locker Room-Like Culture – Be part of a high-performance team that pushes you. ?? Earn What You’re Worth – No salary caps, no limits—just results. ?? Lead & Compete – Your work ethic determines your success, just like in sports. Tired of This? ?? ? A boss controlling your every move. ? Working 9-5 with no flexibility. ? Corporate politics holding you back. ? Limited earning potential. Let’s Talk. Athletes were BUILT for this industry. If you’re ready to take your competitive mindset, leadership skills, and work ethic and apply them to something bigger—message me. I’d love to share how former athletes just like you have found success in financial services. The next play is yours. Will you take it? ?? Drop a ?? in the comments if this hits home or tag an athlete who NEEDS to see this!

Make the call. Take the call. I wasn’t supposed to take that call. I was new to Michigan (from Chicago). It was a cold call from someone selling suites at Ford Field. He knew I had zero fanaticism for the Lions and that my heart belonged to the Bears. But he came off as incredibly likable and authentic, so I listened anyway. I ended up buying the suite—not for fandom, but for business and to support the local team in the place where I would now raise my family. Fast forward three years… that same person, DiLo, takes a job with the Chicago Bears. And now? I share a suite with my business partners at Soldier Field, living out childhood dreams I never thought possible. Over the last six years, we’ve built an incredible friendship rooted in trust, respect, and a commitment to each other’s success. This week, my dear friend and advocate sent me an unbelievable 47th birthday gift—Bears helmets, jerseys, footballs, and merch for our podcast lab. A reminder that you never know which relationships will come full circle. Take the call. Say yes to the conversation. You never know where it’ll lead. What a gift he has become in my life. #TakeTheCall #RelationshipsMatter #FullCircleMoment #TrustTheProcess #ChicagoBears Nathan DiLorenzo Israel Idonije LL.D, O.M. Animesh Ravani Chicago Bears National Football League (NFL) NFLPA Former Player Services FPSD

Scottie and I are excited to officially launch the Tyler Conklin Foundation. Join us on Saturday, February 1st, from 12:00–3:00 PM at Townhouse Detroit for live music, food and drinks, and a pop-up barbershop. I’ll also be cutting my hair to donate to Children With Hair Loss, Michigan. This event is open to everyone, and we’d love to see you there to celebrate, build community, and support meaningful causes. Stay tuned for announcements of more community events we’ll be running throughout the year. ?? Link below for tickets and details.??? DM me for sponsorship info. https://lnkd.in/e2bUUCqX National Football League (NFL) NFL Players Association Born In Detroit Anthony Tomey Townhouse Detroit Jeremy Sasson Children With Hair Loss VaynerMedia VaynerX VaynerSports Gary Vaynerchuk Case Donahue Manuel Amezcua Chrissy McEwan Woodward Sports Network WJBK-TV FOX 2 Detroit Crain's Detroit Business The Detroit News Detroit Free Press BridgeDetroit Outlier Media Channel 7 of Detroit Inc (WXYZ) Sneakerbardetroit Autoweek

At MassMutual Great Lakes, Podium Group, and At The Podium, one thing remains constant: creating a fanatical client experience. Here’s how we make it happen: ? We do what we say we’ll do. ? We add value. ? We solve problems. It all comes down to the simple lessons we learned as kids: - Be kind. - Be polite. - Be gracious. - Give compliments—they’re free and have the power to elevate someone’s day. Your success starts with how you treat others. Want to 10x your growth? Check out the full video on YouTube. Manuel Amezcua #FanaticalClientExperience #10xYourGrowth #PersonalBranding #Leadership #KindnessIsFree

What separates winning from dominating? DESMOND CLARK learned this powerful lesson the hard way—he won, but was still cut. The truth? In professional sports, comfort is your enemy. You’re never safe. It has to be ALL GAS, NO BRAKES—no slowing down, no settling for less. This mentality can be carried into the professional world, relationships, at home, and beyond. Tune into the full episode of At the Podium with Manuel Amezcua to hear more of Desmond's journey and the mindset that kept him pushing forward. National Football League (NFL) NFL Players Association #AllGasNoBrakes #Dominate #NFL #NoComfortZone #ProSports #MindsetMatters?

How do you channel what you’re going through and turn it into something positive? At just 14 years old, DESMOND CLARK made a pivotal decision: he wanted to be different than what he saw growing up. That choice became the foundation for his journey to the NFL. In this clip, Desmond reflects on the critical role his coaches played as mentors, guiding and inspiring him to stay on track and pursue greatness. Listen to the full episode of At the Podium on all streaming platforms. Manuel Amezcua NFL Players Association National Football League (NFL) #ConsciousChange #MentorshipMatters #LifeLessons #NFL #PersonalGrowth #Inspiration #PositiveChange

"I'm not going to let you quit. You're not going to be a quitter." Desmond Clark’s middle school football coach refused to let him give up—and it changed everything. That pivotal moment not only kept Desmond on the field but also set him on a path that eventually led to the NFL. By the end of that season, Desmond won Best Lineman of the Year. Imagine if he had quit. Hear the full story on At the Podium with Manuel Amezcua. #NeverQuit #Leadership #LifeLessons #NFL #DesmondClark?#CoachingMatters #Inspiration

The best advice NFL alumni DESMOND CLARK has EVER received—and it had nothing to do with football. ?? "All you have is your word and your name." This life-changing lesson from an impactful high school coach has stayed with him throughout his career and beyond. Because if you lose your word and your name, you lose it all. ?? Catch the full episode of At The Podium with Manuel Amezcua for more powerful insights. NFL Players Association National Football League (NFL) #LifeLessons #Leadership #Integrity #NFL #AtThePodium #PersonalGrowth #CharacterMatters

Who are you, and who do you want to be? In this clip from At The Podium with Manuel Amezcua, DESMOND CLARK challenges us to take the time to define: 1?? Who we are or who we want to be. 2?? What our name and word mean to us. 3?? The vision we see for ourselves—name it. Say, “This is who I am,” and stand firm in that truth. If you don’t define it, someone else will define it for you. Listen to the full episode for more insights from Desmond on creating a life of purpose and excellence. #DefineYourVision #KnowYourWorth #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #DesmondClark #AtThePodium #ManuelAmezcua #SelfDevelopment #LifePurpose #NFLMindset #PodcastMotivation NFL Players Association National Football League (NFL) MassMutual Great Lakes Podium Group YouTube Spotify Apple

How do you identify and drill down on the strengths you have? ?? On this clip from At the Podium, I asked DESMOND CLARK how he stays focused and moves to the next level. His advice: "Don’t look too far ahead." Sometimes, it’s about breaking things down into smaller, actionable steps—and letting others in on your goals to keep yourself accountable. Listen to the full episode for more of Desmond’s insights on defining success and achieving greatness. #ShortTermGoals #Accountability #SuccessTips #NFL #AtThePodium - Manuel Amezcua