CAREER DEVELOPMENT
From the court to what comes next.
The Drive for Dreams Career Development Program helps athletes prepare for life beyond basketball through mentorship, virtual sessions, workshops, professional exposure and opportunities to build the skills and relationships needed for their next chapter.
Athletics can build the foundation. Career development helps athletes carry it forward.
01 — THE TRANSITION
The game develops skills that can travel far beyond the court.
Athletes spend years developing discipline, resilience, teamwork, leadership and the ability to perform under pressure. The Drive for Dreams Career Development Program helps participants understand how those experiences can translate into professional environments and opportunities beyond basketball.
The transition into professional life can introduce an entirely different set of expectations, relationships and opportunities. The program is designed to give athletes additional exposure, guidance and preparation as they begin navigating what comes next.
02 — THE PROGRAM
Preparing athletes for life after basketball.
01 — MENTORSHIP
Access to experienced professionals who can share perspective, career guidance and lessons from their own professional journeys.
02 — VIRTUAL SESSIONS
Structured conversations that expose participants to professional environments, career pathways and the expectations that come with entering the workplace.
03 — WORKSHOPS
Practical development sessions designed to help athletes prepare for opportunities and build confidence as they move into the next stage of their lives.
04 — NETWORKING & PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE
Opportunities to build professional relationships, learn from industry leaders and expand participants’ understanding of the paths available beyond sport.

03 — PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Experience on both sides of the transition.
Robert Thompson Jr.
Director of Career Development
Robert Thompson Jr. leads Career Development at Drive for Dreams, bringing more than 16 years of experience in financial services, leadership development and organizational transformation, alongside over a decade of basketball coaching experience.
His work connects the lessons athletes develop through sport with meaningful educational, professional and personal development opportunities — helping young people build confidence and prepare for pathways beyond the game.
04 — PROGRAM IMPACT
From participant to helping others make the transition.
Osa Wilson experienced the Career Development Program first as a participant. His journey has since come full circle, with Osa now helping support the program and the athletes preparing for their own next chapter.

My journey with the Drive for Dreams Career Development Program, sponsored by CIBC, has taken me from participant to Program Coordinator. As a former high-level basketball player, the program provided me with valuable career skills, mentorship from senior CIBC leaders, and networking opportunities that continue to support my professional growth and career development at CIBC.
Today, I am proud to play a pivotal role in the program that supported my own development, helping athletes prepare for life beyond their sport while continuing to grow as a leader and professional within CIBC.
05 — PROGRAM IMPACT
Discovering what exists beyond the game.
For Georgia Campbell, the Career Development Program created space to think beyond the identity she had built as a student-athlete — opening new relationships, professional perspectives and possibilities for what could come next.

The Drive for Dreams program has undoubtedly had a profound and positive impact on my life. As a former student-athlete, I recognize that I may have overlooked certain opportunities that could have brought me closer to achieving my aspirations because so much of my identity and everyday life revolved around being an athlete. At times, we become so consumed by the titles and roles we carry that we fail to consider what life may look like beyond them. I had never fully explored the possibilities that existed outside of athletics or considered the opportunities that could allow me to redefine myself and recognize my potential beyond the identity I had grown accustomed to.
Throughout this program, I have had the privilege of connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professional experiences, establishing meaningful relationships, developing a genuine connection with my mentor, and participating in courses that will undoubtedly benefit my personal and professional growth in the long term. This experience has reinforced my belief that relationships, networking, and being open to new experiences are invaluable in today’s world. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Drive for Dreams program to anyone seeking to discover the extent of their potential, strengthen their character, and explore how far their ambition, determination, and willingness to step outside their comfort zone can take them. Sometimes, all it takes is a single conversation, one meaningful connection, or an unexpected opportunity to put you on the path toward living the very dream you once thought was out of reach.
PROGRAM ALUMNI
A growing network beyond the game.
Former participants in the Drive for Dreams Career Development Program have continued their journeys across education, business, sport and community leadership.
- Keesa KoomalsinghHoopQueens Founder
- Aleer Aleer-LeekUniversity of Toronto Graduate
- Marcus AndersonCarleton University
- Angel MuirBrock University
- Corey JohnsonHarvard Graduate
- Kareem SouthUC Berkeley · Political Activism
- Malcolm DuvivierOregon State · CEBL
- Matt FraserSports Coach, MLSE
WHAT COMES NEXT
The game can prepare you for more than the game.
Drive for Dreams helps athletes carry the discipline, resilience, teamwork and leadership developed through sport into the opportunities that come next.
Career Development is about helping young people see that the end of one chapter can become the beginning of another.