167: Abiola Wabara - GloBall Life: Building Bridges for Athletes' Second Wind
When the final whistle blew on her decade-long professional basketball career, Abiola Wabara wasn’t just facing retirement. She was starting over, from scratch.
In this raw and candid episode, Abi sits down with host Ryan to share the untold side of life after sport. From playing across Europe and representing Italy’s national team, to working in a call centre, driving Uber, and experiencing panic attacks, Abi reveals what it really took to rebuild her identity and why she created GloBall Life, a platform designed to support other athletes through the transition she had to figure out alone.
This isn’t just about sport. It’s about ego, burnout, identity loss, and the uncomfortable process of starting again. But it’s also about strategy, courage, and how small choices, like carrying a resume in your Uber, can change everything.
If you’re approaching a career pivot, feeling behind, or wondering how to turn chaos into clarity, this episode is for you.
What You’ll Hear
The hidden cost of leaving sport without a plan
How Abi went from elite basketball to interpreting, Uber, and PT work
Why she turned down money in her final season for a master’s degree
The ego battles of saying no to second division offers
Experiencing burnout, anxiety, and identity crisis after retiring
The life-changing Uber ride that led to a job at Accenture
How being an athlete became her superpower in corporate life
The early struggles of launching GloBall Life solo
What it took to build a founding team and stay focused without funding
Advice for athletes preparing for life after sports
💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
"I was willing to hustle for a short amount of time so the long-term would be something I’d be proud of. I knew what I wanted for myself. I just didn’t know how to get there yet."
— Abiola Wabara
💼 Want Career Clarity for Your Next Step?
Visit www.2ndwind.io to book a consultation and explore resources for career transitions.