East Longmeadow Entrepreneur Erin Rosario Launches Ryse 361

EAST LONGMEADOW — A new leadership development initiative designed to support student-athletes in sports and in life has launched nationally from Western Mass. Entrepreneur and former collegiate athlete Erin Rosario has launched Ryse 361, a platform centered on intentional growth, continuous improvement, and personal development.

The first initiatives under Ryse 361 focus on developing student-athlete leaders through programs such as the Student-Athlete Leadership Circle, which provides structured leadership development sessions designed to help athletes strengthen qualities such as goal setting, confidence, communication, coachability, and accountability. Sessions are held live online via Zoom, making the program accessible to student-athletes across the country who want to develop the personal qualities that help them grow as athletes, teammates, and leaders.

Rosario said the idea for Ryse 361 developed through both her own experience as a competitive athlete and her perspective as a parent raising student-athletes navigating today’s increasingly competitive youth sports environment.

“Coaches play an incredibly important role in shaping athletes, and so much of what they do extends far beyond teaching the sport itself,” she said. “Ryse 361 is designed to support that environment by helping athletes intentionally develop leadership and mindset skills that allow them to show up as coachable players, supportive teammates, and strong leaders within their teams.”

The Student-Athlete Leadership Circle focuses on practical topics such as vision setting, realistic goal planning, accountability, and building habits that support long-term growth. Sessions are structured to give athletes tools they can apply immediately within their teams, their training, and their everyday routines.

Rosario believes that, while physical training is a central part of athletic development, many of the qualities that help athletes stand out over time are developed through intentional personal growth.

“Athletes dedicate countless hours to developing their physical skills, which is essential,” she said. “At the same time, qualities like discipline, communication, accountability, and coachability are often what separate athletes as they continue to grow. When athletes intentionally work on those areas as well, it can shape how they contribute to their teams and how they are viewed by coaches, teammates, and even college programs.”

The initiative is being developed in collaboration with Dearing Leadership, founded by leadership educator and former collegiate coach Joel Dearing, who is also Rosario’s father. His decades of experience in coaching, recruiting, and character-based leadership development help shape the program’s leadership curriculum.

The first Student-Athlete Leadership Circle session will take place on Wednesday, March 18. Sessions will be held live on the third Wednesday of each month, with replays available within 24 hours and a growing library of past discussions accessible to members through the program’s online portal.

Rosario said the broader vision for Ryse 361 centers on helping individuals intentionally develop the mindset and habits that support continuous improvement.

“The idea behind the Student-Athlete Leadership Circle is simple,” she noted. “When youth athletes focus not only on developing their skills, but also on the qualities that shape how they show up as teammates, leaders, and individuals, it creates opportunities for growth that extend far beyond sports. I’m passionate about helping the next generation of athletes develop the mindset and character that allow them to stand apart as teammates, leaders, and competitors.”