Andy Mulumba

Mulumba's career came to an end because of an ACL tear. He captioned the photo, "I believe the day I got hurt was a life-changing event that invoked my desire to trust the support system around me, as well as their willingness and ability to help."

Only taking about a month off after retiring, Mulumba was eager to move forward.

“My Trust Program Manager, Nicole Jordan, guided me through everything I had to do after I decided to retire,” he said. “I didn’t really have the time to focus on the ‘hard things,’ because I wanted to move on to the next adventure.”

Lee Hecht Harrison has been an integral part of Mulumba’s “next adventure,” helping him sort through his options as he figured out life after football.

"Lee Hecht Harrison taught me how to set up my LinkedIn, helped me navigate the different professional opportunities, what employers look for in employees, where I should put my focus, etc.,” he recounted.

After contemplating what he wanted to do next and being enticed by The Trust’s Scholarship Award Benefit, Mulumba decided it would be in his best interest to go back to school.

“I wanted to upgrade my tools of expertise. The NFL provides you with great skills and abilities to adapt into society,” Mulumba stated. “I felt the more knowledge and education I could receive, the better I would feel about myself. I would better going into a new career field and also being known as someone who played football but can succeed in other areas of my life.”

Mulumba jumped into studying for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) in late October 2017 and took the test in January 2018. With a hope to gain experience in a working environment, he began working at Morgan Stanley almost a year ago. He is finishing up his second semester in pursuit of his Master’s of Finance at the University of North Carolina.

“I’ve always been intrigued by finance, how a corporation works and the background of corporate finance,” Mulumba described. “I hope to get more knowledge about it to open doors in the future.”

With the help of The Trust, Lee Hecht Harrison and AthLife, Mulumba has learned how he can leverage the skills and abilities he developed as a football player to excel through his Master’s program and in his post-football career. He encourages other former players to take advantage of the support.

“Everything we learn on the field can translate into the world. We have the competitiveness, confidence and determination to accomplish the task at hand,” Mulumba explained. “We have to learn another ‘playbook,’ but if there are any questions, all you have to do is ask. It’s all about having the help around you that’s necessary to succeed. Use all the resources you have available. I’m thankful The Trust was there for me after I was done playing football.”

His Program Manager, Nicole Jordan, praises Mulumba's effort and diligence. "Andy has been flexible with his overall career goals by making adjustments along the way as he gained insight from working with his coach at Lee Hecht Harrison," she said. "He never hesitates to reach out with questions about his benefits and potential resources, which will continue to aid in his successful transition from the league."

Mulumba is set to graduate in March 2020. So far, his coursework has given him hopes of one day being on the managerial side of the financial industry where he can implement strategies and improve environments. “I want to work with people and help others accomplish their goals,” Mulumba proclaimed.