Sports Leadership Incubator Internship

# SPORTS LEADERSHIP INCUBATOR INTERNSHIP
## Oklahoma Wildcats Academy
*Developing Tomorrow's Leaders at the Intersection of Athletics and Entrepreneurship*

### INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

Oklahoma Wildcats Academy (OWA) offers a transformative Sports Leadership Incubator Internship for student-athletes seeking to maximize their "ghost year" through the intentional development of leadership capacities that transcend athletics. This year-long, for-credit internship serves as a comprehensive leadership laboratory where participants simultaneously develop their athletic potential, entrepreneurial mindset, and purpose clarity while gaining practical experience in sports leadership, business development, and purpose-aligned decision making.

As a Sports Leadership Incubator Intern, you will engage in a carefully designed progression of experiences that prepare you for successful advancement to your next level—whether that's Division I athletics, small business ownership, or another purpose-aligned pathway. Throughout your internship, you'll receive personalized mentorship, structured leadership challenges, and hands-on entrepreneurial experience while developing the mindset, habits, and skills that distinguish true leaders in both athletic and business contexts.

### THE OWA DIFFERENCE

Oklahoma Wildcats Academy provides a transformative post-graduate program for college freshmen, offering athletic development, entrepreneurship education, and academic advancement without starting the NCAA eligibility clock. Through our partnership with Voice Up, we've created an environment where leadership development becomes the bridge connecting athletic excellence to entrepreneurial success—preparing you for achievement in whatever path aligns with your unique purpose.

Our Sports Leadership Incubator differentiates itself through its integration of athletic development, entrepreneurial education, and purpose discovery. While traditional athletic programs focus solely on sport-specific advancement and typical entrepreneurship programs emphasize business skills in isolation, our incubator recognizes the powerful transferable leadership capacities developed through the intentional integration of both domains.

### CORE LEARNING EXPERIENCES

#### Leadership Identity Development
- Undergo comprehensive DISC assessment to identify your natural leadership strengths and growth areas
- Develop personalized leadership development plan aligned with your specific purpose and goals
- Engage in structured reflection exercises connecting athletic experiences to leadership principles
- Create your authentic leadership philosophy through guided exploration and mentorship
- Document your leadership journey through digital portfolio development
- Receive regular feedback on leadership growth from diverse mentors and peers
- Establish clarity on how your leadership approach aligns with your long-term purpose

#### Athletic-Entrepreneurial Integration
- Participate in specialized workshops connecting athletic principles to business development
- Develop business concepts leveraging your sport-specific knowledge and network
- Create entrepreneurial projects with practical application in athletic contexts
- Engage in mentorship from successful athlete-entrepreneurs
- Learn to transfer athletic disciplines and mindsets to entrepreneurial challenges
- Identify potential business opportunities related to your sport or athletic interests
- Build foundation for potential LLC development based on your athletic expertise

#### Practical Leadership Application
- Lead specific initiatives within your athletic program providing real leadership experience
- Design and implement team culture enhancement projects
- Create and deliver leadership development experiences for peers
- Manage specific aspects of team operations under coaching supervision
- Develop and execute community engagement initiatives
- Lead specialized skill development sessions with appropriate supervision
- Receive structured feedback on practical leadership effectiveness

#### Purpose-Driven Decision Framework
- Develop personalized purpose statement through guided reflection process
- Create decision-making framework aligned with your core values and purpose
- Practice applying purpose filters to major athletic and career decisions
- Engage in case studies of purpose-aligned athletic and business leaders
- Document purpose-clarifying insights gained through athletic experiences
- Build connections between athletic performance and purpose fulfillment
- Establish clear criteria for evaluating next-level opportunities through purpose lens

#### Mental Performance Mastery
- Learn advanced mental performance techniques applied to both athletic and business contexts
- Develop personalized mental conditioning program addressing your specific needs
- Create habit systems supporting both athletic excellence and entrepreneurial success
- Practice mindfulness and focus-building techniques with practical application
- Build psychological resilience through structured challenges and reflection
- Learn state management techniques for high-pressure athletic and business situations
- Develop communication approaches that maximize both team and business relationships

#### Next-Level Preparation
- Create comprehensive advancement plan for your post-OWA destination
- Develop athletic recruiting or business launch strategy based on your chosen path
- Build essential materials package (athletic highlight videos or business plans)
- Establish relationships with key connections in your targeted next-level environment
- Learn specific success strategies for Division I athletic transition or business launch
- Create 90-day action plan for your transition period
- Build contingency plans for various next-level scenarios

### INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE

#### Academic Framework
- **Credit Structure:** 3 to 4 credits per semester (7 credits total for full-year internship)
- **Learning Pods:** Weekly small-group sessions with faculty mentor and 5-8 peer interns
- **Guest Experts:** Regular sessions with successful athlete-entrepreneurs and leaders
- **Assessment:** Competency-based evaluation through practical leadership demonstrations
- **Final Project:** Comprehensive leadership portfolio and next-level transition plan
- **Time Commitment:** 10-15 hours weekly beyond regular athletic participation

#### Developmental Progression
- **Phase 1 (Months 1-3):** Leadership foundations and self-discovery
- **Phase 2 (Months 4-6):** Practical leadership application and initial entrepreneurial development
- **Phase 3 (Months 7-9):** Advanced leadership challenges and business concept refinement
- **Phase 4 (Months 10-12):** Transition preparation and leadership legacy establishment

#### Integration Components
- Regular integration sessions connecting athletic development with leadership concepts
- Purpose check-ins ensuring alignment between athletic, academic, and entrepreneurial activities
- Documentation of transferable insights between athletic and business domains
- Coaching collaborations where athletic staff and entrepreneurial mentors jointly guide development
- Cross-domain application projects implementing athletic principles in business contexts and vice versa

### QUALIFICATIONS & EXPECTATIONS

#### Required
- Current enrollment as student-athlete at Oklahoma Wildcats Academy
- Commitment to full-year internship experience
- Demonstrated interest in leadership development beyond athletic performance
- Willingness to engage in entrepreneurial thinking and business concept development
- Openness to purpose exploration and personal growth
- Ability to balance internship responsibilities with athletic and academic commitments
- Readiness to receive and implement constructive feedback

#### Expectations
- Full participation in all scheduled internship activities
- Completion of weekly leadership reflection assignments
- Active contribution to peer learning community
- Maintenance of leadership portfolio throughout program
- Progressive assumption of leadership responsibilities
- Regular meetings with assigned mentors
- Completion of culminating leadership project

### INTERNSHIP BENEFITS

- **Academic Credit:** Earn 7 academic credits applicable to future degree programs
- **Personalized Mentorship:** One-on-one guidance from experienced leaders in athletics and business
- **Leadership Portfolio:** Develop comprehensive documentation of your leadership journey
- **Business Foundation:** Establish groundwork for potential business launch
- **Next-Level Preparation:** Receive specialized guidance for Division I transition or business startup
- **Purpose Clarity:** Gain deep understanding of your unique purpose and how athletics serves it
- **Network Development:** Build connections with successful athlete-entrepreneurs and leaders
- **Transferable Skills:** Develop capacities that serve you regardless of your ultimate path

### SELECTION PROCESS

This competitive internship has limited spaces available. The selection process includes:

1. **Initial Application:**
Send email to info@owawildcats.com 
  - Personal statement on leadership aspirations and entrepreneurial interests

Complete online application
https://www.owawildcats.com/apply

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*The Sports Leadership Incubator Internship is a cornerstone of Oklahoma Wildcats Academy's innovative "ghost year" program. Through this experience, student-athletes develop the leadership capacities, entrepreneurial mindset, and purpose clarity that distinguish them at their next level—whether in Division I athletics, business ownership, or another purpose-aligned path.*

*Oklahoma Wildcats Academy is committed to developing diverse leadership for the future of athletics and business. We strongly encourage applications from student-athletes of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.*