MBA Week One

In 2013 I graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the Dublin Institute of Technology. The course thought me the fundamentals to business and afforded me with an internship in the sports industry which has shaped my career to date.

As I finished up my undergraduate degree, I secured a graduate role in the HR department at the multi-national Intel and entered the world of work. After a year at Intel, I rekindled the desire to work in sport, moving to the US, back to Dublin, Dubai and home again. September 2021 saw me fulfil another burning desire – to return to education.

During my primary degree, the course content was foundational and broad. This did little to determine where my job function vocation would be. That information is not found in college libraries or textbooks, it is found by experiencing the world of work.

Having discovered a love for projects and events, I now take my place on the Football Industries MBA cohort for 2021/2022. This experience I hope will assist my professional development and deepen my understanding for the industry I love and see myself part of for the next 30 years.

I chose to pause my career and join the Football Industries MBA (FIMBA) at the University of Liverpool for two main reasons – calibre of lectures and quality of alumni. Week one complete and I feel my decision is already vindicated.

The FIMBA is run alongside the core MBA and Horse Racing Industries MBA and has a highly international feel to proceedings. Of the 18 FIMBA students, there are multiple nationalities with individuals coming from varying backgrounds and all bringing different perspectives and ideas to the debate.

Our week commenced with the typical housekeeping before our appetites were fed with some top calibre guest speakers and sessions. On Monday we were treated to a masterclass from Lily Newman (Managing Director, Morgan James Consulting - Behavioural Strategist, Leadership Consultant and Motivational Speaker). Wednesday was the turn of two alumni Joseph O’Brien (Strategy Analyst at Everton FC) and Shah-Zeib Ahmed (Head of Ticketing at Rugby League World Cup 2021). Both Shah and Joseph provided a realisation of the hard-work ahead and encouraged us to seize every opportunity.

Richard Kenyon (Chief Marketing Director at Everton FC and CEO at Everton in the Community) had the Brett Building hanging on every word as he showcased the incredible work the club are doing in North Liverpool. The plans for international expansion and the new stadium are exciting but the local community is front and centre for the People’s Club.

Other sessions included how to read an academic paper and ways to think critically while the constant theme throughout the week was to get as much out of the year as possible. Reference was made to the course being akin to a gym membership – we have signed up but will only see the benefits of the course by turning up and working hard.

As Friday came and finished with a drink alongside colleagues and our course directors (Babatunde Buraimo and Dane Anderton). I also got my first taste of football on Merseyside as some of my colleagues and I headed for Tranmere for an entertaining Saturday afternoon.

Here’s to an exciting the 12-months ahead.