Meet the Industry Leaders Sharing Their Expertise with GIS Students in Miami

GIS students in Miami are gaining first-hand insight from executives and professionals working across the global sports industry, with a programme of guest speaker sessions bringing a wealth of experience into the classroom.

From football operations and finance to emerging technology and sports analytics, these sessions give students the opportunity to hear directly from professionals working across different areas of the sports industry and learn more about the careers and skills shaping the sector.

Tobias van Deijck

Senior Finance Manager at The Miami Football Club, Tobias van Deijck returned to Inter Miami Stadium following his previous studies there as a GIS student.

Now working for the club where he previously interned as an Academy Administrator, Tobias has risen through the ranks at Miami FC, holding roles including Academy Operations Manager and Director of Academy Operations before progressing to his current position.

He also holds the title of Senior Finance Manager at the Sports Performance Hub, a 10,000-seat, $280 million complex being built to support the USL Championship club as it continues to grow.

A full-circle moment, Tobias’ return to GIS saw him share his experience and advice with the next generation of sports leaders coming through our programmes.

James Slusser

Senior business and technology executive James Slusser is among the industry professionals sharing his experience with GIS students.

Founder of Kurkuma, where he works across blockchain, AI and cryptocurrency trading, James has more than 25 years of experience across operations and strategy in emerging technologies.

Throughout his career, James has held international leadership roles including Chief Marketing Officer, Manager of Finance and Operations and Chief Operating Officer. He has also worked in education, including as a Guest Lecturer on decentralised systems and protocol architecture at the University of Miami.

His sessions give students insight into global business, technology and education, as well as the skills needed to work in an increasingly digital world, and the opportunities these developments are creating across the sports industry.

Ana De Souza

Ana De Souza brings more than a decade of experience working across football analytics, sports data and administration to her work with GIS students.

After retiring as a footballer in 2015, Ana joined Fox Sports as a Production & Soccer Research Intern before spending time as a Summer Analyst with Goldman Sachs. She later joined CONCACAF, North America’s football governing body, as a digital content creator before working as a Refereeing Administrator for more than two years.

Ana went on to become a Video and Data Analyst for the Jamaica Football Federation before joining FIFA as a Football Data Manager in 2023.

Now a consultant with Second Post Analytics, a sports data science company, Ana brings experience from a range of sporting organisations, alongside expertise in sports analytics and data, to her work with students.

Learning from Industry Experts at GIS

Tobias, James and Ana are just a few of the many professionals sharing their knowledge and experience with GIS students.

Through its guest speaker programme, GIS connects students with people working across the sports industry, giving them the opportunity to explore different career paths, hear first-hand experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the issues and innovations shaping the future of sport.

With speakers spanning areas including football operations, finance, technology, business and analytics, these sessions form an important part of the wider student experience at GIS.

To discover more about upcoming guest speaker sessions and events, visit our events page.