Eric McAlister

Performance Consultant and Speaker

Born and raised in the United States, Eric McAlister spent 15 years as an elite athlete, playing for five years at the top of the U.S. college system before embarking on a 10-year professional basketball career throughout Europe and Australia. Competing at the highest levels internationally, Eric developed a deep understanding of performance, leadership, and teamwork, while navigating the challenges that come with life as a professional athlete.

Following a successful playing career, Eric founded Empire Sport Performance, a consulting business focused on helping athletes overcome challenges related to mental health, performance, and personal development. Having experienced firsthand the pressure and adversity that come with pursuing excellence, Eric developed a passion for guiding athletes to thrive both on and off the field. Eric's work emphasizes the importance of mental well-being as the cornerstone of sustained success.

Today, Eric works as a performance and culture expert, partnering with organizations, teams, and leaders to better understand their personnel, unlock peak performance, and foster growth both professionally and personally. Eric's approach combines insights gained from elite athletics with strategies tailored to businesses and teams, emphasizing the value of leadership, culture, and connection in achieving collective goals.

As an international keynote speaker, Eric shares a personal journey—from the highs of professional sports to the challenges of mental health due to a near death experience—with audiences around the world. Eric's talks focus on leadership, overcoming adversity, building winning cultures, and pursuing dreams with resilience and purpose. By blending storytelling with actionable insights, Eric inspires individuals and teams to reimagine what’s possible, cultivate strong foundations, and achieve sustainable success.

Eric's unique perspective, shaped by years of competing, learning, and evolving on a global stage, fuels a commitment to helping others unlock their true potential and reach new heights.