Meet Kennedi Jackson | Owner and Founder| Career Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kennedi Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kennedi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Thought process that started my business was my story. It started with a lifelong dream of making it to the Olympics as a track and field athlete. The founder and creator of Athlete Advocate was admitted into Illinois State University in the Fall of 2018. The dream had come to an end where she had to decide between her education and my athletic career. It was an abrupt holt where instead of “walking-on” as D1 athlete she was made the tough decision and ended up choosing her academics since that had a “future”.
Though no one explained the internal battles that soon followed. Where she had to rediscover who she was outside of her sport, what life now looked like without track, what other passions she had. Which took several years and tough internal conversations to figure out her new normal.
In time she slowly came out of a hole where she felt so incomplete without my sport. She eventually figured out that she didn’t have to stray away from her love of sport, serving others, and realizing that she wasn’t alone. After earning her Master’s degree in Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (Sports Psychology) Spring of 2024. She cultivated Athlete Advocate to cater to athletes who struggle with finding their purpose and identity outside of sport as well!
Soon after graduation she launched Athlete Advocate and opened services to high school and collegiate student athletes.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As an online career advising center we are available and accessible to any and all. Our advisors were past athletes themselves, the owner (me) has a M.S. degree in Sports Psychology and works advocates for higher education. Our market audience are high school athlete junior and seniors. The buisness itself is one of a kind since there isn’t an entity that dedicated their efforts to helping athletes figure out their next steps and transition into their career paths. For example one of our most proudest moments occurred when one of our athletes within a two month time span applied to 20 colleges and as of today have been accepted into half. Where upon introduction had not applied to any and is currently at a senior grade level. To get where we are today took a lot of time, focus, and networking and as we continue to grow our challenges faced is coordinating with our athletes schedules based upon if they are in season or not. Some lessons learned along the way is that there is always something to improve on and nothing will ever be perfect. I want the world to know that Athlete Advocate is here to serve athletes figure out who they are outside of their sport, to avoid being overly consumed in their sport. That you have an identity outside of your sport and there are people here to guide you and avoid the mistakes they might’ve made in the past. Lastly, I want athletes to know that once our sport has come to an end that you will be faced with the two questions of: WHAT NOW? and WHO AM I WITHOUT MY SPORT?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In general I would suggest anywhere that involves a fun activity such as bowling, hiking, mini golf (inside or out), great conversation, and great food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents deserve the biggest shoutout. They are the reason behind my being, there love, support, and constant push for greatness is what fuels me. They set the foundation of my entrepreneurial spirit and have poured into me in ways that can’t be put into words.

Website: https://athleteadvocate.net/

Instagram: athleteadvocate44

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athlete-advocate-a26b66175

Facebook: Athlete Advocate