The Right Direction into Sports: Pieter De Smedt Student Profile

Embracing a new chapter in his career, Pieter De Smedt is a GIS student at our Brussels campus studying for his Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business.

At 40-years-old, Pieter began the course in September 2024 and has loved combining his passion for sport with his background in business and finance. He has also gained valuable experience through an internship at R.S.C. Anderlecht, the club he supports.

During the internship, Pieter has worked on multiple projects, applying the theory he learns in class to real-world situations.

“For the internship, I’m working on a couple of projects at Anderlecht. The first one is analysing the fan shop – looking at what we are selling, the opening hours , and whether it makes sense to keep the shop open during the week or extend its hours.

“I’m also digging into larger invoices to better understand them and determine what we need to pay to the Belgian Association. Additionally, I’ll be working on projects related to transfers. It’s an incredible feeling to contribute to the club I support.”

Pieter has found GIS to be an excellent gateway into the sports industry.

“For me, GIS is a way of getting the right direction into sports. We’re loving it!”

With a strong interest in finance, he has particularly enjoyed this aspect of the course.

“The finance courses are really my cup of tea—that’s what I love.

“Fan engagement is a bit more challenging and newer to me, but I’m really enjoying it so far. The course offers a lot of valuable content, including case studies and guest speakers, which make it a great learning experience.”

Guest speakers are a key part of GIS programmes, and for Pieter, this exposure to industry professionals has been a highlight.

“You can build your network and gain insights from people inside the business. That’s what I love the most.”

Networking is crucial for anyone looking to establish a career in football, and Pieter has made the most of this opportunity.

“The programme is preparing me for the future by allowing me to build a network in football. It also provides valuable knowledge in finance, marketing, fan engagement, and leadership—all of which are essential for my growth.”

Networking is particularly important for anyone wanting to build a career in the football industry, and this is what Pieter has taken the chance to do.

“The programme is preparing me for the future by giving me the opportunity to build a network in football, so it gives me the opportunity to talk to a lot of people in the industry and by giving me information about finance, marketing, fan engagement, leadership, so that is really important for me to grow.”

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Article by Zakaria Anani