‘Your Network is Your Net Worth’: GIS Graduate on Beginning a Career in Football

The game of football is truly a global one, and has the power to unite billions around the world.

“Football is the only sport where you put people together, it doesn’t matter if you are rich, or poor, or black, or white. It is one nation.”

“Football has always been a big part of my life. What fascinated me was not only the game itself but also the strong sense of community around it. Football brings together people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds who all share the same passion.”

One of these quotes was said by Julia Hess, a GIS graduate in Football Business. The other was said by Pelé, the youngest ever FIFA World Cup winner and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Both of which show that no matter your involvement in the game, the unity created through football is felt by everyone.

For Julia, this involvement began at a very young age, born into an athletic family and attending football matches with her father since the age of five.

“Over time,” she told GIS, “I became increasingly interested in what happens behind the scenes in football, how clubs operate as organisations, how they manage their finances and how the football industry is structured.”

“After completing my first master’s degree and spending a few years working, I realised that I wanted to develop further in an area that genuinely interested me.”

Julia then joined GIS in 2023 after noticing an advertisement for our MSc Football Business programme whilst in the UK to watch a Liverpool game. 

“It immediately caught my attention because I had never seen a programme that focused specifically on the business side of football. After learning more about GIS, I was particularly drawn to the international perspective of the programme and the opportunity to study the football industry in such a global environment. For me, it felt like the perfect opportunity to combine my longstanding passion for football with a professional career in the industry.”

On the course, students study modules such as Football Finance and Global Sports Leadership, while Julia’s favourite was Football Operations Management.

“I found it particularly interesting because it focused on the practical side of running a football club and showed how many different departments and processes need to work together behind the scenes to make matchdays and an entire season run smoothly.

“What I enjoyed most,” she added, “was analysing real operational challenges and developing our own ideas on how these could be implemented within a football club.”

Before diving into the world of sport, Julia completed an undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. Despite no link to sport, she explained that the degree still helped her transition into sport-related fields because of the transferable skills she obtained.

“Studying Business Administration gave me a strong analytical and financial foundation that translated well into the Football Business programme. During my undergraduate studies, I developed skills in analysing business cases, understanding financial reports and working with economic models, which helped me engage confidently with modules such as Football Finance.

“My studies also trained me to approach organisations in a structured way, focusing on processes, strategy and long-term sustainability. This helped me see football clubs not only from a fan perspective but also through a management lens.”

One particular difference that Julia noticed between GIS and her previous studies was the level of real-world application. 

“During my undergraduate studies we often worked with theoretical or fictional examples, whereas at GIS we analysed real clubs and real challenges in the football industry. That practical perspective made the learning experience even more engaging.”

To add to this, most of our alumni note the importance of being proactive and picking up as much experience as you can—a sentiment echoed by Julia. 

“One phrase that has really stayed with me since my time at GIS is ‘your network is your net worth.’ Through attending events like the World Football Summit and international matches, I started to realise how true that actually is.

“Attending events like these gave me the opportunity to meet people from across the industry and gain insights into how the football business works in practice. For example, a connection I made in Madrid later helped me secure a job interview with a Bundesliga club. Even though I didn’t get the role, it showed me how powerful networking and being open to new experiences can be.”

Another event that helped Julia’s networking skills was the GIS London Summit, one of our Global Sport Summits aimed at providing students with exclusive access to world class sporting venues and opportunities to meet sports industry leaders.

“Attending the summit was a great experience because it gave us the opportunity to see different areas of the sports industry up close. Visiting organisations and venues from different sports helped me realise how many different career paths exist within sport and how diverse the industry really is.

“One of the key things I gained from the experience was confidence in networking and communicating with people in the industry. Being in these environments encouraged me to ask questions, start conversations and learn directly from professionals working in sport. 

“It also made me realise that building a career in this industry requires being proactive and speaking up for yourself. Ultimately, you are the only person who can push your own ambitions forward.

“My personal highlight was visiting Wembley Stadium for the first time. Wembley is such an iconic place and the birthplace of football, a stadium that represents so much history within the sport. I had never had the opportunity to visit Wembley before, so finally being there felt both emotional and incredibly impressive. Experiencing this moment with GIS and knowing that I will return there again for my graduation made it even more meaningful.”

Julia concluded with some advice for other students and professionals about how she approached these experiences, which can often be daunting.

“Putting myself into these environments was not always easy at first. Studying entirely in English and attending international events pushed me outside of my comfort zone.

“I often felt quite nervous beforehand. But I learned that stepping outside that comfort zone often leads to the most valuable experiences.”

To learn more about our programme offerings, view our study page. You can also access information about Julia’s MSc Football Business course here.
Article by Zakaria Anani