IT ALL STARTED WHEN...
Living Sport’s International Sport Business (ISB) Program began as a passion project by its founder, Alicia Marinelli, a veteran in the sport industry. “I really like to help young adults find the right path to achieve their professional goals,” says Marinelli. “I remember everyone who had helped me in my quest to work in sports, which is a really tough industry to break into. If I can take the knowledge I learned in the past decade and use it to help develop passionate young professionals, I see it as a win all around,” she says.
Through its ISB Program, Living Sport gives young adults the chance to not only receive international work experience, but also to study sport abroad by exploring other countries. To become a well-rounded individual, and use this to stand out from other applicants while searching for a job. "Having an experience to talk about that not many others do is very intriguing to employers. Add in that it is an international cultural work experience, and I believe you just hit a home run," she adds.
Marinelli was inspired by her friend, Bobby Livingston, a USA Olympian in the sport of track cycling. “As an athlete, Bobby traveled to countless countries during his cycling career beginning as young as 16 years old. On the flip side when we met, I had never left the U.S.”.
In January of 2016, Bobby took Alicia to Berlin, Germany to see the Berlin Six Day, a huge indoor bike race over the course of six straight nights. During this trip she learned about international sports, German culture, and much about herself. This was when she came up with the idea of a global sport experience for college students, recent graduates, or professionals looking to gain an edge in the sport industry. “While experiencing Berlin, I instantly knew that I wanted to start this program. Athletes like Bobby travel the world and have life-inspiring experiences. They find ways to raise money to support their passion of competing. I believe young passionate professionals looking for a way to stand out in a very competitive job market can do the same,” Marinelli enthusiastically proclaims.