Life after sport: Tennis pro swaps court for classroom

A two-time Olympian who competed at the Rio and Tokyo Games, John spent 14 years travelling the globe as an elite player and reached a career-high world ranking of 33.

Now, at the age of 35, he has settled back into his home town of Brisbane with his supportive partner, Fee Maeueler, who he met in Germany 13 years ago.

And six months into his MBA he has no regrets about his new career path.

“I played my last match at the Australian Open and got on a flight to Brisbane very early the next day and started my MBA on campus that morning,” he recalls.

“So it was less than 12 hours from playing my last singles match to being in class at orientation.

“But I knew I was really going to struggle if I didn't do something else straight away.

“It was a daunting prospect to think about, you know – I was a tennis player, now what am I meant to do?

“So my strategy was to start the MBA immediately.

“It's been six months now and we're already over a quarter of the way through, so I'm incredibly happy and proud of the fact that I've gotten through that first stage, which is always the challenge and where the self-doubt creeps in.”

John is the inaugural recipient of the QUT MBA and Executive MBA Scholarship for Paralympians and Olympians which helps elite athletes identify new career paths and gain new skills and credentials to help equip them for life after sport.

He is studying an Executive MBA (EMBA) – one of two types of MBAs (Master of Business Administration) offered by the QUT Graduate School of Business.

“Mid last year I started to realise my body wouldn't be able to go again for another season, so I began to look at my options and that's when I started to consider study,” John said.

“While I was on the tour, I was elected to the player council and I started to really take an interest in the administration side of things.

“It opened my eyes to the opportunities in that area … working in the sports administration sector would be hugely fulfilling for me.”

John’s MBA is his first university experience, but education has always been important to his family.

“My parents are school teachers and I come from a big family where education was a high priority,” he said.

“I was always interested in doing more study, but when I was playing on the tour and travelling 11 months of the year it wasn’t possible.

“I had two sisters go to QUT (one did business and one did nursing) and they spoke very highly of the university.

“And I talked to some of the key figures inside the Business School – Professor John Bensley (MBA Director), Professor Larry Neale, Professor Sarah Kelly… After speaking to them it became pretty clear I wanted to do the MBA.

“There’s a lot to like about QUT, not just because of all the opportunities they offer in an education … the campus and the facilities are beautiful, so it’s a real pleasure to go there. And in terms of the Business School and MBA program, it’s one of the most reputable business schools in the world. So it was a no-brainer for me.

“When I played tennis I wanted to surround myself with the best team and the best people – I felt like that’s how I could achieve my best results. I think it’s no different when you choose where you want to study. You want to surround yourself with the best people, the best programs, the best facilities – and for me, that was QUT.”

John said studying at university was a big adjustment, particularly in the first few weeks, but that he was enjoying the structure and comradery of his MBA experience.

“There was a bit of imposter syndrome there, and a few feelings of self-doubt at the start,” he said.

“But I have loved having the strength of like-minded people around me – the cohort and the facilitators. It doesn’t get rid of the self-doubt completely, but very quickly you find your feet.

“I love being able to focus on something. Sitting around is not for me – you don’t want to be thinking about the past and feeling a bit sorry for yourself because your body’s broken down.

“It’s a massive change of pace though, and a completely different environment to what I’m used to – studying, writing assignments…

“But it’s funny … When I was playing tennis and when I thought about finishing, I was thinking, oh, I can't wait to get rid of those routines and the monotony and that structure.

“And then you figure out pretty quickly that you’re actually programmed to like structure. And you get that at university.”

One of the highlights of John’s tennis career was beating Roger Federer at the 2018 US Open.

But he says his most cherished moments came when he was representing Australia.

“Tennis is an individual sport, but the times I enjoyed the most were when I was playing for the country at Davis Cup or the Olympic Games – I’m extremely patriotic,” he said.

“I was fortunate to go to a few of them and going into that team environment was exhilarating.

“I feel like the MBA kind of gives me that same feeling – you’re in a team environment, pushing each other along. I think that’s really the strength of the program and the cohort.”

Like many Australians, John plans on spending plenty of time in front of the TV over the next few weeks, cheering on the Aussies at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

“It would have been fantastic to be a part of it, but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“But I’m super thrilled for our athletes, particularly our tennis debutantes. They will get to have that experience that I loved so much. They will take that with them for the rest of their lives.

“So yeah, I would have loved to have played one more, but we'll be watching from the sidelines as a lot of Australians will be.  And no doubt all the athletes – tennis and other sports – will do us proud.”

John said adapting to life after sport was a universal challenge for elite athletes.

“If there are people in a similar position to myself and thinking of doing some study, I'd say don't hesitate and really take the opportunity,” he said.

“Athletes can doubt themselves in different domains. Self-doubt exists with all of us.

“I was ‘John Millman, tennis player’ – it’s what makes up your identity, it’s what gives you your self-worth and makes up so much of your DNA.

“So it can be really challenging when that’s over. You lose a little bit of yourself – there’s plenty of athletes and tennis players who feel that.

“But it’s good to get some other strings to your bow and find other things that make you you … I think that's where education can really help.

“It’s not just about learning sets of data and statistical analysis and what-not … doing an MBA gives you a chance to learn about what makes you you, how you can operate, what you can contribute.

“You aren't just defined by past experiences – you can create new experiences and new opportunities.”

QUT’s 23-month, part-time Executive MBA (EMBA) is offered in Brisbane and Canberra and includes an international study tour. Classes are scheduled once every four weeks over a long weekend from Friday to Sunday.

The separate MBA program is also offered in Brisbane and can be studied fulltime in 18 months or part-time over three years.

Both programs include local study tours and opportunities to participate in volunteer projects with the not-for-profit sector through the pro bono centre at the Graduate School of Business.

Learn more about the programs here, or email mba@qut.edu.au. Information on a range of scholarships available for the MBA and EMBA can be found here, including the scholarship for former and current Olympians and Paralympians.