Hello friends! 👋

Welcome to the SportsGrad Newsletter. Each week we take a deep dive into how people are growing their careers in sport.

Here you’ll find insights, tactics and tools to help you win jobs, get promoted, work around the world, make an impact, and still get paid fairly in sport.

Plus the latest on what’s happening in the SportsGrad Community - a private group of legends lifting each other toward the careers of their dreams.

Today, we’re deep diving into commercial partnerships!

Below we’ve collated an epic list of professionals working in commercial partnerships who have been on the podcast. Each episode takes a slightly different angle.

Some guests explain the role of CP in detail, some share how they made a career change, some how they landed dream jobs while everyone was being made redundant mid-covid, some are working brand-side, some rights holder-side, some agency-side, and some just tell you what it’s like to work for a team in the week of the Super Bowl!

This playlist of CP experts has something for everyone and will leave you with a well rounded view from Australia, to the US to Canada. Enjoy!

Ep #267: 10 years at Toyota on the brand side of sport sponsorships with Chelsea Guy

Chelsea Guy a Partnerships Manager and Digital Marketing Specialist - she has over 10+ years of experience working with Toyota Australia, and is now with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Chelsea is no stranger to a huge partnership, with her role at Toyota leading her to work with the likes of the AFL, and the Olympics.

From the reception and admin team at Toyota, she worked her way up to Senior positions through internal promotions, which led her to living both around Australia, and in Japan to work on the Tokyo Olympics.

In this episode, she talks about her journey through different positions, how they navigated the Olympics through a pandemic, what responsibilities she has in her role, and the skills needed to work in a partnerships team.

If you’re looking to transition from one industry to another, move overseas to work, or learn how to constantly grow and develop within an organisation, this pod is for you!

Listen to Chelsea’s journey from admin, to partnerships, to the Tokyo Olympics.

Ep #249: How to be an Account Manager at a Sport Marketing Agency with Justin Harman (Greenroom Digital)

Justin Harman is the Senior Account Manager at Greenroom Digital.

Justin’s career in sport has led him to all things start-ups, data, technology, digital and sponsorship (sounds fun right!)

Since first joining us in episode #43, Justin now works agency side to help some of the biggest brands and rights holders deliver incredible partnerships. Want to know exactly what that looks like, what you need to be successful and if it’s the right career path for you?

In this episode we discuss the role of an Account Manager in a Sports Marketing Agency and introduce you to the work of Greenroom Digital.

Listen to Justin’s experience delivering successful partnerships.

Episode #229: How to sell sponsorship in the MLS with Jordan Iannuzzi

“Was I confident from the beginning, No! But you learn to get gritty and where to find those deals”

Jordan Iannuzzi, Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships at the New York Red Bulls (MLS) come on the pod to share his story.

We cover his journey working in the MLS, MLB and NBA, leveraging volunteer experience, understanding the sales cycle, what a day in Commercial Sales looks like.

Listen to Jordan’s insight to selling sponsorship in the biggest sports market in the world!

Jordan is now in Global Partnerships (Australia Open) at Tennis Australia

Ep #211: How to be a Partnerships Coordinator at the AFL with Brant Hubber

Brant is a Partnerships Account Coordinator at the AFL, who landed a role before he had graduated uni.

In this episode we talk about how he got his job at the AFL, how he has developed professionally, and what his typical day looks like.

Along the way, he has picked up valuable lessons from top professionals, found confidence in his role, and has got great advice for grads entering into the industry.

Listen to how Brant landed a role in Partnerships at the AFL whilst still at uni!

Ep #181: How to get a Commercial Partnerships job in football with Nathan Perrone (Western United FC)

In the 18 months before this episode was recorded, Nathan went from working at his local gym, to the VFL, to the AFL and then, just 3 months into the job, he’s helped Western United FC to their maiden A-League Championship!

He tells us all about his experience in the Commercial team at WUFC, what it’s like working in the lead-up to a grand final, plus all the details on how he landed these dream jobs.

Plus, he’s also our very first SportsGrad Member!!! We expand on his journey, how he’s ended up in the West and even the roadblocks that have stood in his way.

Listen to Nathan’s episode to learn how to land your dream commercial partnerships job.

Ep #153: Behind the scenes of the Super Bowl with Michael Wolfert Jr. (Cincinnati Bengals)

Of all the annual events in sport, it does not get bigger than the Super Bowl.

Michael Wolfert has been in the Cincinnati Bengals Partnerships Team since they had their dismal 2-14 season in 2019.

Now, he’s about to get on the plane to Los Angeles to experience a career highlight that will take something extraordinary to top. Of course, we had to touch base to find out everything that’s been going on amid the hysteria.

If you’ve ever dreamed of working for a Super Bowl team, tune in to find out exactly what it’s like behind the scenes in the lead up to this mega, mega event.

Listen to Michael’s journey working amongst NFL partnership teams.

Michael is now the Manager of Corporate Partnership Sales at the New Orleans Saints

Ep #65: The Business of Team Ownerships with Morgan Todd (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment)

Could you imagine managing the commercial strategy and partnerships of four major sports teams in the NBA, Major League Soccer, Canadian Football League and Ice Hockey?

That’s the dream reality for Morgan Todd – Manager, Strategy, Global Partnerships at MLSE!

In our first direct call to Toronto Canada, we hear from Morgan on how she used a degree in psychology to launch her career as a sports marketing strategist.

Morgan shares with us her fan activation ideas without attendance, the process of making up value with commercial partners in a COVID impacted year and the most essential roles in sport that are growing in 2021.

Listen to Morgan’s tips on how she hires in sport, and her experience as part of the Toronto Raptors 2019 NBA Championship.

Ep #54: How to swap codes during a pandemic with Eliza Howard

This week’s guest Eliza Howard overcame redundancy in 2020 to land on her feet as Business Development Coordinator at Tennis Australia.

In this episode, we tap into Eliza’s wealth of experience in the sports industry by going behind the scenes into her extensive interview process at Tennis Australia and explore exactly how she separated herself from all candidates.

Listen to Eliza’s advice on the most important skills needed for her role, and her tips on how students can gain internship experience.

Eliza is now a Partnership Account Manager at the AFL

What’s happening in the Community?

Community Wins ⭐️

Here’s what SportsGrad Members got up to last week...

Daniel Cavallo accepted a role with Mojo Sports as the HR Employee Experience Lead

Jane Churchill signed a contract with the NSW Office of Sport as an Operational Support Coordinator

Darian Hyde received an offer to work at the Whittlesea Pacers Basketball Club as a Program Coordinator

SportsGrad Members have landed over 600+ jobs in sport.

If you've had a win, share it with us in the #wins channel on Discord!

Upcoming Member Events 💛

Members, to join an event, RSVP via Discord.

Pro Member Events:

🏉 Career Q&A with Shayla Clarke - March 26th 12pm AEDT

⚖️ Sports Law Masterclass with Michael Bricknell - March 28th 12pm AEDT

🤝 Pro Speed Networking - April 11th 7pm AEDT

Do you work in sport? Apply to become a SportsGrad Pro Member

Rookie Member Events:

🤝 Rookie Speed Networking - March 25th 7pm AEDT

🏉 Career Q&A with Shayla Clarke - March 26th 12pm AEDT

Do you want to work in sport? Join the list to become a SportsGrad Rookie Member

Job Opportunities 💼

Looking for a new gig? Here’s a few organisations who want to hire SportsGrad Members:

😎 Client Services Coordinator @ Rifle - Full-Time | Sydney

⚽️ Participation Officer @ West Australia Football Commission - Full-Time | Perth

⚽️ Multiple roles @ Rydalmere Lions Football Club - Volunteer | Sydney

Need help hiring sports industry talent? Get in touch with Ryan.

Next round of community intake details coming soon!

Catch you around,

Acacia 💛

Accelerate your career in sport

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