Why did you decide to study an MBA?
I decided to study the Football Industries MBA (FIMBA) because I felt it presented an unpassable opportunity to set myself up for a career in the sports industry, the area I feel most passionately about.
To this end, I felt that studying FIMBA would provide me with both up-to-date industry-specific knowledge and access to industry-leading individuals.
Why did you choose the Management School?
The School is the only institution that offers an MBA in Football Industries, has a reputable standing and meant I could live in the North West again for a short while (I did my undergraduate in Manchester).
What do you feel has been the most rewarding element of the programme?
Definitely, the wide range of contacts in the football industry I have been both exposed to and able to build relationships with – many of which are alumni so there is a deeper sense of camaraderie.
What do you do when you are not studying?
This may make me seem quite one-dimensional but when not studying football, I’m either playing it, watching it on TV, going to the Emirates / Wembley to watch my beloved Arsenal and England or playing FIFA or Football Manager!
Attending music-related events and spending time with my friends is OK too, I guess.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of studying an MBA?
Come in with an open mind and really immerse yourself in the experience.
What have you learned from the guest speakers so far?
I’ve really enjoyed the variety of speakers. The common theme I have learnt from them all is the importance of building good professional relationships and making an impression with the work that you do.
Did you receive a scholarship, if so, what impact has this had on you?
I was fortunate enough to receive the Sky and Kick It Out scholarship which without, I would not have been able to study on the course.
Both Sky and Kick It Out also provided support throughout the course, including making introductions and giving me the opportunity to appear on Sky Sports News (live!) and speak on panels at industry events.
What skills and knowledge do you feel you have developed?
One of the great things about an MBA is it firstly develops your ability to assess yourself, both your strengths and weaknesses, your personality type, and your motivations. Understanding these things is actually integral to finding a professional career that makes you happy and improving.
The other key thing I felt I developed in the course was my presentation skills – football is an industry in which presenting to others is common and I felt this was sufficiently nurtured during the course.
Lastly, I developed a much deeper understanding of the commercial and governance aspects of football.
What aspects of the programme have you enjoyed the most?
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I really enjoyed the assessments!
They compel you to think deeply, critically and creatively about issues affecting the football industry. Therefore, they enable you to gain a deep understanding of football matters.
I also equally enjoyed the trips abroad – we visited Madrid in the winter and UEFA and FIFA in the Spring, these experiences served as a great reminder of the global nature of football.
Last but not least, I enjoyed the relationships I built with the members of my cohort. It’s a very diverse course and forging relationships with people dotted all over the globe was a lot of fun – we had an evening where we all sang our respective national anthems!
What are you enjoying most about living in Liverpool?
Firstly, the locals are very friendly and hospitable with their own strong, distinct identity.
I also love that Liverpool really feels like a football city.
In London, as the city is so large, they could be a match on and you may not even realise whereas in Liverpool, whenever Liverpool or Everton are playing, it often feels as if the whole city is shutting down and immersed in the football.