Mia's journey into the sport industry: From first job to full-time Partnerships

Mia completed her secondary education at Sandringham College, where she studied VCE, graduating with a strong foundation for her future studies. While still in Year 11 in 2021, she took on her first job at Officeworks – a role she held for over two years. This experience helped her build valuable skills in customer service and adaptability, as she worked across multiple departments.

In 2023, Mia enrolled in the Diploma of Elite Sport Business at Carlton College of Sport (CCoS). This marked a key turning point in her journey, as she immersed herself in the business side of sport. During her time at CCoS, Mia seized every opportunity to gain practical experience. She put her hand up for every placement, which led to roles in fan engagement on game-day activations and media work for the Hawks Netball Club in the Victorian Netball League, where she helped manage social media content and enhance the match-day experience.

Midway through her diploma, and with a strong reference from CCoS, Mia secured her first role within the sport industry. In May 2023, she began working part-time in two different positions. The first was at Tennis Australia, where she served as a Customer Experience Officer at Melbourne Park, handling a mix of reception, administrative tasks, café operations, court bookings, and merchandise sales. The second was with Melbourne Victory Football Club as a Membership Sales and Services Officer, where she was responsible for customer communication, payment processing, and sales-related duties.

These roles gave her valuable industry exposure and highlighted her ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Mia’s dedication and performance did not go unnoticed. In January 2025, she was offered a full-time role as the Partnership and Sales Coordinator within the Commercial team at Melbourne Victory.

Unlike traditional application routes, Mia was approached directly by the General Manager of Commercial – a strong reflection of her work ethic and reliability during her time in the Membership team.

Now in her new role at Melbourne Victory, Mia manages accounts for the club's Premier, Associate, and Contra partners. Her responsibilities are varied and high impact, including the delivery of sponsorship activations, coordinating player appearances, managing marketing materials, and ensuring that all entitlements are fulfilled. Her work plays a crucial role in ensuring that partners derive maximum value from their relationship with the club.

Looking back at her time at CCoS, Mia reflects most fondly on the friendships and industry connections she made. She continues to maintain close relationships with her former classmates and credits the openness and support of the CCoS staff as being instrumental in her early career growth. Her advice to current students is clear: 

At just 20 years old, Mia is already carving out a space for herself in the sports industry. While she is still exploring the long-term direction of her career, she finds great satisfaction in the Commercial and Partnerships space and sees herself continuing in this field.

For those hoping to enter the sports industry, Mia offers simple but valuable advice:
‘Take every opportunity that comes your way, build genuine connections, and always put your best foot forward. The sports industry offers a wide range of roles, so with persistence, you’ll find a job that you’re passionate about.’

Mia’s journey illustrates the power of initiative, the importance of building strong professional relationships, and the value of real-world experience. Her career is only just beginning, but her story already offers inspiration for anyone looking to turn a passion for sport into a profession.