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Catherine Orset, originally from the North of France, had a successful career as a high-level athlete in track and field. She also holds a degree in Sports Management from the University of Lille II. For the past 16 years, she has been working in England, and she now shares her journey and experiences that have led her to this dream opportunity.
I started my professional career as a sales assistant, then a sales representative in synthetic sports fields in Lille. Very quickly, I realised that my lack of English knowledge would be a hindrance in my career, so I decided to move to England alone at the age of 27.
My beginnings in England were quite challenging as I had to take on "odd jobs," but after 6 months, I had the opportunity to work for Nike in their store on Oxford Circus.
After spending 2 years in several teams at the store, the headquarters offered me a position that I couldn't refuse, for a duration of one year. I was living a dream, working for one of the world's biggest brands, speaking English reasonably well, in short... I was on top of the world!
As an athlete, I have always wanted to challenge myself, and setting new goals is a recurring step in my life.
With the Olympics, budgets were tight, so I had to return to the store. At that time, I was too proud to accept a "step back." Therefore, I left Nike, much to my regret. A few years later, I returned to work for Sportax, the distributor of Nike's Accessories range. I then became the Sales Manager for the entire South of England, serving clients such as the Intersport group and all independent sports stores.
After 4 years at Sportax, I decided to challenge myself and take the position of Key Account Manager for Under Armour. I was then in charge of managing the client accounts of major stores in England, such as John Lewis, Selfridges, and Harrods. This lasted for five fantastic years during which I learned a lot about the sales profession, utilising the latest sales technologies, and also learned a lot about myself.
Then, COVID arrived and impacted our way of working. I worked extensively for 18 months "alone" at home, cut off from any social interaction with my colleagues. Eventually, activities slowly resumed, but the time spent at home allowed me to refocus on my life priorities. I realised that my life goals were changing, and it became essential for me to create an impact in our society while continuing to work in the sports industry that I love so much.
As an athlete, I have always wanted to challenge myself, and setting new goals is a recurring step in my life. I decided to expand my network, especially in the sports industry in Africa. Thus, during an event, I discovered the association, Alive and Kicking. As soon as the manager, Ben, told me about the missions of this association, it became evident that my next professional step would be with them. A few months later, I became their "Head of Growth."
Alive and Kicking (AK) was founded in 2004 with a mission to make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged individuals and families in Kenya and Zambia by producing a unique sports ball, creating better access to ethical jobs, sports participation, education, and health.
Employees have access to benefits often taken for granted, including fair wages, holiday and sick pay, and a pension scheme. Additionally, 99% of our staff is local and has access to a variety of job opportunities ranging from ball production and marketing to sales and finance.
By using the profits from the sale of sports balls, along with additional fundraising, Alive and Kicking donates locally made durable balls through our extensive network of trusted community and sports organisations. Our ball has been proven to last up to eight times longer than a standard synthetic ball. Finally, after ten years of research, we can prove that each donated ball reaches 45 young people.
The proceeds from ball sales and fundraising contribute to the training of local coaches and schoolteachers to deliver health education through sport. Furthermore, over the past two years, we have secured funds to provide health education to thousands of children.
100% of the profits from sales in the UK are used to strengthen the impact of our production centers in Kenya and Zambia.
Today, I am a fulfilled woman, confident in myself, eagerly anticipating what the coming years have in store for me.
Alive and Kicking produces different ranges of high-quality, handcrafted, and durable balls. Leather balls are made in Kenya and Zambia using locally recycled leather. Our training and match synthetic balls are manufactured with our trusted partner AMFORI BSCI in Pakistan, as well as in Kenya and Zambia.
I work with a small team of 4 people who support me on a daily basis in London. This team includes the UK Association Manager, the Fundraising Manager, the Marketing and Communication Manager, and the Sales Assistant. As the Sales Development Manager, I am responsible for implementing the sales strategy and developing partnerships, particularly with professional and amateur football clubs, schools, as well as businesses or other associations that share the same values as us in England and Europe.
Today, I am a fulfilled woman, confident in myself, eagerly anticipating what the coming years have in store for me. I am a speaker at a French business school in London, AMOS, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing my experiences with the next generation. I always advise my 20-year-old students to work on their strengths and build their own confidence and unique personalities. It is also crucial for them to cultivate curiosity and critical thinking.
But above all, I want these new generations to travel and immerse themselves in experiences of different cultures. I hope they take the time to understand and identify what they truly want to do in their professional and personal lives.
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