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.

If you missed last week’s SportsGrad newsletter, then hello! My name is Acacia Quinn, and I have the pleasure of dropping in a weekly dose of sports industry goodness to your inbox each week. Enjoy 💛

You won’t believe where this interaction led… 

The right connections can literally open up your world. Hear me out.

We know your network helps with: job hunting, finding mentors, and even free tickets.

But what about a place to stay, 16,000km from home?

Let me introduce you to Francisco Garcia. The Portuguese legend, who met Reuben at the Sydney SportsGrad meetup.

You might remember Fran’s story about trying to make it in Australia.

Well, the story gets better because Fran is in Melbourne!

One thing led to another, and now they’re couch-surfing at each other’s houses, on opposite sides of the world.

Read on to hear Reuben’s perspective on how meeting Fran at a Meetup turned into a network that made his life 10x better, and how you can do the same.

There’s a Portuguese man in the spare bedroom. Let me explain:

Francisco Garcia just stayed with my partner Chloe and I for a week while he worked the Australian Open.

How did he get here?

I met Fran at a SportsGrad Meetup in Sydney last year.

He told me he’d come from Lisbon to explore life in Australia.

Back home he’d worked for football giant Sporting Clube de Portugal. But now he was in a new country with very few contacts.

Fran was the first to be generous.

I mentioned I was heading to Lisbon in September, so Fran said ‘you should stay with my family!’

So we did - and the Portuguese homestay was absolutely priceless.

Now it was our turn to return the favour.

Fran had a week of shifts with Spark Event Group at the AO, so last week he stayed with us.

I never thought we’d end up here, but it’s awesome knowing Fran and having friends in sport around the world.

SportsGrad’s on a mission to build a global sports industry community, and it all starts with IRL events.

Grab a drink, listen to speakers, and meet cool people. Simple.

Good news, they're on again around Australia in just a few weeks.

If you want to:

- Grow your networks in sport
- Meet people in a relaxed environment
- Open up your accommodation options for your next overseas trip…

Come along to a SportsGrad Meetup after work!!

You might just find a friend on the other side of the world.

Meetup Dates:

Melbourne - Friday, Feb 9

Perth & Adelaide - Tuesday, Feb 13

Brisbane - Wednesday, Feb 14

Sydney - Thursday, Feb 15

What’s happening in the Community?

Community Wins ⭐️

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

Zach Davis-Hancock accepted a role with the Ipswich Jets as a Game Day Casual

William Roberts is jumping on board the New Zealand Olympic Committee as a Revenue and Events Coordinator

Dante McDonald signed a contract with the Adelaide Crows FC to work as Community Programs Officer

Maddie Reith is joining VIPeople on their Event Staff team

Sparsh Sodhia received an offer to work with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation as an Accreditation Assistant

Grace McCallum landed a position with Netball Queensland as a Program Coordinator

SportsGrad Members have landed over 560+ jobs in sport.

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

Shout out to everyone smashing it at the Australian Open 🎾

Upcoming Member Events 💛

Members, to join an event, RSVP via Discord.

Pro Member Events:

✏️ Leadership Masterclass with Gav Mahony - Feb 2nd 12pm AEDT

🎤 Public Speaking Masterclass with Dickie Currer - Feb 7th at 12pm AEDT

⚖️ Sports Law Masterclass with Michael Bricknell - Feb 29th 12pm AEDT

🤝 Pro Speed Networking - March 14th 7pm AEDT

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

Rookie Member Events:

🤝 Rookie Speed Networking - January 29th 7pm AEDT

✏️ Leadership Masterclass with Gav Mahony - Feb 2nd 12pm AEDT

💬 Q&A with Kyle Whittingham (Marketing at Sail GP USA) - Feb 5th 3pm AEDT

🎤 Public Speaking Masterclass with Dickie Currer - Feb 7th at 12pm AEDT

🤝 Rookie Speed Networking - Feb 26th 7pm AEDT

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

That’s all from me! And don’t worry - no meetups clash with T Swift.

Catch you soon,

Acacia 💛

Accelerate your career in sport

The SportsGrad Community makes it 1000x easier to reach your dream.

Join over 700+ Members enjoying...​

🤝  Sports Industry Network: Grow your network in sport and learn from over 700+ like-minded Members from 70+ organisations in a private Discord group

 🤫 Exclusive Job Board: The hidden job market lives in the SportsGrad Community, remove the competition with access to unadvertised roles

💬 Talk to Recruiters: Chat directly to the sports recruiting, get your name out there, and become memorable with companies hiring via Virtual Job Fairs

📚 Premium Resources: Access our library of Masterclasses to learn exactly how others have made it in the sports industry and what companies hire for

🗣 Speed Networking: Grow your network rapidly without sending a single ‘unseen’ cold message

🤑 Discount on Events: Get discounted prices to SportsGrad Meetups featuring panels and sporting events, plus discounts from our partner brands

Click below to learn more about Membership options for job hunters and professionals.

Meet people in the sports industry 🤝

Grow your network with like-minded peers and professionals in sport at our in-person Meetup events.