MATT'S FIRST STEPS

STUDENT NAME:	Matthew Hekeik
DEPARTMENT:	Consumer Sales – Hospitality

CONTRIBUTION: What were 3 key ways that you contributed to this department during your internship? 

• Supported Targeted Business Engagement Efforts - Identified local businesses, created a strategic plan of attack and expanded contact lists across key corporate categories.  
  

• Led the Business Drop-In Rollout – Conducted and coordinated in-person, business drop-ins with two other Eels Institute students to promote premium seating opportunities at upcoming Home Games.   
  

• Produced Member Packs - Designed and implemented an efficient system for creating and packing premium suite member boxes. 

NETWORKING: Who were 3 key people that you built connections with during this internship? 

• Ryan Filipic (Consumer Sales & Operations Executive) – Fili, as they call him, brought me onto the team and was such a great leader. He allowed me the opportunity to lead the drop ins and showed heaps of trust in me (I beat him in table tennis a couple of times too!).  
  

• Melinda Brazzill (Hospitality Sales & Operations Manager) – Mel was so accommodating and made me feel part of the team. I had some great conversations with her too.   
  

• Dan Clifford (Chief Commercial Officer) –  I felt I built a genuine connection with Dan. He would regularly come through the office; we’d have small chats. It felt like he was watching my development too. 

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: What were 3 key things that you learnt about the sporting industry during this internship? 

• Consumer Sales is the Foundation of the Sports Industry – Before this internship experience, I wasn’t aware that the Consumer space is the foundational, building block for understanding the business side of sport.  
  

• Everything is Strategic – Every decision that is made within the Consumer and more broadly, Commercial space has been thoroughly thought out. The ability to adapt is crucial in this department, especially when results on the field don’t go the Club’s way.  
  

• The Importance of Alignment Amongst Different Departments – Whilst there are different departments within a professional sporting environment, every department needs to be in aligned to achieve success; no department operates in isolation, especially in the Consumer space. 

PERSONAL LEARNING: What was ONE key thing that you learnt about yourself / your career goals during this internship? 

I’m exactly where I need to be! 

I’ve learnt that while it’s great to have a clear career goal, I’m experiencing real growth from embracing opportunities that I didn’t expect, even ones that are outside my ‘planned’ path.