Following my graduation from Haut-Lac in 2014, I headed to the University of Zürich to study Political Science and experience “big city life” … or at least the Swiss version of it! I loved my years there, particularly the freedom of having my own flat (and a colorful array of flat-sharing experiences, which is a story for another time!), navigating adult life for the first time and yes, surprisingly, speaking Swiss German. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just a collection of strange sounds produced at the back of one’s throat, but actually my mother tongue.
I really enjoyed my studies. I learned a great deal about political systems, international relations and many of the dynamics shaping the often turbulent world we live in today. Some of my favourite modules focused on religion, conflict and peacebuilding. I highly recommend the subject to anyone curious about world affairs but not sure of which path to pursue. To support this last point, as much as I enjoyed studying it, I knew that a career in politics was not my calling. Instead, as a football player realizing my future was more likely to be in the boardroom than on the pitch, my attention shifted towards another institution based in Zurich: the home of international football.
Plot-twist – I did not get into FIFA but kicked off my professional journey as an intern at UEFA. What was initially a short-term internship evolved into a four-year role as Personal Assistant to the Chief of Venue Operations. It turned out to be an incredible introduction to the world of major sporting events, the likes of Champions League Finals and EURO 2020. All these experiences sparked something in me. I knew I wanted to work in sports – preferably football – and decided to pursue a Masters in Sports Management after my contract at UEFA ended.
The Masters allowed me to deepen my understanding of the sports industry and discover areas I hadn’t previously encountered, such as sports law, TV rights and sponsorship. It also helped shape the next chapter of my career. Today, I’m a Sponsorship Manager at CAA Eleven – UEFA’s exclusive commercial agency for men’s national team football competitions. My role as account manager involves working across different sponsors, licensees, projects and events. What I enjoy most is the human side of the job: building relationships, finding solutions and collaborating with people from different backgrounds. And the fact that it’s all linked to football definitely doesn’t hurt!
A few thoughts as I look back on my 10 years at Haut-Lac (I wouldn’t be a true marketer if I didn’t finish with a rule of three!)
Knowing what you enjoy is important. Knowing what you don’t is just as important (for me that was double maths on Tuesday mornings in IB2, stats when I got to uni).
Extra-curricular activities were such a luxury! Sailing, football, MUN after school. Looking back, those experiences were just as valuable as what we learned in the classroom and reminded me there’s life beyond school (and now beyond work).
Lastly, being exposed to so many cultures and backgrounds was such a privilege. Experiencing that within a tight-knit school community is something I’m realizing more and more was pretty special.
