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News

Mon. 06 September 2021

FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - SOFIA MALIZIA

Sofía Malizia

Current Position: MA Governance Manager at FIFA

Year of graduation: 2018 (18th edition)

Nationality: Argentinian/Italian

What does your current role involve?

After a great experience in Venue Management at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018, I joined the MA Governance Member Associations Department at FIFA at the end of October 2018.

My role as MA Governance manager consists of dealing with governance matters at National Federations, who are members of FIFA. The job has two aspects. Firstly, crisis management, which is the reactive part. These crises may arise by external interference, such as political interference, or crises which may arise by internal tensions within the National Federation. The second pillar is crisis prevention, which is the proactive aspect to prevent the abovementioned problems. In this context, we review the statutes framework of the National Federations.

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

I think that the FIFA Master represented a key factor in my career development. The FIFA Master gave me the tools needed for making choices in my professional career and to work in an international environment. Within the context of my work, I am constantly in touch with National Federations all around the world, the 6 Confederations and various other stakeholders. I believe the FIFA Master contributed a lot in giving me the knowledge and tools which have allowed me to gain an increased understanding of the different facets of the sports industry. Further, the course has allowed me to be able to work and succeed in the different contexts, practices and cultures I am emerged into as part of my role at FIFA. Finally, the FIFA Master has also given me the opportunity to be in contact with people who are critical reference points in my daily job and professional career.

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

The FIFA Master is a once in a lifetime experience, so enjoy the whole year and everything that the course provides you with. Not only the classes, but the social events, the field visits, the time that the guest speakers give to the class. Furthermore, try to spend as much time as possible with your classmates and to have an open and curious mind towards their way of thinking, backgrounds and lived experiences as they can be some of the biggest “teachers” of the master. In addition, you have the opportunity of living in three different cities and countries so try exploring and get emerged into the local culture as well as the opportunities that these cities offer to you.

Finally, the course alumni have an excellent reputation all around the world within the industry so try to engage with not only your classmates and speakers, but also former students too. In the end they will play a key role in your future career and will be helpful references points.

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked No.1 Course in Europe 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 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).

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