Rikishi Smith-Rey on Turning Setbacks Into Success After Soccer

What happens when your biggest passion leads you to unexpected places and the search for what’s next?

Dr. Kishi Smith-Rey’s journey started on the soccer fields of Southern California, where her love for the game carried her to Division I at Cal State Fullerton. Along the way, she faced injuries, setbacks, and the challenge of balancing athletics with academics as a first-generation college student.

After retiring from competitive soccer, she explored new paths — from professional wedding photography to earning her Ph.D. and joining Clemson University as an Assistant Professor.

Today, she’s the founder of SportPhD, an organization helping young athletes — especially girls — develop the mental, physical, and emotional skills to thrive both on the field and in life. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose — proof that the end of one chapter can be the start of something even bigger.

Highlights:

• Growing up in California and discovering soccer
• Playing D1 soccer and overcoming injuries
• Transitioning out of competitive sports
• Building a career in photography
• Pursuing a Ph.D. and becoming a professor
• Launching SportPhD and The Athlete Mindset workshops
• Supporting athletes in life, leadership, and mindset

If you’ve ever faced a turning point and wondered what comes next, this conversation is for you. Kishi’s journey reminds us that setbacks don’t define us — they prepare us for the next chapter.

Find Kishi online: 

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/rikishiteren/

Instagram: @sportphd  @kishiteren 

Website:

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