I completed my Master's of Business degree from The University of Queensland in July 2025 and, since then, have gained experience spanning marketing, content writing, data analysis, and event management. A key motivator for the work I do is the desire to make a meaningful community impact.

Currently, I work as a freelancer for a media platform, writing sports-related articles (E.g. FIFA, Australian Badminton Open 2026, Women's T20 World Cup). I also write my own sports-related blogs, combining them with fan/game analysis as a marketer. Along with this, I also assist a professor with course development for a university.

Prior to this, I worked as a Data Analyst at Downer Digital in Sydney, where I analysed large datasets using Databricks, built stakeholder reports, and collaborated on client-facing digital sites. Before that, I was a Marketing & Orientation Coordinator at The University of Queensland, leading a team of 200+ student volunteers across orientation week and managing digital communications and event logistics.

As a recent graduate, my experience spans different roles and industries, but I am actively exploring opportunities in the sports industry to build my career.

In my role as a Marketing & Orientation Coordinator at The University of Queensland (UQ), I was responsible for helping with organising student engagement initiatives such as orientation, networking events, and others. I coordinated a team of over 200 student volunteers, helped with event logistics, designed collaterals, coordinated with multiple teams, and ensured the effective flow of the event on the day. Considering the scale of the event, it definitely required strong communication skills, managing competing priorities, being resilient and the ability to keep a lot of moving parts aligned, and we delivered all events on time and successfully.

One of the outcomes I am the most proud of is the centralised digital hub I built, a Study Support module and Linktree, which improved resource accessibility for students across the faculty. As a student myself at the university, I identified the need for a one-stop platform with all useful resources, and so took the ownership of it. The goal was to make sure students could find what they needed quickly, and the feedback from the module shared was really positive.

What makes this role stand out for me in terms of delivery is that I was doing all of this while completing my final semester and scored a 7/7 GPA in my final semester, finishing my degree with a 6.5/7 GPA.

So the KPI for me was not just to organise the events smoothly, but to do it all by staying organised, productive, delivering high-quality work, and making an impact at all times.

I bring a combination of skills that I think sits the intersection of sports, marketing, data,and content writing.

From the sports side, I am a big follower/fan of every sport, particularly badminton, football, and cricket. I follow these sports closely enough to understand not just what is happening on the field but how different audiences engage with them, using my marketing mindset. I have written match analysis, player spotlights, and tournament coverage for platforms like The Bridge and Female Cricket in India, and currently write for Indian Link in Australia, and so I understand how to translate game moments into compelling content. I also attended and supported the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 as a community advocate and the Australian Badminton Open 2026, which gave me real sports event experience and also the chance to interact with the players themselves. through which I had some meaningful and inspiring conversations.

From the marketing perspective, I hold a Master's degree in it, and am also certified in Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Digital Marketing, Canva Human-Centered Design and using AI in marketing, which allows me to back my sports interest and creative instincts with data. I have hands-on experience in sports writing, social media marketing, data analysis,and event management.

On the soft skills side, I would emphasise my storytelling abilities, resilience, organised behaviour, professional presentation,and the ability to work under pressure. For instance, I performed my duties during my role at UQ while finishing my final semester, which taught me a lot about prioritising tasks and staying calm when things get busy. Over the years, I have also built on my networking skills and the ability to work across cross-functional teams, which I believe are essential. Also, my proactive mindset and the desire to learn and upskill continuously allow me to contribute, grow and meet expectations effectively.

So for a sports role specifically, I bring the fan perspective, the marketing toolkit, the analytical mindset, along with a set of soft skills, with a desire to make a community impact.

Marketing Tools: Canva, Google Analytics, Social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X), HubSpot, Shopify, Meta Business Suite

Content Writing: Wix, WordPress, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Notion

Data Analysis- Databricks, Qualtrics, SPSS

Master of Business in Marketing and Advertising from The University of Queensland, Brisbane (July 2023-July 2025): I graduated as a Valedictorian and Dean's Honour Roll recipient for being in the top 10% of the graduating batch.

Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science Engineering from India (July 2019- May 2023).

Beyond my degrees, I also hold multiple certifications in digital marketing, Google Analytics, social media marketing, human-centered designing from Google, Meta, and Canva.

I am always keen to upskill myself through courses and certifications.

I think the most important thing I have done is deciding to follow my passion despite what society says. I switched from a bachelor's in engineering to an uncertain pathway of a Master's in Marketing because I was passionate about it. I started writing about women's cricket during the pandemic because I loved it and felt those stories deserved to be told, and that proactiveness has shaped everything since.

From there, I actively explored platforms to publish on. I wrote for The Bridge and Female Cricket, which gave me real insights and an audience, and taught me how to write for sports fans specifically, not just as a marketer, but as someone who genuinely understands the game.

After moving to Australia, I continued creating Instagram content and writing independently on my blog, covering key fan insights and also players that I feel aren't getting enough attention.

Beyond content, I have tried to put myself physically in the spaces where sport happens. I attended the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, Australian Badminton Open because I wanted to be part of it and understand what live sports experiences feel like from the inside, and also build connections in the space, which I actually did.

Since moving to Sydney from Brisbane, I have also been engaging with the community here, attending networking events, and using LinkedIn to find and connect with relevant people, and my search led me to SportsGrad.

Additionally, I have been upskilling myself continuously through courses and certifications in marketing, data analysis, and writing because I believe that learning never stops.

As an early-career graduate and also with a temporary visa, I know that having the right support network and the right people to reach out to makes a real difference, not just for finding opportunities but for understanding how the industry actually works from the inside, and that's what motivated me to join SportsGrad.

I thrive in a dynamic environment where there is a clear goal in mind and people like working collaboratively towards the purpose they are building. Also, considering I like exploring things, I prefer environments where no two days are the same, and there are opportunities to learn and grow.

I would like to answer this with my journey since moving from India to Australia to pursue my passion for marketing as a Master's degree student. I was not travelling a mile away from home but also changing careers, which carried with it a lot of uncertainty. It required courage, adaptability and self-belief that I honestly doubted at the time, but looking back, it shaped a lot of who I am now, both personally and professionally.

If you ask my schoolmates or childhood friends, they would call me quite an introvert and shy individual, but when I moved to Australia, a promise I made to myself was to get over this comfort zone of mine, and I did exactly that.

There were moments where the pressure was really real. But I learned that resilience is not about pretending things are not difficult but about staying focused and finding ways on how you can manage and control without compromising on other things.

More recently, figuring the job market as an early career graduate on a visa has tested me in a different way. There are multiple challenges that come with that, including a lack of experience, or meeting the job description but not having the relevant visa, jobs closing off internally before getting published on job boards and the emotional weight of building a career in an industry you are deeply passionate about while also managing these realities. It would be easy to feel discouraged, and honestly, there have been moments where I have. But in moments like these, I have learnt to be resilient by reflecting back on how far I have come, upskilling myself, and showing up to communities and spaces like this, because I genuinely believe that consistency and passion over time are what open the doors, and what is meant for you will find you no matter what.

Outside of work, I like to write, watch sports, play badminton, and read books

I honestly have so many of them:

My ideal holiday would be somewhere completely immersed in nature and water (E.g.,the Maldives)

That's a tough one! I would go with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli.

He grew up in a country where cricket is everything, but he built a personal brand so powerful that it reaches people who have never watched a cricket match. As someone passionate about marketing, his case study is one to definitely think about- on how he thinks of his public image, how he built it, why people are so emotionally attached to him, and what he understood about his audience that others missed.

Another reason for choosing him is that he is one of the most visible athletes to support and cheer for the women's team as well. Because I think the solution to my problem discussed previously is not just about marketing budgets and brand deals, but who actually shows up to you and why. The consumer behaviour side of it is so important to understand.

I want to work in sport to make a difference to stories that are not being told yet. And I think thirty minutes with someone who has lived at the intersection of sport, culture, and influence would teach me more about how to do that.

One book that has genuinely changed the way I work is Atomic Habits by James Clear. The core idea that stuck with me is that the smallest of efforts you are putting in matter and will play a significant role in your long-term growth and success.

Living in Sydney, but open to work anywhere in Australia

Opportunity to keep learning, building meaningful connections, and growing while making a positive contribution.

Testimonial from a manager: “Anika is meticulous, hard-working and a go-getter. You give her a job and no matter how difficult it might seem, she will find a way to get it done. She is passionate and gives her 200% to all that she puts her heart into. Anika is devoted, focused, and innovative in her approach, which makes working with her smooth and an easy ride. She is a problem-solver and enthusiastic team player. Her dedication, zeal and passion for marketing make her a precious asset and I am sure it will take her to places.”

Testimonial from a professor: “I am delighted to write this recommendation for Anika Kapoor, who was a student in my Strategic Branding (MKTG7502) tutorial class in 2024. Anika displayed remarkable enthusiasm for the subject, consistently contributing valuable insights in class discussions. As part of a high-performing group, she excelled in completing a real-world brand strategy audit and delivering actionable recommendations. Her engagement and outstanding performance in assessments reflect her deep understanding and dedication to becoming an exceptional practitioner in this field. I wholeheartedly recommend Anika for internships and future employment opportunities. I am confident she will prove to be a valuable asset to any team."

What are the biggest challenges the team is currently trying to solve?

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How does the organisation incorporate AI within their day-to-day tasks?

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How does the organisation support those early in their career to learn, get mentored, grow and take on more responsibility over time?

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