MVP Corner

Shireen Ahmed: Senior Contributor- CBC Sports

Shireen is currently a senior contributor at CBC sports, she is a multi-platform sports journalist, A TEDx speaker, and an award-winning sports activist. Shireen's work centers on the critical intersections of racism and misogyny in sports and her academic insights and commentary are widely published in Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia. Her work has been featured and discussed in Sports Illustrated, espnW, TSN, The Guardian, Vice, Huffington Post, The National Post and list just goes on!
Shireen has a Masters in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she also teaches Sports Journalism and Sports Media.
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In today’s episode, we talk about her unconventional path to working in the sports industry, her published work and achievements, the importance of unbiased information in sports journalism, coverage of women’s sports and some amazing advice for aspiring sports journalists to thrive in the field.

William Ord: Philanthropy Coordinator- Jays Care Foundation (Toronto Blue Jays)

Listen in as William Ord shares his experience of working with the Toronto Blue Jays, as part of the Jays Care Foundation. He is a 2022 graduate of Brock University’s Sport Management Program. After completing a Business Development internship with the CEBL’s Niagara River Lions in early 2022, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays as a Sales and Service Representative in May 2022. He then joined the organization full time as the Philanthropy Coordinator for the Jays Care Foundation- the official charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays.”
 
 

Andrew Bell: Strategy, Measurement And Analytics - XMC

Tune in as Andrew Bell, Associate Director at XMC talks about the strategy, measurement and analytics side of sports sponsorships. Apart from his role at XMC, Andrew has over 7 years of experience as a Doping Control Officer and has worked in some of the most famous international sporting events in the past.
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Growing up, he was a multi-sport athlete; a soccer player, rugby player, and had a career in pro track and field, which led him to pursue a Bachelors degree in Sport Exercise Science, and Social & Political Science from Loughborough University.
In this episode, we will be chatting about:
1. Andrew's incredible journey within sports
2. Importance of data-driven strategies
3. How his team at XMC uses actionable insights for brands
4. Anti - Doping in major sporting events
5. Advice on working in sports
 

Zvi Katan: Brand Partnerships - TSN, Founder- Raptors Insider

A story of a successful transition into sports from Social Work.
Listen in as Zvi Katan shares his journey of getting an entry level role as a Brand Partnerships Coordinator at TSN. From being a sports fan to having a vision to create a credible source of news for all things Raptors and NBA, Zvi founded The Raptors Insider in 2021 and grew it from 200 to 40k followers in less than 3 years.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this episode, you’ll hear about what ‘Brand Partnerships’ is at TSN , Zvi's motivation to work in sports, story of transitioning from social work to sports, how he built The Raptors Insider and some insights on how students can leverage connections to work in sports. Enjoy!

Micaella Riche: Director Of Basketball Operations at Lay-Up Youth Basketball

Athlete. Coach. Scout. Director Of Basketball Operations.
An absolute Powerhouse - listen in as Micaella shares her experience within the sports industry, talks about her first job, her role with Lay-Up, advice for young professionals to break into sports and more!
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Former NCAA athlete at the University of Minnesota, played professionally overseas along with representing at the provincial and national level. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Kansas State University, and a Master's degree from the University of Minnesota. But that's not all – she did all this while also coaching and assisting in recruiting operations. As a National Scout, she helped identify some of the most talented basketball players across Canada.
With a vision that 'Basketball can change the world', Micaella Riche dedicated on making a positive impact on youth basketball players, both on and off the court. 
 

Introducing MVP Corner

Interviews with sports industry professionals to break down job-titles within sponsorships, sports media, game-day operations, analytics, coaching, journalism, technology and much more. Also provides a unique look into the growth and profitability of investing in women's sports.