FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - VERONIKA MUEHLHOFER

Veronika Muehlhofer

Current Position: CEO & Founder, Millionsports GmbH

Year of graduation: 2004 (4th edition)

Nationality: Austrian

 

What does your current role involve?

I run my own consulting company in sports and event management, which I founded in 2011. I work as a consultant or contractor for major events (5 x Olympic Games, various World Cups and World Championships in various sports), for national and international federations, and for some sponsors and agencies. In addition, I am acting General Secretary and CEO of the Swiss Rugby Union, a Board Member of Rugby Europe and a Council member of World Rugby.

I am also an educator for World Rugby (in coaching, event management, and federation management), as well as for the International Paralympic Committee (in Competition Management and event operations) and most recently for CIES and FIFA (in event management and venue operations).

Which aspects of the FIFA Master course have helped you most in your career?

A large number of the things I studied on the FIFA Master have been useful and important throughout my career. Most notably, a strong introduction to the history, structure, and governance of international sporting bodies has been very useful in the beginning of my career in sports. In addition, the entire law module has been and continues to be vital in my work as I am not a lawyer but I am often confronted with contract law, employment law, sponsorship and television rights and various other legal topics.  As a CEO and entrepreneur, I have to be educated on a myriad of subjects, and the breadth of education on the FIFA Master was a good basis for this. Naturally, I continue to expand my knowledge through reading, online classes, and other means of education.

What advice would you give to future students on the course?

To enjoy it, make the most of it, and soak up as much information as you can. In addition, don’t underestimate and do value the contacts the FIFA Master allows you to make, both among the lecturers and guest speakers and through the FIFA Master Alumni network. Lastly, really immerse yourself in the three locations of Leicester, Milan and Neuchâtel where the Master allows you to live. That’s such a unique experience which you will remember for the rest of your life.

 

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked No.1 Course in Europe 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 by the SportBusiness International global rankings.

Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).

Discover more examples of inspiring FIFA Master alumni career paths by clicking here.