{"id":44089,"date":"2024-11-07T10:36:06","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T09:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cruyffalumni.org\/johancruyffinstitute-2026\/johan-cruyff-institute-graduates-who-are-impacting-the-sports-industry\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T00:19:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T22:19:40","slug":"johan-cruyff-institute-graduates-who-are-impacting-the-sports-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/the-magazine\/sport-management\/johan-cruyff-institute-graduates-who-are-impacting-the-sports-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading change: Johan Cruyff Institute graduates who are impacting the sports industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Explore the stories of graduates trained in Johan Cruyff Institute<\/a>‘s online programs, who are changing the rules of the game in the sports industry with vision, innovation, and commitment<\/h2>\n

Each year, a new generation of leaders graduates from Johan Cruyff Institute<\/a>, ready to shape the future of the sports industry. The flexibility of the online programs enables professionals worldwide to access high-quality education seamlessly. This latest cohort includes students from countries as diverse as Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Egypt, Lithuania, and Saudi Arabia. Combining theory and practice with an international outlook, these graduates are equipped to lead projects in sports organizations, locally and globally, contributing to the industry\u2019s growth and professionalization.<\/p>\n

In this article, we highlight the journeys of students from the Master in Football Business Online<\/a> and the Master in Sport Business Online<\/a>. Each of these professionals has balanced personal and work commitments to excel in their programs, broadening their knowledge and standing out in their respective fields.<\/p>\n

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Calisia Gregoire
\nCoordinator of the UWI\/FIFA\/CIES Sport Management Program<\/h2>\n

As Coordinator of the UWI\/FIFA\/CIES Sport Management Program, Calisia Gregoire<\/a> already engaged daily with sports industry professionals. However, the Master in Sport Business Online<\/a> opened new areas for her exploration. \u201cCompleting this program helped me understand topics like fan engagement, digital marketing, and e-sports on a deeper level, which enhances what I can offer my students,\u201d Calisia explains. She appreciated the program’s structure, balancing theoretical and practical phases: \u201cThe organization of the program helped me to plan efficiently and maintain a balance between work and study.\u201d Chosen as the 2024 graduation speaker, Calisia also received the Academic Record Recognition Award for her outstanding academic performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Carlos Marinho
\nTicketing Venue Configuration Coordinator at UEFA<\/h2>\n

Carlos Marinho<\/a>, Ticketing Venue Configuration Coordinator at UEFA, sought to gain a holistic understanding of the industry through the Master in Football Business Online<\/a>. \u201cIn recent years, I specialized heavily in one area of our industry. My goal was to broaden my perspective,\u201d he explains. With experience in ticketing for major events like the Rio 2016 Olympics, Carlos took on new challenges for his Master\u2019s final project. \u201cI focused on technology and data analysis, areas I hadn\u2019t worked with before. This helped me better understand emerging technologies and expand my knowledge,\u201d he shares.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Andr\u00e9-Michel Essoungou
\nPolitical Affairs Officer at the United Nations in New York<\/h2>\n

Currently a Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations in New York, Andr\u00e9-Michel Essoungou<\/a> has published books on international justice in Africa. For his Master\u2019s final project in the Master in Football Business Online<\/a>, he chose to study the Cameroonian soccer league, aiming to improve it both financially and on the field. \u201cThis project gave me insights into the current situation of my country’s league and ways to improve it. My goal is to make a meaningful impact,\u201d he says. Andr\u00e9-Michel found the program\u2019s practical approach invaluable: \u201cThe exercises were closely linked to real-life scenarios, preparing me for future challenges in sports and soccer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Roberto Iglesias
\nSupport Specialist in Running & Team Sports at Mizuno USA<\/h2>\n

A Support Specialist in Running & Team Sports at Mizuno USA, Roberto Iglesias<\/a>, a Master in Sport Business Online<\/a> graduate, has worked with organizations such as the Salvadoran Teqball Federation and Orlando City SC. Reflecting on his experience, he says, \u201cThe master\u2019s program gave me insights into the sports industry’s dynamics that I apply daily in real-life scenarios.\u201d He also valued the program’s flexibility: \u201cScheduling assignments around my personal life helped me strike a balance. The lack of strict schedules allowed me to manage my time effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nina \u017divkovi\u0107
\nPresenter at Arena Sport TV and NewsMax Serbia<\/h2>\n

A presenter at Arena Sport TV and NewsMax Serbia, Nina \u017divkovi\u0107<\/a> completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Marketing and Sponsoring Online<\/a>. She appreciated learning from industry professionals: \u201cThe experience expanded my knowledge significantly. Working alongside people from the sports industry gave my career a boost.\u201d Nina emphasizes the high-caliber network she built: \u201cMany students and alumni occupy prominent positions in the sports world, which speaks volumes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hesham Fahmy
\nBusiness development and sales growth professional<\/h2>\n

With a background in business development across sports, culture, and entertainment, Hesham Fahmy<\/a> completed the Master’s in Sport Business Online<\/a> to deepen his industry knowledge. His Final Project focused on Al Ahly, a prominent Egyptian club. \u201cWorking on this project was incredible, and I\u2019m currently implementing it in my role,\u201d he says. Hesham felt the program was the right choice: \u201cWith six years in event management, I needed to broaden my expertise. The academic experience has been transformative for my career.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ausrine \u0160idlausk\u0117
\nMarketing Manager at Football Club \u017dalgiris<\/h2>\n

\u201cMy Master\u2019s final project was on a soccer academy, and today, it\u2019s a reality,\u201d shares Ausrine \u0160idlausk\u0117<\/a>, Marketing Manager at Football Club \u017dalgiris. A graduate of the Master in Sport Business Online<\/a>, she received the Academic Record Recognition Award for academic excellence. Managing work, family, and studies, Ausrine found the program\u2019s flexibility essential: \u201cI scheduled study time for evenings and weekends. The advance deadlines helped me plan and manage my time well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Saad Hawsawi
\nNational Coach\/Analyst for Saudi Sports Channels<\/h2>\n

Saad Hawsawi<\/a>\u2019s Master\u2019s final project examined Mahd Academy, an initiative by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sports to foster soccer talent. \u201cI studied the academy\u2019s operations and processes, hoping my research contributes to the growth of Saudi soccer,\u201d he explains. Reflecting on his experience at the Master in Football Business Online<\/a>, he appreciated learning strategic approaches: \u201cThis program prepared me to contribute to Saudi soccer’s transformation.\u201d\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The experiences of Johan Cruyff Institute<\/a> graduates demonstrate that these online programs offer more than technical and practical knowledge. Through flexible learning, industry-relevant content, and valuable networking opportunities, graduates can balance studies with their professional lives. This preparation equips them to make a meaningful impact and lead the future of sports.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Explore the stories of graduates trained in Johan Cruyff Institute‘s online programs, who are changing the rules of the game in the sports industry with vision, innovation, and commitment In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":47243,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[233,232,227,229],"tags":[616],"editorial_type":[398,400],"class_list":["post-44089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coaching","category-football-business","category-sport-management","category-sport-marketing","tag-alumni"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44089"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62580,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44089\/revisions\/62580"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44089"},{"taxonomy":"editorial_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johancruyffinstitute.cruyffalumni.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial_type?post=44089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}