I attended UCFB’s Women in Football Business (WiFB) Forum held recently. The event was designed to raise awareness about working in the business side of the industry, as well as acknowledge the successful business women currently working within what could be described as a male dominated industry – the world of football and sports.
The line-up of the forum consisted of BBC Sports Broadcaster Jacqui Oatley, The FA’s Head of the National Game, Kelly Simmons MBE, the CEO of Sunderland AFC, Margaret Byrne and the Director of Finance at Norwich City FC, Sam Gordon. The event was chaired by multi-sport Broadcaster/Journalist of BBC Sport and Sunday Times, Sue Mott.
The idea behind the forum was to encourage more females into the industry as well as giving students the opportunity to put forward relevant wider industry questions to help gain insights for themselves. Local Lancashire business women also attended as well as UCFB Ambassadors Sue Smith and fellow team mate Rachel Brown, who both gave some great insights in to their careers to date ‘on and off the pitch’ .
It was a great experience as not only were we allowed to ask questions at the end of the conference but I also managed to chat to some of the panel members after the discussion, such as Sam Gordon, Financial Director of Norwich City FC. As I study Football Business & Finance, it was a great chance to gain an insight in to a career I am interested in so I took my chance whilst I could! Not only did I gain useful industry information but since, it has been agreed that Sam will be my mentor throughout my studies at UCFB!
I really enjoyed the entire afternoon, it was extremely insightful and a great experience that I will remember for a long time.
