Soccer player Sydney Minarik’s MBA journey

When Sydney Minarik was three years old, she played her first soccer game and fell in love. Her passion for sports and academics led her to Clemson when her friend's mom encouraged them to start participating in Clemson soccer camps.

Eventually, through those soccer camps, Minarik was recruited onto the Clemson soccer team, and she hasn't looked back since. "No other school I visited made me feel as at home as Clemson. The soccer team, the classrooms and the people felt like home. I never changed my mind."

Not only is Minarik a dedicated student-athlete, but she also excels academically, finishing her undergraduate psychology degree in just two short years. Her decision to enroll as a psychology major was largely due to an accident during a soccer game where she broke her leg in a collision with the goalkeeper. "I had a hard time returning and being a soccer player again after that. I was worried about being injured again and not performing my best, so I started seeing a sports psychologist. She changed my life. I thought if I had a psych degree, I could help people like she helped me"

While working on finishing her psychology degree, Minarik also decided to minor in business, which would eventually lead her to pursue her MBA following her undergraduate degree.

Beginning her junior year, Minarik enrolled in the MBA program, while continuing on the soccer team. Finding the balance between student, athlete and business professional has been challenging but worth it. "I'm a very Type A person, so I have a detailed agenda that I follow. Starting soccer early on helped me develop good time management skills while growing up, and that has translated into my time at Clemson. The key is to always be prepared."

Minarik chose the MBA program because of the diverse set of classes that were presented within the curriculum. For someone like herself, she says, being able to experience different courses like accounting, finance, marketing and leadership has helped her figure out that marketing was for her. Stemming from her psychology degree, Minarik loved seeing the "why" behind consumer decisions and understanding what motivated people. Marketing, she felt, was the perfect balance between the business world and psychology.

One of the most impactful professors she's had was through her leadership class. "It's hard to form relationships when there's an online class, but [Gail DePriest] is so intentional about connecting with her students, and that has made a big difference for me."

In addition to being on the women's soccer team, graduating with her degree in psychology in two years and taking MBA courses, Minarik is also part of the Power Women's Leadership Academy. This organization aims to empower and enhance leadership growth opportunities for female student-athletes at Clemson.

Minark is now officially a senior, graduating with her MBA degree in May of 2025. Although she will miss being on campus, she is excited to soak in her last year as a student and is looking forward to what's ahead in her future. "After graduation I plan to continue my soccer career overseas for a year or two. Women's soccer has more opportunities to offer than ever right now and I'm not ready to hang up the boots just yet. When I return back to the US, I have faith in knowing that my Clemson degrees and experiences will have set me up for success at whatever company I decide to be a part of next."