I work at State Sports Centre as a Venue Operations Officer and in Customer Experience

I work at Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre as a Customer Service Officer

I currently coach a basketball team that has had 6 consecutive grand final appearances

I was a referee team leader for a 5km cross-country event in Vietnam back in April, hosting 5,000 athletes. Everything went smoothly. I was responsible for identifying the top 10 male and female runners and awarding prize money, and the top 10 male and female students and awarding university scholarships.

I currently work in operations and know how to set up and pack down for sporting events, and to fulfil client requests most efficiently. I can solve a problem by finding the most efficient approach to a task or to something that is asked of me. I like working as part of a team.

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PPT

Excel

Canva

Adobe Premiere Pro

Co-Pilot

Bachelor of Business (Management major) from Monash University

I have applied for various sporting jobs, and I've landed 3, which are the jobs I'm currently working. Last year, I tried applying for Game Development Officer at Camberwell District Basketball Association.

I was invited for an interview, still I did not have enough experience and I didn’t get the job. I also applied for the AFL Graduate program for 2026, got to the very last round, but didn't proceed to the next stage because I lacked confidence in face-to-face interviews.

I also applied for the Match Day Officer role at Melbourne City FC, but didn't hear back.

I know I have so much more to prove than a 10-minute interview or a resume. My work ethic makes me a competitive candidate for any position in the sporting industry. I am a highly effective and efficient problem solver and can contribute positively to the team. I want recruiters to see that, but an obstacle that keeps me from going further is my ability to interview with confidence, and I was so defeated, but luckily, I stumbled across the SportsGrad Method.

I’ve got nothing to lose, so I signed up, watched the program video, and I'm very excited to get started and be a part of cohort #4.

I thrive in a collaborative, participatory environment where everyone’s working toward a shared goal with clarity and purpose. I perform well under pressure, especially when surrounded by a team that values efficiency, open communication, and mutual accountability. When people are on the same page, driven, focused, and willing to contribute, I feel energised and engaged. I enjoy environments where ideas flow freely, roles are clear, and there’s space for both individual ownership and collective problem-solving. That’s where I do my best work: under pressure, with purpose, and alongside people who care as much as I do.

Moving from Vietnam to Australia was a formative shift. It challenged me to adapt to a new culture, language, and education system, and in doing so, it taught me how to thrive in unfamiliar environments. That adaptability became a core strength. At 13, I tore my ACL while skiing, a devastating injury that required knee reconstruction and forced me to pause my sporting life for a year. But I came back stronger. I won a basketball championship, returned to snow sports, and even took up footy as a new challenge. That experience taught me that setbacks aren’t endpoints, they’re invitations to rebuild. In my final year of high school, COVID flipped everything upside down. Online learning was isolating and unpredictable, but I stayed focused, pushed through, and earned a strong ATAR that secured my place in the course I’d worked so hard for. One of my proudest leadership moments came when I was appointed referee team lead for a national cross-country event in Vietnam, managing logistics and safety for over 5,000 athletes. The scale was immense, and the pressure was real. I had to coordinate rapid contingency plans, maintain team morale, and ensure every decision prioritised wellbeing and fairness. It was a crash course in strategic clarity under pressure. More recently, I faced a workplace injury that involved my finger being lacerated and crushed, which kept me off the job for three months. The physical pain was real, but the emotional toll of being away from the job I care about was even harder. Still, I returned slowly, steadily, and my colleagues told me they admired my determination. Many said they would’ve walked away, but I chose to rebuild. I also completed my final semester of university during that recovery, pushing through pain and surgery to graduate and return to work at the State Sports Centre. I’ve been rejected from countless dream roles in sport. Each one stung. But none of them stopped me. I keep applying, keep growing, and keep showing up because I believe in the work and in myself. Right now, I’m seeking guidance and mentorship. Not because I’m lost, but because I know that resilience is strongest when paired with knowledge. I’m ready to learn, to lead, and to keep turning setbacks into learning experiences.

Outside of work, I’m someone who thrives on movement, music, and meaningful experiences. I love playing casual tennis and staying active, fitness is a big part of how I recharge.

I also enjoy playing guitar, especially when I’m winding down or feeling creative.

Music is a massive part of my life, and I never miss a chance to see my favourite artists live. I’ve been lucky enough to attend concerts by Hozier, The Lumineers, Taylor Swift (which I was front row!), and hoping to attend Mumford & Sons, those moments are pure magic.

I’m a big sports fan too. I support the Hawthorn Hawks in the AFL and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Whether I’m watching a game or kicking the footy around, sport keeps me connected to community and competition. Travel is another passion.

I grew up in a family that valued exploring the world, we travelled every year, and those experiences shaped my worldview. Just a few months ago, I took my first solo trip to Europe. It was transformative. I learned so much, met incredible people, and gained a deeper sense of independence and curiosity. These interests keep me grounded, inspired, and always learning, they’re a big part of who I am beyond the professional space.

My favourite sporting moment has to be when Max Verstappen won his first Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship in 2021 against Lewis Hamilton, in the final race, on the final lap. It was my first time properly watching F1 that season, and I was rooting for Red Bull and Max from the start. He was painted as the villain by much of the media and fans, but I saw something different: his grit, skills, and aggressiveness. I stuck with him. That final race in Abu Dhabi was unreal. It came down to the last lap after a controversial safety car decision. I watched it live on TV. When Max made that overtake and crossed the line first, I went absolutely crazy. I couldn’t believe what I’d just witnessed. It was historic, and it made me fall in love with the sport even more.

I’ve already ticked off the dream: biking through the Netherlands and seeing the windmills and driving a Vespa in the hills of Tuscany. That was magical. Now, I’m dreaming of something totally different: heading to Dallas, Texas, decked out in a complete cowboy outfit, boots, hat. I want to walk into a honky tonk with all my friends, feel the energy of live country music, and line dance (I am actually pretty good at line dancing, turn on Cotton Eye Joe, and you will see). Maybe go to a Dallas Cowboys game to see the cheerleader do their incredible routine to Thunderstruck, and also go to an NBA game on top of that. I want to live like a Cowboy for a day, basically. I guess that’s my ideal holiday.

If I had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, it would be Stephen Curry, right after his clutch performance against France in the Olympic gold medal game. With three defenders on him and the pressure of the home crowd, he stayed calm, read the play like a true point guard, and drained a deep three that sealed the win for Team USA. That moment was pure confidence and composure, and his “night night” celebration was cold. I’d love to understand his mentality, how he maintains such mental clarity under pressure, how he reads defences so instinctively, and where that unwavering belief in his ability comes from. His mix of poise, vision, and swagger is something I deeply admire.

One book that’s had a real impact on how I approach my work is The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath. I first read it for a university assignment, but it stuck with me far beyond the classroom. The book reframes how we think about impact, not through grand gestures, but through small, intentional moments that leave lasting impressions. In customer experience, that idea really resonated with me. I started thinking about how going just a bit beyond, whether it’s a warm welcome, a thoughtful gesture, or a moment of genuine connection, can capture a patron’s attention and build loyalty. It’s those little marks that turn a transaction into a relationship, and a routine shift into something memorable. That mindset has helped me build stronger client connections and deliver more meaningful service.

Melbourne, prefer to work in Melbourne at this current time, but open to other locations in the future.

Professional development opportunities

Gain working experience

Make connections

Build confidence in interviews and speaking

"You would be a great Venue Operations Supervisor. I think putting you in the full-time VOS role candidate list would be a better option if you are open to that?" - Kelsey Quinn, Venue Operations Team Leader at State Sports Centre, through an email.

"I love working with you. You’re awesome to work with. I admire your ability bouncing back, I’m very thankful for that. If it was me with the injury, I would’ve left long ago, so I really appreciate having you here" - Dave, Venue Operations Supervisor at State Sports Centre, in person.

"You’re a very good coach, I like your coaching style. It’s amazing to go to six back-to-back grand finals. Why don’t you coach rep basketball? You’d be great at it." - Annalise, rep player at Camberwell Dragons and star player at Titans Basketball Club (club I currently coach), in person.

What does success look like in this role beyond KPIs what kind of impact would you hope I make?

How do you support culturally diverse employees and ensure equity across teams? - How does your organisation respond to mistakes or setbacks what does accountability look like here?

Can you share how feedback is typically given and received across teams? - What does your onboarding process look like, and how do you help new team members feel included and confident?

What are the typical development pathways toward more senior roles/career advancements here, and what qualities or contributions do you look for in candidates who are ready to take that next step?