🔥 What makes an Elite Operator in the sports industry?
Learn from these mentors at the biggest organisations in sport
Reuben Williams
August 17, 2023
👋 Hey, I’m Reuben and welcome to the VERY FIRST edition of SportsGrad Pro - the newsletter here to help Young Professionals in sport level up.
If we’re meeting for the first time, a bit about me - I started @sportsgrad when I was in uni as a way to learn more about the sports industry. Since then I got Ryan Walker involved, we turned it into a #1 ‘Careers’ podcast, interviewed over 200+ experts in sport, and created a premium career development & networking Community for our audience which is up to 600+ members who have landed over 400+ roles in sport.
In and around that I worked at Cricket Australia and on the ICC T20 World Cup.
Similar to when SportsGrad began, I’m back to scratching my own itch.
When I started my career at Cricket Australia as a fresh 23-year-old, there were no resources that specifically helped me become the best young professional in sport I could be.
Everything I found was targeted at execs and it all felt a bit icky.
I wanted to learn from the very best, so I would ask to meet with leaders at CA like Nick Hockley, Antonia Beggs, Ben Amarfio and Alex Kountouris to get an understanding of what got them to their position, but eventually, I didn’t have time to arrange a new brain to pick every week, let alone try and find people outside of Cricket Australia.
If this has been you, desperate to get ahead and make an impact in sport, but struggling for the right information, you can save your cold DMs because this blog is gonna be your saviour, it’s exactly what I wish I had (and still want!)
Here you can expect me to dig into the goals, habits, routines, and strategies behind the CEOs, execs, Founders and other movers and shakers of the sports industry.
If you’re into learning new skills, becoming more effective, progressing your career, and actually making an impact (not just saying you work in sport), then this is the place for you.
Occasionally I hold a microphone. Keeps Mum impressed
But Reuben, what do you mean by ‘Elite Operator’?
I’ve chatted with over 200+ experts on the SportsGrad Podcast, here are a few examples of what I mean. Elite Operators are:
Resourceful, always find a way - like Kelly Ryan, Netball Australia CEO
Daring - like Tom Hickey, Brisbane 2032, Commercial Director
Compassionate - like Rana Hussain, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Action-oriented like Blair Crouch, Melbourne Stars General Manager
Deeply curious - like Jacob Tober, Co-Founder of Metric VBT
Well connected - like Armaan Ahluwalia, Brooklyn Nets Director of Partnerships & Insights
Determined - like Melissa Lawton, SailGP Chief Content Officer
Fun - like Emily Jackson, FIFA Women’s World Cup Head of Legal
Calm under pressure - like Kerry Gassner, John Cain Arena Venue Manager
I could go on.
On the SportsGrad Podcast, we learnt about their stories and career journeys.
Here in your inbox, we’re going to learn what makes an Elite Operator so you can be one too.
What information can I expect from these people?
Here’s a taste of the questions you’ll get answers to:
In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?
How to set, measure and review goals for your life?
What AI platforms help you finish your work faster?
How have you approached seeking out promotions?
What books, podcasts, blogs, etc. have you referred back to at least 3 times in the last year?
How do you make time to stay healthy in a high-profile job?
How do you say “no” effectively and thoughtfully?
What advice has made the biggest improvement to your public speaking ability?
What career advice should people ignore?
If you know someone who is an absolute jet at their job, and has systems that underpin their success that people need to know, send me a message and I’ll pick their brain.
And if you’ve got any questions you want answered that will help you progress your career, let me know and I’ll ask for you.
Stay tuned for the first Elite Operator coming next Tuesday.
Cheers,
Reuben