Meet Sam Waring, a Strategy Consultant at Gemba. Sam assists brands like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Netflix with with their sponsorship strategy across sports and entertainment.
Before he was mixing in the big leagues, Sam started his journey as a Marketing Intern with the NZ Breakers before making his way to Australia. After getting rejected for his current role once, Sam stepped away and addressed his skill gaps, only to return and land his dream job.
Sam’s story is packed with advice on overcoming rejections, staying persistent, and building your skillset. If you’re eager to understand the behind-the-scenes of a career in sports marketing and strategy, you’re going to love this episode with Sam.
We cover:
(6:57) - Introduction to Sam's career and journey
(11:23) - Breaking into the sports industry and early experiences
(16:45) - Challenges of landing jobs in competitive sports roles
(21:30) - Importance of sponsorships in sports marketing
(27:15) - Developing strategies for brand partnerships
(33:00) - Insights into working with high-profile clients like Coca-Cola
(38:20) - Bridging creative and commercial strategies
(43:50) - How agency work differs from in-house roles
(48:30) - Examples of successful sports campaigns
(54:00) - Advice on networking and career growth in sports
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If you like this ep, give these a go next:
#175: Gemba, Senior Strategy Consultant | Oliver Gilbert
#287: MKTG Sports + Entertainment, Sponsorship Manager | Jeffery Leong
#99: Octagon UK, Managing Director | Joel Seymour-Hyde
#236: Sports Marketing Consultant | Danny Bowerin
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Big thanks to Deakin University for making this episode possible. Check out their Master of Sport Management, ranked #1 in Australia.
Thanks for listening, much love!
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