Ashley

I am from New York City and having played basketball both collegiately and professionally, I was looking to continue the sport I love but also wanted to be prepared once I stopped my playing career. I wanted to transition into the world of sports and Loughborough seemed like the perfect fit.

The academic support is tremendous. The programme is compressed into a year and although that increases how busy they are, I never felt like they were inaccessible. Being able to meet with them as people and not just professors was great. Their individual expertise on the courses they teach is impressive, they provide a wealth of information, that I am very grateful for.

I graduated and did not transition into a traditional sports management job. Then Covid-19 hit, and the sporting world completely shut down. When the world opened again, it was a connection that I made at Loughborough that got me the job interview in the New York City office of IMG.

The most useful thing about the program and something I believe is its greatest asset is how well connected the Sports Management department is and their willingness to put in the extra work to create spaces and events that allow us to connect with their network.

My connection to IMG was curated by a job fair at Loughborough University in 2018. I stayed in touch and now three years later, I am working for the company.

Loughborough opened my eyes to possibilities outside of America. My goal is to remain a professional in the sporting and entertainment sector. To what capacity is yet unknown but I hope to be living in the EU once again and doing what I love.

The highlights of my time at Loughborough have been the friends that I made during the programme, they have truly become family. Coincidentally a subsidiary of my company employs a classmate I had. She’s in China, so we are co-workers from afar and I think that is the coolest thing.

The advice I would give to someone considering studying this programme is to keep their minds open. It is a HARD programme but it’s WORTH it.

The coursework load can seem insurmountable, but the professors will work with you. They truly want to see you succeed. Keep on pushing until that dissertation is in because the end feels so good. Work hard but also don’t forget to have fun. You’ll blink and the year will be gone.