Success Stories

Real connections and achievements from our Clear & Connect community

Connections That Changed Careers

Clear & Connect has facilitated hundreds of meaningful professional relationships that have led to job opportunities, business partnerships, mentorships, and more. Explore the stories of connections made through our badminton networking community.

Job Placement

From Doubles Partner to Dream Job

AP
Aisha Patel
Finance Student
JD
James Dorsey
VP at Goldman Sachs

Aisha, a finance student in her final year, was paired with James through ShuttleMatch during a regular Tuesday session. Their shared interest in emerging markets led to conversations that continued beyond the court.

"What started as casual badminton matches turned into coffee meetings where James reviewed my resume and gave me industry insights. When a summer internship opened at his firm, he personally recommended me for the position."

After completing her internship, Aisha was offered a full-time analyst position at Goldman Sachs, where she now works directly with James's team.

Outcomes:
Summer internship followed by full-time position
Ongoing mentorship relationship
Business Partnership

Startup Collaboration through Sport

MC
Michael Chen
Tech Entrepreneur
SJ
Sarah Johnson
Marketing Director

Michael had developed a promising AI-driven analytics platform but lacked the marketing expertise to bring it to market effectively. During a Tech Industry Night at Clear & Connect, he was paired with Sarah, a marketing director with experience in tech product launches.

"Our competitive matches led to discussions about our respective challenges. I was impressed with Sarah's strategic thinking on the court, which translated to brilliant marketing insights for my platform."

After several meetings facilitated through Clear & Connect, Sarah joined Michael's startup as a co-founder and CMO, bringing both her expertise and industry connections.

Outcomes:
Co-founder partnership formed
Successful product launch with 200% projected growth
Mentorship

Cross-Industry Mentorship

TR
Thomas Rodriguez
Engineering Student
LW
Linda Washington
Senior Engineer, SpaceX

Thomas was pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering but was unsure about which industry to focus on. Through Clear & Connect's ShuttleMatch system, he was paired with Linda, a senior engineer at SpaceX with 15 years of aerospace experience.

"Linda became the mentor I never knew I needed. Our regular badminton matches provided a casual setting where I could ask questions about the aerospace industry that I would have been too intimidated to ask in a formal setting."

Linda guided Thomas through course selections, research opportunities, and eventually helped him secure an internship in the aerospace industry. Their mentorship relationship has continued for over two years.

Outcomes:
Focused educational path with industry relevance
Internship at leading aerospace company

The Internship That Started with a Smash

What began as a casual doubles match turned into a life-changing opportunity for Sarah, a business student, and Mark, a seasoned marketing executive.

"Clear & Connect gave me the chance to showcase my skills in a way a resume never could. It's not just about playing badminton—it's about building relationships that open doors."

Sarah, an aspiring marketer, joined Clear & Connect to meet like-minded professionals. During a weekend tournament, she was paired with Mark, who was impressed by her strategic thinking on the court—and her passion for marketing off the court.

Their post-match conversation led to an internship offer at Mark's company, where Sarah now works full-time.

— Sarah, Marketing Associate

Impact by the Numbers

78
Job placements facilitated
23
Business partnerships formed
142
Mentor-mentee relationships
$15M+
Funding secured through connections

Member Testimonials

"As a senior executive, I was looking for a way to connect with emerging talent in a more authentic setting. Clear & Connect has become my primary talent pipeline - I've hired three outstanding graduates I met on the court."
RB

Robert Bradley

CFO, Northwestern Financial

"I joined hoping to find a mentor in the marketing field. Instead, I found a business partner! My badminton skills were mediocre at best, but the connections I made were game-changing for my career."
KT

Kaitlyn Thomas

Co-founder, Elevate Marketing

"The ShuttleMatch system is ingenious. Each week I was paired with someone new based on our mutual interests. I secured funding for my startup through a connection that would have been impossible to make through traditional networking events."
JL

Jason Lee

Founder, MedTech Innovations

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