Meet Sarah Dyce, Public Affairs and Marketing Manager at the Victorian Institute of Sport.

Sarah has a wealth of experience in sports communications, working behind the scenes of the moments that matter most. After graduating with a Bachelor of Marketing and Public Relations from the University of Notre Dame in Perth, Sarah made a bold move to Melbourne in 2018.

But here's the part most people don't know. Sarah never set out to work in sport. She arrived in Melbourne in 2018 with a marketing degree, no contacts, and a determination to avoid a nine-to-five in Perth's mining and oil and gas sector. She found a listing on a website better known for arts and theatre jobs, applied for an unpaid internship at Swimming Australia, and quietly outworked everyone around her until the industry had no choice but to take notice.

What followed was years of contract roles spanning Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of the Australian Olympic Committee's Main Press Centre team, worked the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, the World University Games in Berlin, the Australian Open, A-League Finals Series, and helped orchastrate one of the most viral moments of the 2025 Australian Open - the now-famous Carlos Alcaraz and young fan John's encounter that captured the world's attention.

In this episode, Sarah takes us through the mindset shift that made contract life work for her, the networking habits she built that kept the opportunities coming, and the deliberate decisions she made along the way that led her to the role she has today. If you've ever talked yourself out of applying for a sport role because you didn't feel "sport enough," Sarah's story is the one you need to hear!

We cover:

(03:07) - Interview starts

(09:23) - Quick Fire Questions

(16:32) - Why Sarah moved from Western Australia to Melbourne?

(20:11) - What her time at Swimming Australia taught Sarah

(24:08) - Why Sarah left a full-time role to pick up contract work

(28:48) - Sarah's takeaways from contract work

(31:54) - How Sarah managed to stack contracts

(36:42) - What a day in the AOC Main Press Centre team looks like

(43:14) - Differences and similarities of working at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics

(51:53) - The viral AO moment Sarah helped make happen

(57:27) - How Sarah landed a role at the World University Games in Berlin

(01:02:46) - How Sarah's current role at the VIS came about

(01:07:20) - How do you measure success across the various roles Sarah has held

(01:09:28) - Biggest challenges in sports media and PR

(01:11:16) - How you can stand out in a saturated sports media landscape

(01:13:22) - How to handle difficult situations as a sports comms professional

(01:16:19) - How to build trust and relationships with variou stakeholders in sport

(01:19:00) - Impact of mentors on Sarah's journey

(01:24:07) - How to land a job in sport media and PR in the next 30 days

(01:25:49) - Biggest "Pinch Me" moment working in sport

(01:29:39) - What is a takeaway from a family member that influenced your career in sport?

(01:31:22) - Sarah's question for next guest

If you liked this ep, give these a go:

#281: Journey to Head of Media Rights at Cricket Australia with Abhi Arunachalam

#312: How Vimal Kumar Became a Cricket Writer, Built 600k+ on YouTube & Travelled the World

#335: How to land a job at the VIS with Director of People & Community, Daniel Simons

Want a job in sport? Click here.

Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Thanks for listening, much love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to land a job in sport? Apply for The SportsGrad Method: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

So you want to work in sport.

You are not alone, and that is exactly the problem.

Sport is one of the most competitive industries in the world. Everyone is passionate. Everyone has a degree. Everyone is willing to work hard. And yet most people spend years on the outside looking in, never quite understanding why.

It is not a capability problem. It is a method problem.

I am Reuben Williams, founder of SportsGrad. I landed a job at Cricket Australia the day after I finished university. When COVID hit and I was made redundant, I was headhunted into a role that doubled my salary. Not because I got lucky, because I had a method that most people never find.

Since then that method has helped over 800 people land jobs in sport, from graduates with no experience to career professionals who thought the window had already closed. We have built a global network that members can tap into from day one, and spent ten years inside this industry learning exactly how hiring actually works.

80% of jobs in sport are never advertised. The people landing them are not the most qualified. They are the most visible, the most connected, and the most prepared to convert opportunity into an offer.

That is what The SportsGrad Method teaches.

How I can help you:

1. Listen to The Method — real coaching call snippets every Wednesday so you can hear the work in action.

2. Read The SportsGrad Newsletter — weekly insight on breaking into sport the right way.

3. Apply for The SportsGrad Method Program — if you are serious about making this happen, this is the fastest path. We review every application personally.

If you refuse to settle for a career you do not care about, you are in the right place.

Let's get to work: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Reuben

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Rachael Lynch OAM OLY, former Gold Medalist Hockeyroo, now Nurse/Carer Lead and Wellbeing & Engagement Advisor at Wheelchair Rugby Australia.

Rachael is one of Australia's most decorated hockey goalkeepers. She represented Australia in over 230 international matches and is a dual Olympian (Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020), dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and International Hockey Federation Goalkeeper of the Year (2019). Beyond the pitch, Rachel is a registered nurse with 15+ years of hospital experience, an AOC Athlete Commission member, recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to hockey, a COVID-19 recognition award recipient, corporate speaker, R U OK? Day ambassador, and founder of Stomp Goalkeeping, an online goalkeeping coaching business she built while still competing at the elite level.

Rachael's career didn't follow a straight line, she transitioned from elite athlete to wellbeing administrator by blending nursing credentials, lived experience, and a deliberate year of networking before landing her role at the Victorian Institute of Sport and later Wheelchair Rugby Australia.

We tend to agree with Rachael that life is too short to do jobs we don't love. So, if you're sitting in a career you're good at but don't love, and sport keeps pulling you back, this week's episode with Rachael is exactly what you need to hear!

We cover:

(03:12) - Interview starts

(05:37) - Quick Fire Questions

(12:50) - Where Rachael's passion for nursing and athlete wellbeing stems from

(15:21) - How Rachael's first role at the VIS came about

(18:18) - What a week in Rachael's role at VIS looked like

(20:49) - Rachael's experience working with athletes at Paris 2024

(23:19) - How Rachael got her current role at Wheelchair Rugby Australia

(30:26) - Balancing high-performance demands and long-term athlete wellbeing

(33:10) - How athletes deal with the pressures of high expectations

(36:07) - Common mental health challenges athletes face

(37:38) - How Rachael measures the success of her roles

(38:50) - Why Rachael serves as an R U OK? ambassador

(42:00) - Rachael's playing career

(44:28) - Potential barriers to becoming a professional athlete

(49:38) - Rachael's time with the AOC Athlete Commission

(52:19) - How the Order of Australia Award came about

(56:37) - Rachael's induction into 'Olympians for Life'

(01:00:47) - Rachael's on receiving the Covid-19 Honour Roll Award

(01:05:43) - How Rachael decided what career path she wanted to take

(01:06:41) - What helped Rachael stand out in each of his roles

(01:09:32) - Impact of mentors on Rachael's journey

(01:13:38) - How Rachael became a mentor in the SportsGrad Method Program

(01:15:30) - How to land a job in athlete wellbeing in the next 30 days

(01:16:39) - Biggest "Pinch Me" moment working in sport

(01:18:35) - What Rachael's life would look like if she didn't land a job in sport administration post playing career

(01:19:22) - How would you spotlight a female in sport?

(01:20:41) - Question for next guest

If you liked this ep, give these a go:

#294: Journey to Australian Olympic Committee Project Manager with Lyndall MacInnes

#302: Paris 2024, Content Creator | Stella Barry

#306: Dandenong Stingrays FC, Strength and Conditioning Lead | Billie Lewis

Want a job in sport? Click here.

Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Thanks for listening, much love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to land a job in sport? Apply for The SportsGrad Method: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

So you want to work in sport.

You are not alone, and that is exactly the problem.

Sport is one of the most competitive industries in the world. Everyone is passionate. Everyone has a degree. Everyone is willing to work hard. And yet most people spend years on the outside looking in, never quite understanding why.

It is not a capability problem. It is a method problem.

I am Reuben Williams, founder of SportsGrad. I landed a job at Cricket Australia the day after I finished university. When COVID hit and I was made redundant, I was headhunted into a role that doubled my salary. Not because I got lucky, because I had a method that most people never find.

Since then that method has helped over 800 people land jobs in sport, from graduates with no experience to career professionals who thought the window had already closed. We have built a global network that members can tap into from day one, and spent ten years inside this industry learning exactly how hiring actually works.

80% of jobs in sport are never advertised. The people landing them are not the most qualified. They are the most visible, the most connected, and the most prepared to convert opportunity into an offer.

That is what The SportsGrad Method teaches.

How I can help you:

1. Listen to The Method — real coaching call snippets every Wednesday so you can hear the work in action.

2. Read The SportsGrad Newsletter — weekly insight on breaking into sport the right way.

3. Apply for The SportsGrad Method Program — if you are serious about making this happen, this is the fastest path. We review every application personally.

If you refuse to settle for a career you do not care about, you are in the right place.

Let's get to work: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Reuben

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Steph di Julio. Steph is the HR and Recruitment Executive at Melbourne Football Club - one of the AFL's most storied clubs.

Steph is one of the few people who built a career in sport entirely from the ground up. After graduating with a Sports Management degree, having originally enrolled in PE teaching before pivoting in her final year, she cut her teeth in retail management before finding her way into sport through a volunteer role at Football Victoria. She was even rejected three times before landing her first paid role in the industry. What followed was seven years and four progressively senior roles from Summer Sevens Coordinator to MiniRoos Development Officer to Administrative Coordinator, all while completing her HR Management qualifications on the side.

When she finally made the leap to the AFL level, both Melbourne Football Club and Carlton came calling in the same week. She chose the Dees and hasn't looked back since.

Now she sits at the centre of Melbourne FC's people and culture operation, responsible for recruitment, onboarding, training and development, policy, performance reviews, and keeping the club's engagement scores where an AFL club's need to be.

If you want to hear straight from the source on how to break into sport, handle rejection, and build a career from scratch, tune into this week's episode with Steph!

We Cover:

(03:04) - Interview starts

(16:01) - What Steph learnt from working in retail

(23:23) - How the HR role at Melbourne FC came about

(26:23) - What does a typical day/week look like in Steph's role

(29:18) - How HR performance is measured and what initiatives MFC take to improve workplace culture

(35:06) - What the recruitment timeline in sport looks like

(39:56) - How many people land jobs through references

(42:46) - DOs and DON'Ts of applying for a role

(45:48) - How Steph tackled the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated industry

(48:59) - What challenges Steph faced in landing a job in sport

(51:15) - How Steph decided what career path to take when she was lost for career direction

(53:31) - What helped Steph stand out in each of her roles

(54:24) - Why you need your own 'Board'

(57:05) - Why Steph enjoys 'giving back' to people

(58:34) - How to land a job in sport in the next 30 days

(59:23) - Biggest 'pinch me' moment in Steph's career

(01:01:41) - What Steph would have done if not a career in sport

(01:02:17) - What a perfect day at work looks like

(01:03:34) - Steph's question for next guest

If you liked this ep, give these a go:

#286: Inside the GWS Giants Social Media strategy with Jacob Gaynor

#284: Journey to Football Operations Manager at the Sydney Swans with Steph Maiolo

#193: How to be a psychologist in the AFL with Suzie Rhydderch

Want a job in sport? Click here.

Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Thanks for listening, much love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to land a job in sport? Apply for The SportsGrad Method: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

So you want to work in sport.

You are not alone, and that is exactly the problem.

Sport is one of the most competitive industries in the world. Everyone is passionate. Everyone has a degree. Everyone is willing to work hard. And yet most people spend years on the outside looking in, never quite understanding why.

It is not a capability problem. It is a method problem.

I am Reuben Williams, founder of SportsGrad. I landed a job at Cricket Australia the day after I finished university. When COVID hit and I was made redundant, I was headhunted into a role that doubled my salary. Not because I got lucky, because I had a method that most people never find.

Since then that method has helped over 800 people land jobs in sport, from graduates with no experience to career professionals who thought the window had already closed. We have built a global network that members can tap into from day one, and spent ten years inside this industry learning exactly how hiring actually works.

80% of jobs in sport are never advertised. The people landing them are not the most qualified. They are the most visible, the most connected, and the most prepared to convert opportunity into an offer.

That is what The SportsGrad Method teaches.

How I can help you:

1. Listen to The Method — real coaching call snippets every Wednesday so you can hear the work in action.

2. Read The SportsGrad Newsletter — weekly insight on breaking into sport the right way.

3. Apply for The SportsGrad Method Program — if you are serious about making this happen, this is the fastest path. We review every application personally.

If you refuse to settle for a career you do not care about, you are in the right place.

Let's get to work: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Reuben

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Chris Grant, Principal Legal Counsel at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation - the government agency behind two of Australia's biggest motorsport events: the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.

Chris is one of the few people who successfully crossed the bridge from private practice law into the world of professional sport. After graduating from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Laws and completing exchange programs in Shanghai and Denmark, he cut his teeth at top-tier firm Minter Ellison, where years of grinding through clerkships, graduate rotations, and high-pressure corporate work laid the foundation. A pivotal secondment to the Department of Education opened his eyes to in-house life, and sparked the move that changed everything.

He put his hat in the ring for a role at AGPC, beat out the field, and hasn't looked back since, earning multiple promotions in under four years to reach Principal Legal Counsel. He was also named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Sport & Entertainment Awards 2024, and has spoken on the main stage at the ANZLA Sports Law Conference. On top of all this, Chris gives back as a mentor in the SportsGrad Method program.

If you’re looking to swap your corporate skills into a career in sport, tune into this week’s episode with Chris!

We Cover:

(03:18) - Interview starts

(04:39) - Quick Fire Questions

(09:00) - Why Chris wanted to become a lawyer and what his journey looked like

(14:21) - How Chris' role at AGPC came about and how the AGPC is structured

(18:26) - Chris' growth within the AGPC

(20:54) - What Chris' role looks like during and outside of event period

(23:24) - How Chris supports different internal departments

(25:10) - What 'event week' looked like for Chris at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

(27:53) - Insight into negotiations with F1 Management

(31:07) - What collaboration with other F1 promoters looks like

(32:50) - How does growth in the Legal Team at AGPC come about

(33:28) - What AGPC is doing to deliver the final Moto GP in Phillip Island

(35:38) - What does working at Moto GP with AGPC look like?

(38:24) - Implications of Moto GP moving to Adelaide on the AGPC

(39:29) - What contract negotiations with external partners look like

(42:25) - Chris's role in contract negotiations

(46:28) - What is the impact of AI that Chris has seen in his role

(51:01) - How knowledge of contracts and law helps in grassroots sport committees

(52:18) - Chris' involvement in the ANZLA Association

(54:39) - What makes it difficult to get a job in sport

(55:53) - How Chris decided what career path to take when he was lost for career direction

(01:02:03) - What helped Chris stand out in each of his roles

(01:03:52) - Impact of mentors on Chris' journey

(01:05:16) - How Chris became a mentor in the SportsGrad Method Program

(01:06:54) - How to land a job in sports law in the next 30 days

(01:09:34) - Biggest " Pinch Me" moment working in sport

(01:11:33) - What Chris' life would look like if he didn't land a job in sport

(01:12:50) - Which sport is the next to have a 'Drive to Survive' style glow up?

(01:14:08) - Question for next guest

If you like this ep, give these a go next:

#235: How to be the Head of Legal at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Emily Jackson

#243: Living the dream at the NFL, IOC & Brisbane 2032 Olympics with Tom Hickey

#265: From Westpac to the Adelaide Crows FC in 29 days with Community Engagement Manager

Want a job in sport? Click here.

Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Thanks for listening, much love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to land a job in sport? Apply for The SportsGrad Method: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

So you want to work in sport.

You are not alone, and that is exactly the problem.

Sport is one of the most competitive industries in the world. Everyone is passionate. Everyone has a degree. Everyone is willing to work hard. And yet most people spend years on the outside looking in, never quite understanding why.

It is not a capability problem. It is a method problem.

I am Reuben Williams, founder of SportsGrad. I landed a job at Cricket Australia the day after I finished university. When COVID hit and I was made redundant, I was headhunted into a role that doubled my salary. Not because I got lucky, because I had a method that most people never find.

Since then that method has helped over 800 people land jobs in sport, from graduates with no experience to career professionals who thought the window had already closed. We have built a global network that members can tap into from day one, and spent ten years inside this industry learning exactly how hiring actually works.

80% of jobs in sport are never advertised. The people landing them are not the most qualified. They are the most visible, the most connected, and the most prepared to convert opportunity into an offer.

That is what The SportsGrad Method teaches.

How I can help you:

1. Listen to The Method — real coaching call snippets every Wednesday so you can hear the work in action.

2. Read The SportsGrad Newsletter — weekly insight on breaking into sport the right way.

3. Apply for The SportsGrad Method Program — if you are serious about making this happen, this is the fastest path. We review every application personally.

If you refuse to settle for a career you do not care about, you are in the right place.

Let's get to work: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Reuben

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want a job in sport? Start here: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Meet Anthony Alsop, Senior Marketing and Communications Executive and former General Manager of Communications at the Brisbane Lions.

In this episode, we hear Anthony’s incredible journey from working at Coles and moonlighting as a tennis statistician to landing dream roles at Brisbane Lions, Richmond FC, Seven Sport, and even the NBA!

We learn how Anthony bypassed the traditional "front door" of job applications by starting his own digital platform, how he helped lead the Brisbane Lions' marketing strategy, and his massive impact in the social enterprise space, raising over $7 million for homelessness alongside Ned Brockman.

Anthony is a master of the "side door" entry into sport - from ranking AFL Twitter accounts to catch the eye of CEOs, to bringing a 15-slide strategy deck to an interview before he was even hired.

So if you’re looking to swap your corporate skills into a high-performance sports career, listen to this week’s episode with Anthony!

We cover:

(03:00) - Interview starts

(04:21) - Quick Fire Questions

(14:36) - Summary of Anthony's Career Journey

(15:35) - The inspiration behind creating SportSpiel and Jak Events

(20:28) - How the role at Richmond FC came to fruition

(25:27) - How Anthony landed his role at the NBA

(28:26) - What Anthony's role at the NBA looked like

(30:13) - Differences in the Australian and American Sport Industry

(33:06) - Anthony's move from the NBA to Seven Sport

(38:10) - Transitioning from Seven Sport to Brisbane Lions

(47:39) - How Anthony's role at the Melbourne Rebels was unique from others

(50:33) - Anthony's recent role as GM of Basketball.com.au

(56:31) - Anthony's work with Nedd Brockmann and We Are Mobilise

(01:04:35) - What helped Anthony stand out in landing each of his roles

(01:06:11) - How Anthony supports the SportsGrad program

(01:09:36) - How to land a Sport Marketing & Communications role in the next 30 days

(01:10:45) - Biggest Pinch Me moment working in sport

(01:11:54) - Anthony's life if he didn't work in sport

(01:12:12) - Question from previous guest to Anthony

(01:13:00) - Anthony's question for future guest

If you like this ep, give these a go next:

#289: How to move from London to Australia and work in sport with George Ludlow

#280: How to get a sports marketing job in the English Premier League with Alex King

#268: From PR agency to Head of Marketing & Comms at Sail GP

Want a job in sport? Click here.

Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

Thanks for listening, much love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to land a job in sport? Apply for The SportsGrad Method: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

So you want to work in sport.

You are not alone, and that is exactly the problem.

Sport is one of the most competitive industries in the world. Everyone is passionate. Everyone has a degree. Everyone is willing to work hard. And yet most people spend years on the outside looking in, never quite understanding why.

It is not a capability problem. It is a method problem.

I am Reuben Williams, founder of SportsGrad. I landed a job at Cricket Australia the day after I finished university. When COVID hit and I was made redundant, I was headhunted into a role that doubled my salary. Not because I got lucky, because I had a method that most people never find.

Since then that method has helped over 800 people land jobs in sport, from graduates with no experience to career professionals who thought the window had already closed. We have built a global network that members can tap into from day one, and spent ten years inside this industry learning exactly how hiring actually works.

80% of jobs in sport are never advertised. The people landing them are not the most qualified. They are the most visible, the most connected, and the most prepared to convert opportunity into an offer.

That is what The SportsGrad Method teaches.

How I can help you:

1. Listen to The Method — real coaching call snippets every Wednesday so you can hear the work in action.

2. Read The SportsGrad Newsletter — weekly insight on breaking into sport the right way.

3. Apply for The SportsGrad Method Program — if you are serious about making this happen, this is the fastest path. We review every application personally.

If you refuse to settle for a career you do not care about, you are in the right place.

Let's get to work: www.sportsgrad.com.au/program

Reuben

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.