A Global Institute of Sport graduate has been speaking to us about how his Master’s degree has helped him in his full-time role at an Australian Football League club.
Len Villani, who has just completed his studies in MSc International Sport Management, now works as head of football relations and special projects at Australian Rules Football side Carlton FC.
Len has been at Carlton since 2017, previously working as football operations and compliance manager.
Even before starting work with the Baggers, he had plenty of work experience within the industry, working at the AFL itself for seven years.
However, in 2022, Len took on the MSc International Sport Management course with GIS to better understand the business of the industry and how to develop his skills and knowledge.
When asked about his time at GIS, Len said: “I found the content really relative and useful in terms of a good balance between academia and the practicalities in terms of how to use it in the workplace and bring it to life.
“The learnings from my marketing subject in my first semester has held me in good stead in terms of where I want to go and how I’m going to get there.
“There are things on this course which I’ll be able to take forward and apply, not just within operations, but within future roles as well.”
He added: “Some of the summits we’ve been able to hold and the guest speakers we’ve seen in and around leadership have been really great. It validates a lot of your thinking.
“Keep an open mind on different ways to do things. Some of those skills I’ve learnt, I’ve already implemented into day-to-day life.”
To find out more about GIS’ Melbourne Campus, based at the world-famous MCG, where we hold one of our annual global sports summits, click here.
Alternatively, click here to view a prospectus and see where a degree from GIS could take you and your career within the sports industry.
