Meet Sunny Dhillon, Partnerships Marketing at the Seattle Sounders, where he manages the club's biggest accounts - Adidas, Toyota and jersey sponsor Providence.
Sunny didn't grow up planning a career in sport. A kid from Wolverhampton who nearly enrolled in a computing degree, he pivoted after a halftime TV advert pointed him toward a football business degree, and never looked back.
From pressing names onto jerseys in the Manchester City club shop, to sponsorship operations at Manchester United, global partnerships at his boyhood club, the Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., to building a life and career across the Atlantic in the US, Sunny's path is a masterclass in saying yes to discomfort.
Whether you're eyeing your first break or trying to level up once you're inside, Sunny's story is proof that you don't need a perfect plan, just the willingness to follow the spark and keep backing yourself when things get uncomfortable.
We cover:
(02:53) - Interview begins
(05:14) - Quick fire questions
(11:37) - Importance of early career experiences in Sunny's journey
(14:10) - How Sunny landed his role at Manchester United FC
(17:51) - Sunny's move to the Wolves
(20:23) - Story behind landing a new kit deal at the Wolves
(23:25) - Differences in sponsorships in football in the US and the UK
(27:16) - Sunny's move to the US and journey to the Seattle Sounders
(29:12) - Sunny's business in sport sponsorship
(31:17) - Sunny's role at the Seattle Sounders
(35:58) - What does collaboration with other sports clubs look like?
(39:00) - What being part of the Club World Cup involved
(43:02) - How the Sounders are capitalising on the FIFA World Cup being in town
(46:13) - Sunny's predictions for the USA and England at the FIFA World Cup
(50:12) - How Sunny decided the career path he wanted to take
(52:29) - Impact of mentors on Sunny's career
(54:30) - How to land a role in sports partnerships in the next 30 days
(56:53) - How far do you have to take yourself to achieve a dream, and when do you think that dream has been reached?
(58:25) - Sunny's question for next guest
If you liked this ep, give these a go next:
#280: How to get a sports marketing job in the English Premier League with Alex King
#314: How Kiri Madhani pivoted into Commercial Partnerships at DAZN
#333: Managing Partnerships for the Nike Melbourne Marathon at IMG with Clayton Henderson
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Thanks for listening, much love!
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