Building a genuine network and expanding your responsibilities to make yourself indispensable with Donnell Boucher

On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob speaks to Director of Business Development at PLAE, Donnell Boucher. Donnell joined sports equipment and environment manufacturer PLAE in January 2021 following a 14-year tenure in several roles at The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. There, he worked as Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Strength and Conditioning, Strength Assistance Coach amongst other roles. 

Donnell is here to talk about how he has advanced through his career from starting out as a football player, before transitioning into strength coaching and now into his directorial role at PLAE. As a part of this, Donnell cites networking as an important aspect of how professionals can get noticed and increase their influence within the industry. He talks about the best ways in which to reach out to others and show your value, including what to share on social media. This includes how to provide more than simply being seen as a ‘good person’.

Donnell also provides his career building tips, such as the skills gaps often seen in young coaches, and how they can plug any deficiencies that may hold them back in finding opportunities with employers. There’s also advice on how to build and nurture relationships with clients, which could be invaluable for personal trainers who need to retain the people they coach. Finally, and perhaps most important of all, Donnell reveals the three things he learned at a conference that defined a career altering moment for him. For all this and much more, hit the play button now.

This week’s topics:

• Donnell’s influences in strength and conditioning
• How networking helped Donnell’s transition to his new role at PLAE
• The best way to reach out to others when network building
• What to include on social media when building your network
• Why being a ‘good person’ is not always enough in networking
• The gaps often seen in young coaches, and the areas they can work on
• Nurturing experiences and relationships with clients
• The three things learned at a conference that created a career altering moment for Donnell