Our Team

Tywanna Smith has experience working with NBA, NFL, WNBA, and overseas players for over a decade. Because of her personal experience as a professional athlete and her business acumen, she understands the critical preparation and development that today's athletes need to capitalize off their platforms.

As President and Founder of The Athlete's Nexus, Smith emphasizes professional development, personal marketing, and business management strategies to create long-term success for athletes. Smith earned her degree in Marketing and her MBA from SEC-contender Ole Miss, before taking her basketball talent to Europe for a two-year career as a professional athlete. After retiring from professional athletics, Smith entered the corporate world with Merrill Lynch, as a Registered Financial Advisor to several professional athletes. Smith found herself helping her professional athlete clients protect their assets, build and monetize successful brands, coordinate community initiatives, secure marketing endorsements, and prepare for life after the game. 

Smith has transitioned from managing athletes to teaching them the game. To better prepare young athletes for their time in the 'lights,' Smith created a written blueprint for the aspiring professional athlete, and it quickly became a best-seller. The success of her book inspired her to create a game-changing personal and professional development coaching system, Surviving the Lights, to share industry secrets and strategies for athletes at each level of their sports journey. She is truly changing the game, one athlete at a time! Smith has also hosted workshops on athlete identity, leadership, professional development, career transition, and branding. Smith works with high school programs, college programs, and professional athletes, and she helps them implement the strategies needed to maximize career opportunities through her book, personal and professional development workshops, and her virtual coaching program. She believes that all athletes should use their sport experiences to earn the success they deserve. Learn to earn!

Smith has been recognized by several national media outlets, and she has earned many awards for her work with athletes. She was also recently inducted into the West Memphis Sports Hall of Fame. Smith is a proud mother of two, Tyson and Tatum.