Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsia Mckie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chelsia , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
As a former basketball coach, I (Chelsia Mckie Founder) sat in the gym and talked to parents and student-athletes during tournaments on the weekends. Asking about their goals, how school was, how they stayed focused, what colleges they were looking forward to checking out, and just building relationships. Often, they replied, I don’t know. I even talked to parents, and surprisingly, the answers were the same. I began to see the disconnect on the court and with student-athletes beyond it. I started the journey to create a company that will embrace the love of the game and bridge the gap of understanding what it will take to be successful. The vision for Beyond The Court(BTC)/Life Beyond The Game developed from passion and the desire to ensure student-athletes succeed to the next level and beyond their last game. I knew that this will change the world of sports as a whole.
As a 501c3 organization, we are hosting All Sports student-athlete conferences sponsored by school districts throughout the U.S, including Gwinnett County Schools which is one of the largest in the nation. Not to mention, we have developed in-school mentorship programs, athletic department professional development training, student-athlete scholarships, and even interactive hand-on experiences for all sports. Capturing the younger audience K-12 is the goal so the seeds of preparation are planted early and grow throughout their athletic journey. That is how BTC: Life Beyond The Game went from a purpose to a reality.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The vision for BTC: Life Beyond The Game developed from passion and the desire to ensure student-athletes succeed to the next level of success and have a plan for beyond their last buzzer. We know that this will change the world of sports as a whole and positive impact will sustain for a lifetime.
We have our inaugural 2025 All Sports Student-Athlete Conference on Saturday, March 15th. The conference is 5th-12th grade opened to all districts throughout the state of GA. We are truly excited to partner with Gwinnett County Schools as our event sponsor.
The Conference will include a powerful keynote speaker, impactful panels, interactions with colleges/trade schools/universities/armed forces, and learning/interactive sessions.
Topics will cover College Prep /Eligibility, Financial Literacy, Mental Health, Media Preparation, Sportsmanship, NIL Guidance/Laws, Career Pathways and so much more.
All sports, all regions; one impactful day of knowledge, networking, opportunities and fun.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Trust The Process: Everything takes time to build. Our organization has been on the slow cooker since April of 2023. It has taken time to build systems, network, outline longterm strategies, and even discard some ideas that didn’t quite work. The main objective is that it is a process and not to stop.
2. “Pressure makes diamonds” is a statement we like to embrace: We have had our moments of adversity. Within the sports culture, winning games is often the mindset. However, we are striving to encourage a new way of thinking outside of the streamlined pathway of having to be a pro athlete, to be successful in the world of sports or in general. Unfortunately, it takes time to change perspectives and get individuals to buy into the vision and see the potential impact downstream. Yet, we are not concentrating on the obstacles because, in the end, the positive impact will create a diamond mentality worth more than money can buy.
3. We make plans then plans change: Our conference was supposed to happen in January, but due to the snowstorm that didn’t happen. As a leader of an organization, you have to be ready to make decisions, go in a different direction, and bounce back from unexpected turns.
This is a skill set and one we want to instill within our student-athletes. It is okay to pivot if the original plan/opportunity does not work out. The tools are within, and they know how to use them. Don’t stop and keep pushing forward towards your goals of success.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
The person who has been most helpful in overcoming challenges is my COO Alex Percival. When you are building out a team it is essential to bring on members that are encouraging and can navigate the waters when they get rough. Alex is a former competitive athlete. He also has corporate experience in sales and marketing and courageously served his country in the U.S. Army for 11 years until he was Honorably Discharged. He’s currently a business owner who provides business and marketing consulting for companies locally and in other states. I know that he can run our company even better than I can. It is his leadership, wisdom and skills that have helped us achieve our success thus far. I thank him for it daily.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.btcathletes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btcathletes?igsh=MWFpZzRlMWg1MWdrMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Duluth SALT Organization
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
