A current student of GBSB Business School, Aya Khedr discusses her passion for sports and why she decided to pursue a Sports Management Master's Education as well as sharing how her experiences have shaped her ambitions for her educational and professional career development post-graduation.

Hi, Aya we are pleased to meet you, can you briefly introduce yourself?

I'm a 22-year-old Egyptian. I did my bachelor's in marketing and now I am doing my Master's in Sports Management in Barcelona at GBSB Business School. I've been a handball player for as long as I can remember. I played professionally in Egypt and won 2 African titles with the Egyptian national team. I'm currently searching for a club in Barcelona. I've had opportunities with some clubs here, but it didn't work out, but hopefully soon.

Why did you choose the GBSB Master in Sports Management in Barcelona?

I chose a Master's in Sports Management because my passion for sport generally exceeds being an athlete. Handball was the sport I stuck with, but it definitely wasn't the only one. I was in track and field for a while, swimming, and speed skating. I'm also super passionate about football, I have been a football fanatic since I was 5, which was the age I got into handball, that is also part of the reason I chose Barcelona, I'm a huge Barcelona fan and I sort of knew I was going to end up here, it being one of the most successful cities in sports and sports management. I want to stay in the field that I love and try to make a difference in it in any way possible. As to why i chose GBSB, it was recommended by my cousin, he got his bachelor's degree from there and I chose it because it has a highly ranked master's degree and the program seemed a perfect fit for me and my ambitions.
 
 
Aya Khedr coupe

"Now I'm focused on pursuing my athletic career and gaining knowledge and experience from the industry. I'm volunteering in the next WFS in Sevilla, I plan to get my FIFA agent license and find a job in the industry."

Aya Kehdr, student at GBSB Business School

What have you been able to learn and how do you think it will help you to succeed in the sport industry?

I'm still in the middle of my program, but it's safe to say that I learned a lot about the industry and how it works, but I still have a lot to learn, so I can't really say whether it's going to help me succeed in the industry, not yet at least.  

What has your experience in practicing professional handball brought you in professional life?

When it comes to situations related to sports management I have had the opportunity to work on my time management, planning and connecting with the right people which I believe will help a sports industry manager solve issues and operate in the most efficient way. To add onto that I had several courses which are sports related, specifically sports (and esports) marketing and management. Within my internship which I had before coming to GBSB I found that these aspects were (and are) very important in the sports industry.

What are your future projects looking like?  

Practicing handball basically defined most of my life, I was training day and night and it helped me acquire skills like leadership and teamwork, it also taught me discipline and hard work. It has a significant effect on me and how I face anything, it gave me the perspective that could make me unique in the industry.

Now I'm focused on pursuing my athletic career and gaining knowledge and experience from the industry. I'm volunteering in the next WFS in Sevilla, I plan to get my FIFA agent license to help secure a job in the industry. I'd honestly love to explore all fields; sports marketing, event organization, management, or communication. Maybe I should get another diploma that could help me understand the sports industry better. For the long-term optimistic plan, I want to open my own 360 sports management agency, with Egypt being a big part of it, to give a chance for the industry to grow there. I also want to try to make a difference in handball in Egypt, giving players, especially women, the opportunities they deserve, whether it is with the agency or by applying for a job in the federation.

Would you recommend a Master in Sport Management to other students?

I would recommend the Masters to anyone passionate about sports and I would encourage them to pursue sports as a career.

What advice would you give to a student who is starting this master's to succeed?

The advice I would give them is that they should ask for practical classes, field trips, guest speakers, and more courses related to sports management. Learning and hearing from experienced professionals motivates the students and gives them a clearer idea of what to expect from the industry.

 

Connect with Aya on LinkedIn.

 

🎓Discover Sports Management courses in Malta, Spain and Online at GBSB Global Business School here.education with Global Sports

 

Find your next job in sport

Search the latest and greatest job opportunities in sport

Related Posts

5 top tips to advance your sporting career this Christmas

Tis the season… to boost your sporting career! Whilst Christmas is often a time to relax and detox from the stresses of ...

Read more

Success Story: Moyo Arowolo, Foundation phase coach, Newcastle United

After initially pursuing a degree in legal studies, Moyo Arowolo discovered a passion for football and began volunteerin...

Read more

Getting started in Sports Data & Analytics

Sports data and analytics has changed the way we understand and engage with sports. Starting from predicting player perf...

Read more

Subscribe to Performance Zone