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The SportsGrad Podcast: The Ultimate Guide to Make it in the Sports Industry
Each week we learn how people made it in sports and tease out their career decisions, work habits, skills, everything they do that makes them great. All so you can learn how to get in, get promoted, and get thriving in the sports industry.
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#337: How Dante beat 99% of Grads to land his dream job at Cricket Australia
01:04:58|Meet Dante McDonald, the Customer Experience Operations Coordinator at Cricket Australia.In this episode, we follow Dante’s journey with SportsGrad and how he was able to get a job at Cricket Australia in only 16 days and another one only a couple months later.We breakdown how he joined SportsGrad and the connections he made with some of SportsGrad’s South Australian members to get work at the Adelaide Lightning and the Adelaide Crows. We also discuss his current role at Cricket Australia and what he’s been up to at the Ashes in Perth.So if you're looking for a job at Cricket Australia, Dante shares what interview questions to expect and gives advice about posting on LinkedIn.If you want to chat with Dante, connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dante-mcdonald/We cover:(05:16) - Interview begins(06:47) - Quickfire Questions(07:55) - Interview Process with Cricket Australia(14:01) - How Dante joined SportsGrad(22:33) - Lessons from the SportsGrad Method Program that helped Dante(24:36) - LinkedIn advice(27:56) - How Dante joined Cricket Australia/How Reuben shortlists SportsGrad Members(32:49) - Dante’s thought process moving from Adelaide to Melbourne(40:43) - Dante’s time as Partnerships Coordinator at Cricket Australia(46:13) - Dante’s career switch at Cricket Australia(53:35) - Dante’s role as Customer Experience Operations Coordinator at Cricket AustraliaIf you like this ep, give these a go next: #333: Managing Partnerships for the Nike Melbourne Marathon at IMG with Clayton Henderson#265: From Westpac to the Adelaide Crows FC in 29 days with Community Engagement Manager, Parth Suri#309: How I landed my dream job at Cricket Australia | Reuben Williams, Founder of SportsGradWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokFollow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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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#336: The brutal truth about changing careers into sport (nobody tells you this)
28:41|Want a job in sport? Click here.Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast, hosted by Reuben Williams, ex-Cricket Australia employee, career coach, public speaker, content creator and Founder of SportsGrad.On this podcast you’ll hear how to find your perfect role, grow your network, win job applications, scale your personal brand, create opportunities for yourself, and land your dream job in sport. Plus the many failures and lessons Reuben has learned from landing a dream job before graduating, helping others to land 700+ jobs in sport, and interviewing over 300+ professionals from the NFL, NBA, AFL, ICC, Cricket Australia, Premier League, Olympics, and many more teams, leagues, agencies and startups.To learn more about Reuben, listen to this episode: #309: How I landed a dream job at Cricket Australia before graduating | Reuben WilliamsFollow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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!
#335: How to land a job at the VIS with Director of People & Community, Daniel Simons
55:40|Coming up on the show today is Dan Simons, the Director of People and Community at the Victorian Institute of Sport. In this episode, we dissect the Victorian Institute of Sport's new strategy for the next eight years in the lead up to Brisbane 2032. We breakdown each of the priority areas for the VIS and how that looks in practice, and what it means for you and your career. Dan then goes into detail on how to use a company strategy to help enhance your next application, no matter where you apply in the sports industry. So if you're looking for a job at the Victorian Institute of Sport (or any High performance organisation), Dan shares what they look for when recruiting, to nail an application here, plus how you can incorporate it into your resume, cover letter, and interview… so that you can make sure an employer can see you’re aligned on their mission. Dan was previously the Head of People & Culture at Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia. And back in episode 110, you can hear his advice on how to Master your job application.If you like this ep, give these a go next:#110: How to master your job application with Dan Simons (Golf Australia)#128: How to sell yourself in a cover letter with Kimberlee Furnace (Netball Australia)#240: How to be a Biomechanist at the Victorian Institute of Sport with Dr. Victoria BrackleyWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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!
#334: Adam Collins from The Final Word on early political career, transition to sports journalism, origins of TFW and much more
01:56:48|Meet Australian Cricket Journalist, Author, and Broadcaster, Adam Collins. Adam is one of Australia’s biggest cricket journalists, covering the game all around the world for the likes of SEN, The Guardian, Sky Cricket, BBC, Wisden, ESPNCricifo and more. His podcast, The Final Word, which he co-hosts with Geoff Lemon, has been running for 10 years, has more than 1500 episodes published, and often regarded by Wisden as the best Cricket Podcast in the world. However, Adam didn’t take the a traditional route into sports journalism, pivoting after a full-on early career in politics working for the Prime Minister’s office in Canberra. Heaps to look out for in the episode including Adam’s early career, transition to sport, starting the Final Word Podcast, buying the rights to the post-sandpaper 2018 UAE Tour, and how buying the Batmobile from the 1991 Grand Final led to campaigning for Andy Gowers to be Hawthorn Football Club President. Adam has also got a book coming out called ‘Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics’ which we discuss, you can get your hands on it in the UK on November 17, and in Australia on November 25.If you like this ep, give these a go next:#327: How Andy Gowers became President of the Hawthorn Football Club#242: The origins of The Grade Cricketer with Sam Perry#213: How The Grade Cricketer became a global success with Ian HigginsWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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!
#333: Managing Partnerships for the Nike Melbourne Marathon at IMG with Clayton Henderson
54:06|Coming up on the show today is the SportsGrad Podcast’s first ever 3-time guest, Clayton Henderson, Partnerships Manager at IMG who worked on the 2025 Melbourne Marathon.Clayton joined SportsGrad in 2021, and first appeared on episode #183, where he was fresh out of uni, before coming back in episode #231 to talk us through his role in Commercial Partnerships at Golf Australia.Today, Clayton runs us through working on a record-breaking Melbourne Marathon in the role of Partnerships Manager at IMG.If you want to understand the rapidly growing world of mass participation events, the commercial program of the IMG events cycle, and future developments to expect for large scale events, you’ll love this chat.We cover:(01:41) - Interview begins(04:16) - Quickfire questions(08:47) - How Clayton made his move to IMG(0:13:43) - How the IMG events cycle effects Clayton’s role(0:19:33) - Clayton’s work on the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival(0:23:50) - Advice Clayton wishes he could’ve given himself for this role(0:27:36) - What IMG covers as a business(0:29:11) - How Clayton made the first move in his career(0:34:29) - Where have Clayton’s connections from SportsGrad Meetups led to?(0:37:38) - Clayton’s learnings over the last 12 months(0:43:40) - Clayton’s advice for someone becoming a young professionalIf you like this ep, give these a go next:#183: Reuben career coaches a grad | Clayton Henderson#231: Commercial Partnerships at Golf Australia | Clayton Henderson#181: Commercial Partnerships at Western Unite | Nathan PerroneWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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!#332: How to land a job in sport before the end of 2025
29:22|Want a job in sport? Click here.Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast, hosted by Reuben Williams, ex-Cricket Australia employee, career coach, public speaker, content creator and Founder of SportsGrad.On this podcast you’ll hear how to find your perfect role, grow your network, win job applications, scale your personal brand, create opportunities for yourself, and land your dream job in sport. Plus the many failures and lessons Reuben has learned from landing a dream job before graduating, helping others to land 700+ jobs in sport, and interviewing over 300+ professionals from the NFL, NBA, AFL, ICC, Cricket Australia, Premier League, Olympics, and many more teams, leagues, agencies and startups.To learn more about Reuben, listen to this episode: #309: How I landed a dream job at Cricket Australia before graduating | Reuben WilliamsFollow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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!#331: Are you 'Industry-Ready' or 'Industry-Wanted'?
37:17|Want a job in sport? Click here.Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast, hosted by Reuben Williams, ex-Cricket Australia employee, career coach, public speaker, content creator and Founder of SportsGrad.On this podcast you’ll hear how to find your perfect role, grow your network, win job applications, scale your personal brand, create opportunities for yourself, and land your dream job in sport. Plus the many failures and lessons Reuben has learned from landing a dream job before graduating, helping others to land 700+ jobs in sport, and interviewing over 300+ professionals from the NFL, NBA, AFL, ICC, Cricket Australia, Premier League, Olympics, and many more teams, leagues, agencies and startups.To learn more about Reuben, listen to this episode: #309: How I landed a dream job at Cricket Australia before graduating | Reuben WilliamsFollow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok Follow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokBig 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!