Going Global in the Sports Industry, Alicia Marinelli, President, Living Sport

The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast.

There are two major assumptions that Americans tend to make about sports.

1: The big four – baseball, football, basketball and hockey - are the only sports that matter.

2: Sports happen within our borders, except the rare occasion of the Summer and Winter Olympics.

I get it, American exceptionalism and all, but can we all, at least on this show, agree these are falsehoods?

I love and appreciate the big four sports as much as anyone, but I refuse to submit to the premise that they ARE the sports industry. That’s it, just those four.

If sports represent activities involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment, and the industry comprises any one of thousands of roles surrounding these activities – our industry is much larger than say U.S. based basketball coach.

In sports, there are no boundaries. It’s a meritocracy. Whoever performs the best, while executing within the established rules – plays. Same in the vein of work, whoever performs the best, executes plans, supports initiatives – thrives.

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again today, working is sports is a competitive choice. As a sports job candidate, you must actively think to yourself, “How can I make myself the best of the competition? What else can I do?”

One suggestion – go global.

Imagine for a second you have relevant international experience. Put yourself in the shoes of an employer, trying to hire the best, most talented, staff. Would someone who worked in Barcelona for a bike race, or Milan for a marathon stand out to you?

It’s not the big four sports, and it’s not within the US border – so does it matter? Of course it does, in fact it’s impressive.

But how? How would you achieve this kind of game changing experience?

LivingSport.

7-10 international study abroad trips where it isn’t all just tours and sightseeing, it’s work. The kind of work that will find its way onto your resume, broaden your horizons and alter your perspective for life.

Who better to explain this amazing program that CEO and Founder Alicia Marinelli, this week's high energy, let’s get after it, guest.