Dr. Ivana Nobilo, Program Director for our Master’s in Sports Management & Events, has an incredible track record in these disciplines, having helped to create more than a thousand events involving sport, music, charity galas, exhibitions and much more. She took time out to explain more about this program and why Switzerland is its perfect home…
Hello from Switzerland, home of over 50 international sports federations and hundreds of events and festivals!
The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Montreux Jazz Festival, Paleo Festival in Nyon, Locarno Film Festival, Watches & Wonders in Geneva, Art Basel, Lauberhorn Alpine Ski World Cup race, Weltklasse Zürich athletics, and Omega European Masters golf tournament in Crans-Montana… these are just a few of the globally renowned events that are ‘Swiss made’.
Being in Switzerland provides unparalleled networking and learning opportunities for our students, as our curriculum includes immersive local business trips offering hands-on experiences and practical knowledge in real-world settings.
On-campus, Les Roches has a strong internal faculty to deliver specialized courses for this Master’s degree. But faculty are not just strong academically; they also have good connections within many industries, so we really walk the talk.
As with every Les Roches program we are showcasing the school’s mission, which is to deliver transformative education that combines high quality, research-led academic learning with real-world industry exposure. The Master’s in Sports Management and Events will host esteemed guest speakers, including representatives from top international sports federations and event agencies, who will provide invaluable insights, real-world business cases, and pathways to internships. All of this delivers genuine enrichment to the learning experience.
Who is this program for?
Our Master’s is designed for ambitious Bachelor’s degree graduates. Whether they are young with no experience at all, looking for some entry level positions in events agencies or sports clubs, or they are career changers passionate about sports management and events, our program offers both the dynamic learning environment and comprehensive curriculum that will help them excel and innovate in this ever-evolving event industry.
These are not just fun and exciting environment to work in. As industries they are also major economic contributors. The number of employees in the sports sector is growing – for example, the USA has enjoyed 7% and Europe 11% compound annual growth rates in the last two to three years. In financial terms, the global events industry is expected to reach a value of $2 trillion by 2028.
So, the job market size opportunity is there; you just need to have the right knowledge and skills to blend into this amazing industry.
Get a leg up on the international sports industry and study in Switzerland, home to many international sport federations.
What about some of the potential roles on offer? There are too many to list all of them, but here’s a flavor: General Manager Sports & Events, Public Relations Manager, Event Manager, Guest Relations Manager, Compliance Officer, Marketing Specialist, Brand Manager, Sports Analytics Manager, Business Development Manager, Talent Agent, Facility Operations Manager, Ticketing Specialist, Media Analyst, Corporate Partnerships Manager or F&B Manager. And there so many sectors to work in, such as sports, recreation, tourism, entertainment, fashion, or art.
The Master’s curriculum is intertwined with six key trends driving the professionals sports and event industries, namely: technology integration, esports, fan engagement, increasing popularity of women’s pro sports, the focus on health and safety, and sustainability initiatives.
The first semester will cover topics from the fields of marketing, brands, events, and the economics of sport. It takes full advantage of our campus being based in Switzerland and enables students to get to know the local environment.
The second semester broadens our focus to cover the governance and managerial aspects of international sports federations, alongside innovations and esports courses, and with the exclusive study trip to Abu Dhabi being the cherry on the top. During this field trip, students will embark on a transformative journey in which they will engage with industry leaders against the backdrop of Formula 1, offering invaluable insights and connections.
Introducing “Share the Knowledge”
At Les Roches, we are committed to providing our students with a comprehensive, world-class education that combines academic rigor with real-world practicality. An integral part of this commitment is our “Share the Knowledge” platform, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between industry insights and academic learning.
As a Master’s student you’ll have full access to Share the Knowledge, providing a vibrant space in which industry experts can engage with our students and share invaluable insights, experiences, and knowledge. This occurs through a variety of interactive formats, including lecturing, master classes, webinars, guest speaking engagements, panel discussions, and mentorship sessions. Our aim is to foster a rich learning environment where students can gain practical insights and industry perspectives, complementing their academic studies.
Recommended next steps
If you would like to get more of a flavor of this program, please join the new series of Master Classes we’re holding every month, with the first one taking place on 24May at 14:00 CEST. The topic is ‘Use of technology to enhance fan experience and boost revenue’, and your host is Bart Prinssen, an amazing professional who is responsible for the sports data collection and distribution modeling for FIBA, the world governing body of basketball, as well as managing all relationships with international sports federations.
Bart has successfully delivered complex official partnerships with the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and he is leading the negotiations to supply team sport equipment to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
There will be more Master Classes to come, plus myself and my team will be only too happy to answer any questions you may have about this program. Reach out, we hope to welcome you to campus soon!
About the author:
Dr. Ivana Nobilo is Associate Professor and Program Manager of the Master’s in Sports Management and Events by Les Roches. She is committed to education through research and lecturing, while also bringing more than 25 years’ experience in areas including entrepreneurship, marketing consulting and executive coaching.
Through her full service marketing agency, she and her team organized or co-produced over 1,000 events of different types, from sports, concerts and tours, through conferences and fairs to exhibitions, charity gala events, product launches, promotions and weddings. She has also produced radio and TV shows, CDs and DVDs, of which some have been award-winning.
Just a few of the star names, brands and events from her list of experiences are: Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Monserrat Caballe, Michael Bolton, ATP Tour Umag, European Futsal Championship, FC Barcelona – Hajduk, Pro Taekwondo, Auto@2030, GS1, Rixos, Croatian National Football Association.
Ivana likes to say she is a cosmopolitan with Mediterranean roots; passionate about sport, traveling and food and always searching for – and working on – a deeper understanding of people, processes and causes. She is constantly hungry for knowledge and believes that all the answers can be found in the places where two or more areas of expertise are overlapping.
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