Khalid Savage
Company Name:
IMG
Role Within the Company:
Sales Operations Executive – Football Events, Global Partnerships
Years Working in the Industry:
6
How did you first break into the industry?
Office Assistant was my first role at IMG – although I was based in HR, I was able to network internally and move divisions within the business.
What skills and qualifications are most valued in the sports business industry, and how someone acquire them?
University degrees are always desirable but not an absolute necessity, as it is arguable that someone with vast experience is just as valuable to an organization Three key skills which I believe to be valued in the industry (and the corporate world throughout) are being reliable (i.e. completing tasks and finding solutions), demonstrating independent initiative and also being able to work in a team when necessary May sound a bit mundane at this point but there isn’t a better teacher than getting experience in the industry (whether paid or unpaid) – being in an environment where you are given responsibility but also have the opportunity to work and learn from senior figures is really invaluable.
What are the best ways to gain relevant experience in the sports business industry?
As mentioned before placement years (whilst at university) or summer internships are the most ideal avenues for experience in the industry I would also advocate for work experience or voluntary work, for anyone that is able to afford to do so – even if it is just for a week or 2, being able to have this additional experience to talk about during the interview/application process could make all the difference.
Lastly, I would also advise for a young student (or anyone starting out in the industry) to make use of any networking opportunities – whether in person events, conferences, careers fairs, work experience placements or just simply reaching to individuals online (or in the workplace) to learn more about the different types of roles within the industry (people are always willing to speak about themselves and their journeys, just have to ask!)
Good resources you would recommend?
LinkedIn, University Careers, Newsletters/Jobs Portal, Black In Sport, Social Fixt, UK Sport, London Sport