Tennis Star Caroline Garcia Serves Up New Skills at Harvard Business School
Caroline Garcia, the accomplished French professional tennis player and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, has traded her tennis racket for textbooks this offseason. Garcia is enrolled in Harvard Business School’s prestigious Crossover Into Business program, a semester-long endeavor designed to equip athletes with valuable business knowledge.
Garcia’s impressive career speaks for itself. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 4 and a No. 2 ranking in doubles. In addition to her 2022 WTA Finals victory, she clinched the French Open women’s doubles title in both 2016 and 2022.
But Garcia’s ambitions extend beyond the court.
## Expanding Her Horizons
Recent years have seen Garcia leveraging her expertise through the “Tennis Insider Club” podcast, co-founded with her partner, Borja Durán. This foray into media, combined with her desire to broaden her skillset, led her to the Harvard Business School program.
Garcia sees this as “perfect timing” to explore new horizons. “I’m more at the end of my career in tennis, and I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge outside,” she shared. She cites other professional athletes like LeBron James, who have successfully navigated transitions into media and entrepreneurship, as sources of inspiration.
## A Bridge for Athletes to Business Acumen
Launched in 2017 by HBS professor Anita Elberse, the Crossover Into Business program serves as a bridge between the worlds of athletics and business. The program pairs professional athletes with MBA student mentors, providing them with invaluable guidance and insights. Initially focused on NBA players, the program has since welcomed athletes from a wide range of sports, including the WNBA, NWSL, NFL, and NHL.
Garcia is one of five Hologic Women’s Tennis Association players currently participating in the Crossover program, joining Aldila Sutjiadi, Angelina Gabueva, Fernanda Cotreras, and Katarzyna Piter. Though she knew of past WTA players who had completed the program, Garcia herself was surprised by the opportunity. “I got an email from WTA asking if I wanted to enter the program, which was kind of a sign,” she revealed. “I haven’t had the chance to go to school since my 18th because of tennis, so I felt it was a good time to go back to school and learn new things.”
Elberse, who also teaches the popular MBA course “The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports,” believes the Crossover program addresses a critical issue: the sobering statistics of professional athletes facing financial difficulties after their careers. “I think where it started for me was the realization that many, many athletes make a lot of money during their careers, then they lose it very quickly after their careers,” she explained.
## Stepping Off the Court and into the Classroom##
For Garcia, the program offers a welcome respite from the stress and demands of professional competition. “The first crossover I’m doing now is quite short in time, but it was already a good success for me to put the first step in experiencing a different environment,” she said. “I’m learning a lot and meeting a lot of great people through the program, so I will be happy to keep joining the program in the future.”
What inspired Caroline Garcia to enroll in Harvard Business School’s Crossover Into Business program?
## From the Court to the Classroom: An Interview with Caroline Garcia
**[Intro Music]**
**Host:** Welcome back to the show! Today we’re joined by tennis star Caroline Garcia, who’s swapping her tennis racket for textbooks this semester. Caroline, welcome!
**Caroline Garcia:** Thank you for having me!
**Host:** You’re currently enrolled in Harvard Business School’s Crossover Into Business program. For our listeners who might not be familiar, can you tell us a bit about this program and what drew you to it?
**Caroline Garcia:** Absolutely. The Crossover program is designed for athletes like myself who want to explore the business world and gain valuable skills. It’s a collaborative, semester-long program that gives us a comprehensive understanding of various business principles. I’ve always been interested in expanding my horizons beyond tennis, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to do so, especially as I’m reaching a later stage in my athletic career. [[1](https://thegodofsports.com/caroline-garcia-embarks-on-business-studies-at-harvard/)]
**Host:** You’ve accomplished so much on the court, including winning the French Open doubles title twice. What are your goals for after your tennis career?
**Caroline Garcia:** Definitely exploring different avenues! I’ve been involved in media through my podcast “Tennis Insider Club” with my partner Borja. This experience, combined with the Harvard program, will give me the tools to potentially venture into entrepreneurship, possibly even media-related projects within the sports world. Seeing athletes like LeBron James successfully transition into business and media has been truly inspirational.
**Host:** That’s exciting! What are you most looking forward to learning at Harvard?
**Caroline Garcia:** Honestly, everything! From marketing and finance to leadership and negotiation, I want to soak up as much knowledge as possible. This program is a fantastic opportunity to network with other athletes and business professionals, gain new perspectives, and ultimately become a more well-rounded individual.
**Host:** Well, Caroline, we wish you all the best in your academic pursuits at Harvard. It’s inspiring to see you taking this next step and pursuing your passions off the court.
**Caroline Garcia:** Thank you so much!
**[Outro Music]**
