When I was in high school, I started researching universities in Europe that offered degrees in sports management and business. Given my love for Spain - its language, culture, and climate - I always knew that my final choice would be a school there.

I was looking for innovative universities that didn't rely on traditional education systems where knowledge is only measured by final exams on paper. I also wanted to study in a diverse and international environment for cultural exchange, to make new friends, and to build professional connections for the future. GBSB Global was the perfect fit.

One of the biggest advantages of this business school was its three-year BBA program, as opposed to the four-year programs at many other schools. This allows students to save time and provides more opportunities for internships or to enroll in a master's program immediately after graduation. So I chose the GBSB Global BBA in Sports Management program and looking back, I can say it was a very fortunate decision as it provided me with a solid foundation in both business and sports management.

What sparked your interest in sports management?

My journey in sports began when I was just 5 years old. I practiced karate and ballroom dancing and played tennis for seven years. After quitting tennis, I couldn't imagine my life without sports and realized I could continue my involvement by working in management roles.

During that time, I volunteered at various sporting events, assisting organizing committees in hosting them. I took on diverse volunteer roles, including event management, hospitality, spectator services, and volunteer management. This experience helped me discover my skills and abilities, which led me to pursue a career in sports management.

I've set a goal to make a significant difference and contribution to the world of sports. I still keep this goal in mind and am determined to stay on this path. It takes time, effort, and passion, but I am committed to achieving it.

What career prospects have you pursued?

The combination of Business Administration and Sports Management offers several opportunities and crucial knowledge. At GBSB Global, our studies focused primarily on business and management topics, and this approach was incredibly beneficial to me, because it didn't limit me to the sports industry. The strong understanding of finance, accounting, human resources, talent management, marketing, entrepreneurship, business communications, business law, ethics, customer relationship management, and other disciplines is essential for anyone who wants to work in sports. Without this comprehensive business education, navigating the complexities of the sports world would be much more difficult.

A BBA degree, especially when combined with a specialization, opens doors to a variety of career paths. By now, my professional experience includes roles as an athletic director, sales manager, social media marketing manager, and PR and event manager.

What was your experience applying for the program?

I started preparing for university when I was in high school. I worked on my IELTS preparation and took the exam, collected volunteer certificates, created a student resume, wrote a motivational letter, and requested letters of recommendation from my teachers and coordinators who supervised me at sports events. Overall, the GBSB Global application process was smooth. The admissions specialists were always available to help with questions or concerns. I received an admission decision within 10 days after submitting documents.

Did the program meet your expectations?

There's no doubt that the program met my expectations. I really liked that in some courses, our final exams, at the end of each semester, were often group or individual projects that we presented in class. This approach allowed us to combine both theoretical and practical knowledge. We had many in-class activities and group discussions, which made it interesting to share and exchange ideas with classmates and professors from different backgrounds. We learned a lot from each other.

I will always be grateful to my professors. They taught us how to adapt to different environments and effectively manage teams and employees, whether we want to start a business or reach a top management position. I developed and improved soft skills such as negotiation, teamwork, problem solving, public speaking, and creative thinking, as well as many industry-specific skills.

Would you like to say a few words about the Sports Chapter?

First, I would like to thank GBSB Global’s Career, Alumni and Entrepreneurship Center, especially Georgia Nirou and Xavier Arola, for supporting this initiative. It means a lot to me. The Sports Alumni Chapter was created to connect Sports Management alumni and share valuable information about networking and the sports industry. We held our first online event in April, and I'm now exploring exciting opportunities for the upcoming academic year.

Starting this Chapter came with some challenges, such as reaching out to all GBSB Global Sports Management alumni and inviting them to join us. However, we reached out to many and created a LinkedIn group.

Did you have a diverse internship experience?

I wanted to learn how different sports organizations operate and gain valuable experience in the field. To achieve this, I proactively sent my resume and a summary of my sports experience to various organizations.

My academic background greatly enriched my internship experience. For example, the insights I gained from my marketing and event management classes enabled me to create projects for a Kazakh hockey club. Another memorable experience was my internship with the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan. I assisted the head of the winter sports department with administrative tasks and helped sports managers prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. I also worked with sports federations across Kazakhstan to organize an outdoor advertising campaign to support our national athletes.

How did you get the idea to start your own sports media?

I've always enjoyed writing about sports and found that I could combine my passion for sports with copywriting. I started my sports blog on Instagram, @itsasportsmindset in 2022. The goals of the blog are to empower women in sports, provide industry insights, talk about sports that are overlooked, and various issues in the industry. I've been interviewing athletes as part of this project. I share stories to promote athletes and inspire readers, as each athlete has a unique journey. Their experiences show that hard work pays off and it's important to keep going and believe in yourself no matter what – they motivate others to face their own challenges. 

How does your education contribute to your life?

Knowledge is a powerful tool that no one can take away from you. Everything I have learned at university has had a significant impact on both my personal life and career. The world offers so much in terms of knowledge, and I am always striving to learn something valuable that will help me grow professionally and personally. I would like to move abroad and explore new opportunities. I am also considering a Master's degree in PR or Sports Journalism. I think the most important thing is to trust the process and see where it leads.