More Than a Sports Agent: Supporting Athletes On and Off the Field
.png)
Brent Stowers’ journey has taken him from the Queensland Police and mining industry to international law, business ownership and sports management.
In Episode 27 of Your #1 Business Podcast, Brent joins Antoine Vidal to discuss the creation of Moxie Sports Management, the challenges young athletes can face without a strong support network and why athlete representation must extend beyond negotiating contracts.
Brent’s story shows how clear values, honest communication and a commitment to quality service can build a business that supports athletes both during and beyond their sporting careers.
Listen to Episode 27
Brent considered becoming a lawyer while he was still at school, but his path into the profession was anything but direct.
After joining the Queensland Police at 18, he moved through mobile phone sales, government procurement, contract management and the mining industry. While working full-time and raising a young family, Brent completed a business degree before studying law with the support of his employer, Thiess.
He was admitted as a lawyer in 2011 and spent the following decade working internationally across the mining industry. His career included legal matters and business projects in South America, Botswana, Canada and India.
After years of working within large organisations, Brent established Workhorse Advisory, a legal consultancy built on the relationships and experience developed throughout his career.
It was while running that business that a conversation with psychologist Katrina Robertson introduced him to athlete management and the opportunity to create Moxie Sports Management.
• Brent’s unconventional journey from policing to international law
• Why he left a successful corporate career to start a legal consultancy
• The athlete experience that inspired Moxie Sports Management
• Why talented young athletes can struggle without the right support network
• How Moxie advocates for athletes and works alongside their families
• Why athletes need practical skills and a plan beyond sport
• The importance of limiting athlete numbers to protect service quality
• How Brent built a business with trusted partners
• Why difficult conversations are essential in business partnerships
• The preparation completed before Moxie signed its first athlete
• How values provide a North Star for business decisions
• Moxie’s vision for supporting Indigenous, Pacific and female athletes
Moxie Sports Management began after Katrina Robertson and Tracy Thompson encountered talented young athletes who had opportunities in front of them but lacked the support required to navigate professional sport.
Brent shares the story of one young athlete who relocated after being signed by a professional club. She had been promised employment, accommodation and support, but those commitments were not properly delivered.
Living away from her family, she felt isolated and unsafe. Although she demonstrated clear sporting ability, her struggles were interpreted as a poor attitude rather than signs that she needed help.
She eventually returned home and did not continue her sporting career.
The experience showed Brent, Katrina and Tracy that athletes needed people who could advocate for them, challenge organisations when promises were not being met and help them develop the confidence to speak for themselves.
Moxie does not see athlete management as only negotiating contracts or securing playing opportunities.
The team works alongside athletes and their families to understand their background, personal circumstances and individual needs. This may involve communicating with clubs, helping parents understand the system or connecting an athlete with specialist support.
Moxie works with external partners in areas such as financial planning because the agency understands it cannot provide every service internally.
The aim is to create a broader support network around each athlete while also empowering them to make informed decisions and develop their own confidence.
Brent believes athletes must be encouraged to think about who they are outside their sport.
Only a small percentage of young athletes reach the highest professional level, and even successful sporting careers eventually come to an end.
Moxie asks athletes about their interests, abilities and plans beyond competition. The goal is to help them build practical skills and explore opportunities before they are forced to make a sudden transition.
Brent’s message is that athletes should never allow a sport or a short period of competition to define their entire identity.
“You are not defined by this sport or by what you do over the next five years as an athlete.”
Growing Without Losing Quality
Moxie spent approximately eight or nine months preparing before signing its first athlete.
The founders worked through accreditation, insurance, business planning, operational systems, branding, values and the type of service they wanted to provide.
Even after launching, they signed athletes slowly and methodically.
Moxie does not want agents managing hundreds of young people they barely know. Instead, athlete numbers are limited according to what each agent can properly manage.
Most athletes now approach the agency through referrals, its online presence or recommendations from people already working with Moxie.
Before an athlete signs, the directors meet with the athlete and their family to make sure both sides are comfortable with the relationship and prepared to contribute to its success.
Brent’s Advice for Business Partners
Start with a purpose you genuinely believe in. Define what the business stands for, what it is trying to achieve and the values that will guide its decisions.
When building with partners, understand the strengths and responsibilities each person brings.
Communicate regularly and be prepared to address problems directly. If business partners cannot have a difficult conversation at the beginning, they are unlikely to manage one successfully when the pressure increases.
Brent Stowers is a lawyer, business owner and co-founder of Moxie Sports Management. After beginning his career with the Queensland Police, he moved through procurement, mining and commercial management before being admitted as a lawyer in 2011.
Brent has worked internationally across the mining industry and previously founded the legal consultancy Workhorse Advisory. Through Moxie Sports Management, he now helps athletes and their families navigate sporting opportunities, access support and prepare for life beyond competition.
[Connect with Brent Stowers]
[Visit Moxie Sports Management]
Listen to the Episode
Hear Brent Stowers’ full story and discover the business lessons behind the conversation.
[Listen Now]
Available through Your #1 Business Podcast on your preferred podcast platform.
About Your #1 Business Podcast
Your #1 Business Podcast shares the real stories behind business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Hosted by Antoine Vidal, each episode explores the decisions, challenges, lessons and personal experiences that shape the people behind the business.
Explore More Episodes
Become a Guest on Y1BP