FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - SHOKO TSUJI

Shoko Tsuji

Current Position: Head of Partnership Success, MyCujoo

Year of graduation: 2017 (17th edition)

Nationality: Japanese

What does your current role involve?

I joined MyCujoo in October 2017, shortly after completing the FIFA Master. MyCujoo was founded in 2014 to tackle a problem: giving visibility to “the other 90%” of football matches around the world that currently do not get any exposure. Having previously worked in Spain doing TV production of LaLiga, MyCujoo seemed like the perfect opportunity to move into the digital space and also explore the long-tail of football.

In my first role at MyCujoo, I was based in Singapore and responsible for the “AFC Live Streaming Project”, where I worked alongside the Asian Football Confederation to implement live streaming within its member associations. A year later, I moved to the Amsterdam HQ where I am currently responsible for creating and implementing a global strategy to support our partners and help them achieve their strategic objectives. Providing technical, marketing and commercial support to over 2000 partners from over 150 countries worldwide can be challenging at times, but has also encouraged us to look for scalable solutions, automate processes, and think outside the box. As the bridge between the Business and Tech teams, I am also responsible for relaying customer feedback and suggesting new features internally, as well as informing our partners about product updates.

In addition to my main role at MyCujoo, I have recently co-founded a venture called SPORT GLOBAL (sportglobal.jp) which inspires, informs and empowers Japanese students and professionals to pursue an education or career in sport overseas. Our goal is to help increase the number of Japanese professionals working in sport organisations overseas and ultimately increase Japan’s presence in the international sport scene.

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

The experience of thinking critically, exchanging ideas and working together with colleagues from different nationalities and backgrounds has definitely prepared me for my role today, where I am working across multiple departments in a multicultural environment.

The multidisciplinary nature of the FIFA Master has also trained me to approach matters from various angles and look at the bigger picture before making a decision. This is especially important in the fast-paced environment that I work in, where I often need to plan and execute within a short time frame, while considering the interests of multiple stakeholders.

Finally, the vast network of FIFA Master alumni worldwide has been a huge asset to me both on a professional and personal level. Knowing that I can reach out to someone from the network to seek advice in any country on any topic is a true privilege. I currently work closely with alumni on a daily basis, and when I was relocated to Malaysia and Singapore during my first year at MyCujoo, it was the alumni in both countries that helped me to settle down and with whom I developed the strongest friendships. Although it has been three years since I graduated, I feel that the FIFA Master experience is still ongoing and I look forward to connecting with more alumni in the future.

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

Go with an open mind, ask questions and don’t close doors to any opportunities! A football journalist once told me to “write articles with your feet, not with your hands”, highlighting the importance of going to places and meeting people directly, instead of just relying on second-hand information. Whether it’s meeting industry experts and alumni, exploring the mountains of Neuchatel or playing football with your colleagues, the FIFA Master offers countless opportunities inside and outside the classroom to learn and grow, so make the most of them!

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).

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