What can Sandip do?
Give a quick overview of your work experience (jobs, internships, volunteering)?
I have spent 12 years in sports managing commercial partnerships, developing grassroots sports programs, generating business revenue and creating end to end marketing campaigns for brands such as Nike, NBA, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Ferrero-Rocher, adidas, Asics, Unilever amongst others.
I've also led fan engagement initiatives for IPL teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals. In my last role at Sportz Village (India's largest sports management agency), I was leading Strategy and Business Development for the Brand solution department.
I recently worked with Cricket Australia on the SCG 2026 test match with the Customer Experience team generating real-time feedback through fan interaction and relaying insights to elevate match day experience for fans generating a NPS of 7+.
I have been involved with the UTS North Sydney Bears cricket team across sponsorships, match day operations and admin work since October 2024.
Do you have a track record of delivering measurable outcomes or KPIs?
Managed over 26+ commercial partners generating over AUD 4.5M in revenue with a 100% retention rate.
Executed the ‘Junior NBA’ grassroots basketball in-school program engaging over 3 million kids across eight states generating a revenue of AUD 2M each year and a growth rate of 17% annually for my agency
Led end-to-end creative concepts & sports activations for brands, partners and sports leagues generating over 3.5M+ social media impressions, 2000 app downloads and engaging over 10,000 participants.
Managed Coca-Cola’s National Sub-Junior Football Championship over four years, across 85 cities, over 3,000 schools and 40,000 participants.
What technical or industry-specific skills do you bring?
Grassroots Cricket Development: Designed and executed school and college contact programs (BoostCamp, Gully Cricket Championship, Campus Ambassador).
Commercial Partnerships & Client servicing: Secured and retained 26+ commercial partners with 100% retention; experience in sponsor servicing and third-party delivery management.
Youth Engagement (5–12 age group focus): Delivered large-scale entry-level sports programs, reaching 9,500+ cricket participants across 860 schools.
Project & People Leadership: Led cross-functional teams of 5–18 people; managed multi-city grassroots activations and high-performance training pathways.
Local Volunteering Experience: Volunteer with UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club in sponsorship and match-day operations. Regular member at SportsGrad and worked with Cricket Australia with the CX team for the SCG test
What tools/platforms/software are they proficient in?
Microsoft Office (Excel, Powerpoint, Word)
ZOHO CRM Platform
What qualifications, certifications, or degrees do you hold?
MBA - Communication Management from Symbiosis University, India
Master of Commerce - Advanced Accounting & Taxation Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting & Costing Business English Certificate(BEC) - Cambridge University
My background in sales, marketing campaigns and program management means I can spot growth opportunities and then execute them flawlessly, from concept to final report.
I believe that I combine commercial acumen with a deep understanding of multi-sport large scale program execution at both corporate and grassroots level. My background in sales, marketing campaigns and program management means I can spot growth opportunities and then execute them flawlessly, from concept to final report. I’ve done this repeatedly, in diverse markets, under pressure, and often with limited resources. Since moving to Australia, I’ve been proactive in immersing myself in the local sports ecosystem—joining the SportsGrad community, volunteering with UTS Bears, learning the landscape, and building deeps connections. So while I bring rich international experience, I also bring humility, curiosity, and an eagerness to prove myself in the Australian sports industry. I’m confident my mix of global perspective, operational strength, and genuine passion for community and sport adds real value.
What steps has Sandip taken to break into the sport industry?
Networking - I joined the SportsGrad team in October 2024 in Sydney and attend regular sports industry meet-ups. I use the connections to network with fellow sports industry professionals and meet them over coffee, online calls to learn more about the culture in Australia.
SportsGrad Method Program - Joined the first batch of the SCG method program, learning about the Sports industry in Australia, connecting with sports professionals and also worked with a sports mentor on a plan to network, connect and reach out to contacts across sports agencies, national sports bodies and brands in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Playing Club Cricket in Sydney - Joined the Chatswood Gypsies team in Sydney and have played three seasons of Grade 3 club cricket with team mates from Australia, India, Pakistan and England.
Volunteering - Actively volunteering for UTS North Sydney Bears cricket team since last year on their sponsorship and match day operations team and for Cricket Australia on the SCG test with their CX team.
Reach your Potential Program - Enrolled in the RYPP for 8 weeks at the Crows Nest centre in Sydney learning CV customisation, Goal setting, STAR framework and networking through coaches.
Sandip’s interest in sport all started when he was watching his first live cricket game as an 11 year old
Witnessing the semi-finals of the 1996 Cricket World Cup, with over 100000 people in attendance at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata left a lasting impression on me. The thrilling encounter still remains one of the most brilliant sporting experience I have witnessed till date. That experience led to a lifelong journey of loving cricket and also shaped my professional growth as a player and a sports management professional for the past 13 years. Sports has been a central force in my life for over 30 years and it has taught me life skills like discipline, team work, resilience amongst many others. I use the same belief systems as a sports professional, making it easier for the organisations I work with to generate revenue, create positive sports stories, enhance match and fan experience and create sports systems at the grassroots level. My vision is to enhance sports opportunities for kids and youth by generating revenue through partnerships and sponsorships so sports and organisations can thrive in the long run.
Where does Sandip want to go?
Next six-12 months | Next 5-10 years |
|---|---|
Get a breakthrough within the Sports Industry (Brands/Agencies) in Australia, preferably in sports like Cricket/Tennis/F1 by 31st March 2026. I am specifically looking for roles focused on Commercial Partnerships, Sponsorships, Business Development, Sports activations and Grassroots school programs. | I want to start a sports company of my own in the future. Focus on providing great sports experiences to kids/youth and adults in Australia and around the world. |
What sporting problem keeps Sandip up at night, and how would they solve it?
One problem I'd like to solve is 'generating enough revenue' for sports organisations, industry bodies and sports brands so that enough money flows in the system for executing grassroots sports program, creating unmatched fan engagement and a enhanced live match experience at the stadium.
What is Sandip like?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
I love to work in an environment where the team works in a cohesive manner and supports each other to achieve collective goals. Working with a manager where there is accountability and trust helps me perform better.
When have you had to show resilience in your life or career?
One of the most recent examples of resilience is when I migrated to Australia in 2024. Starting a new life from scratch in a new country without any support and connections required me to look deep within. I had to change my outlook towards life, unlearn everything I was conditioned to and imbibe the new culture in Australia. All the while staying positive, look for new opportunities and survive in a new city. It has been the toughest phase of my life yet but I am glad it happened as it forced me to change myself and look at life differently.
What about Sandip’s interests outside of work?
What are your interests outside of work?
I love reading, watching movies and travelling. Books - I love Andre Agassi's autobiography 'Open' and 'The Mamba Mentality' by Kobe Bryant. I love reading stories of resilience and comeback in sports. As a young boy, I got introduced to the world of Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie so I am also a big fan of murder mysteries and crime thrillers with Dan Brown and John Grisham being favourites.
Movies - A huge Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg fan, I love watching thrillers and animated movies. The Hayden Orpheum (Cremorne) and the IMAX in Sydney are regular hangouts.
Travelling - Since moving to Sydney, I have been doing a lot of coastal walks with the Bondi-Coogee walk being my favourite.
What is your favourite sporting moment?
It has to be my first experience of watching sports at a live stadium when I was 11. The Semi-finals of the 1996 Cricket World Cup at Eden Gardens, Kolkata with over 100000 people chanting 'Sachin Sachin' which ending in a heartbreak for the Indian fans. Surely a core memory which still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!
What’s your ideal holiday?
A beach destination which includes swimming, great food, a thriller book and some sight seeing in the evening.
If you had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, who would it be and why?
It would have to be the legendary 'Virat Kohli'. I would love to understand how he balances high performance, fitness, relationships and his business ventures. Excited to learn about his turn around in 2012 and his journey from there to one of the fittest athletes in the world.
What’s book or podcast that’s helped your career you recommend?
Reading 'Atomic Habits' led me to implement small process improvements with my team which encouraged a culture of growth. Listening to the 'SportsGrad Podcast' helped me get an inkling on the process and structures of the Australian Sports Landscape.
Additional details
Where in the world are you located, and where are you open to work?
Living in Sydney, but open to work in Melbourne & Brisbane as well
What is the most important consideration for you in your next role?
Learning and growth opportunities
Great team to work with
Industry standard salary
What others say about Sandip
Manoj George (Ex-Boss at SportzVillage Xp) I worked with Sandip when I was at SportzVillage. He has great understanding of the Sports Marketing Domain. Sandip brings a great deal of enthusiasm passion and discipline to his work. He is one of the few sales professionals who starts his day early plans and meticulously executes his daily tasks. Sandip was able to create good momentum in his region for solution selling and ensured great service delivery to his clients. He is a valuable asset to any progressive and professional team that he is part of.
Ankur Shukla (Client- Hero MotoCorp) Sandip is a very hard working and sincere professional. He is very good at understanding client's requirement and works on delivering quality output. He is ready to take feedback at any point of time and works on incorporating the same. Innovation, Persistence and Sincerity are his trademark qualities. Happy to have worked with him Ajay Raj
(Team member reporting to me) Sandip is a gem to have around. He is a great manager and an outstanding mentor. He is innovative, helpful, and is always open to ideas and suggestions. He has made me improve in many professional areas. It was a pleasure to work with him for all these years. Cheers
What questions does Sandip have for employers?
What is the success metric/KPI's for this role?
What are some of the biggest challenges your team faces in delivering sponsorship activations during major events?
What does success look like for someone in this role in the first 6 months?
How does the team collaborate with various other departments like marketing, events, and operations during peak seasons?
What professional development opportunities are available for employees?
Is there anything about my background in international sports marketing that stands out to you?
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