Sports Entertainment Network, Fan Growth and Revenue Manager

Hello, welcome to SportsGrad! 👋 

Here you’ll find interviews with (almost) every job in the sports industry.
We ask people living the dream:
“How did you get your job?” and “What does it actually involve?”
So that you can land a dream job in sports too.

Enjoy!

20% off Melbourne Mavericks Tickets!

If you’re in Melbourne this weekend, come and see the Mighty Melbourne Mavericks take on the NSW Swifts at John Cain Arena! The Mavs put on an epic game day, so grab your friends and family and lock in for an epic night at the Netball.

(Side note, also a battle between two SportsGrad Method success stories after Dan Rafin got a job at the Swifts in January, and now James at the Mavericks)

When you’re there, keep an eye out for James, let him know SportsGrad sent you, you never know where the connection may lead.

20% off code: MMAVS20

“I should have made the decision to switch careers a long time ago!” - James Marsh

Meet James Marsh, Fan Growth and Revenue Manager for SEN (Sports Entertainment Network). After 6 years in the world of tech and cyber security recruitment, James took a leap of faith and pivoted into sport thanks to the SportsGrad Method Program. He now works behind the scenes to drive fan engagement, ticket sales, and matchday experiences across three of SEN’s top sporting organisations, the Melbourne Mavericks, Perth Lynx, and Bendigo Spirit.

His job is all about bringing the game closer to the community.
Whether he’s organising group ticket offers for grassroots clubs, liaising with schools and associations, or making sure game day activations hit the mark, he’s focused on one thing: helping more people connect with the game. And with match days across the NBL1, WNBL and Super Netball, there’s never a dull moment.

In this story, you’ll learn how he made the career switch into sport, without a network, without a sports CV, and without waiting for the ‘perfect’ job ad. He shares how a casual coffee chat turned into a job offer, how he sold his transferable skills to land the role, and why staying calm under pressure has been his biggest asset.

If you're sitting in a job that no longer excites you, or you’re unsure how your current experience can translate to sport, James’ story will show you how to make the jump.

🔥 Quick Fire Questions

1. What inspired you to work in sport?

   I grew up playing football and having Dad as coach - and it quickly became the core focus for my whole family and what we bonded over. Going from a junior all the way through to a senior high-level player with my family by my side, it's inspired me to stay within the sporting world as a professional.
   

2. What was your first ever sports-related role?

   Coaching U5 level football through one of the local clubs I played for.
   

3. After High School, what extra study did you do?

   I studied a Bachelor of Commerce in New Zealand

4. What's one interview question you were asked to answer for the job you're in?

   What's one thing people misperceive about you?
   

5. A book or podcast recommendation that's helped your career?

   Any podcast that you feel comfortable talking about - something that gives you common ground with a stranger regardless of whether they've listened to it or not.

6. If you could try another job in sport for a day, what would it be?

   Matchday Operations Manager

What exactly does your job involve?

Leading the engagement, growth, and connection with local communities and fans - looking at how the Mavericks, Lynx, and Spirit can drive fan engagement.

What are some of the responsibilities of your role?

Proactively selling group ticketing offers and experiences to local grassroots clubs, connecting with schools, clubs and associations on engaging with the business, implementing matchday activations for partners, driving revenue growth from all fan channels (merchandise, memberships, tickets).

What does your career journey look like?

After graduating from Uni, I worked in technology and cyber security recruitment for 6 years before making a complete switch into my current role.

What challenges did you face to break into sport?

My challenge was translating my experience in recruitment into the sporting industry over just a CV. It can be hard to make a CV stand out without the network or connections to go alongside it.

How did you decide that this was the career direction you wanted to take?

I didn't say in my interview that I wanted "x" job and only that job. I spoke about the skillset I wanted to use and said I was flexible on what the role looked like so long as I was making the most of the skillset I had and could bring with me - I think it was a better approach because I knew that what I eventually landed in was going to be a good fit - and it is!

What impact did networking have on your career?

I wouldn't be where I am today without networking. I had coffee with one person, who introduced me to another, which turned into an interview process and then a job offer. It all came from putting myself out there and networking.

What feedback did you get from successful applications?

The most important 'intangible' skillset my interview process was focused on was looking for someone who can remain calm while things are hectic/busy. Could I remain level headed when things are at it's busiest? Attitude is everything when interviewing - and being able to show a willingness to go outside your comfort zone while still remaining calm is key.

What advice would you give to your younger-self to help them take action?

I should have made the decision to switch careers a long time ago!

What’s your #1 ‘pinch me’ moment working in sport?

Matchdays - I love them. So rewarding seeing the hard work all come together and to see the fans enjoying the experience you've helped put together.

What do you think your life would look like if you hadn't pursued a career in sport?

I'd be stuck in autopilot doing recruitment still, not moving anywhere or challenging myself.

James’ Review of the SportsGrad Method Program

After 6 years of technology recruitment experience, I wasn’t sure the best way to translate my skillset or get traction while making a complete career switch into the sporting industry. I was struggling to get past the application stage for jobs as I wasn’t able to best highlight my experiences. That’s where Reuben and the SportsGrad program really stepped in to help me.

What I benefitted from the most was Reuben’s extensive network and connections in the market. He was able to steer me in the right direction and introduce me to a number of people who could either help me with my application or share some valuable knowledge on the industry with me. Reuben introduced me to the right people and coached me on the best way to articulate my experience and what value I could bring to an organisation, and it resulted in me landing a Fan Growth & Revenue Manager position with SEN/Melbourne Mavericks.

The SportsGrad Accelerator Program was value for money and worked quickly for me. There’s something for everyone in the program no matter where you are in your career, and presented a much more realistic option for me vs going back to study. The program allowed me to not have to worry about that step.

I would highly recommend the program, I’m just happy I took the leap and signed up.

P.s. there’s only 11 tickets left for the Melbourne Meetup, and limit left in London. Don’t miss out.