Sport Business Club: "We Play in the Same League as Cambridge and Oxford"

ESSEC Alumni’s Sport Business Club  boasts more than 800 member alumni. Its new volunteer administrator Noémie Claret (E06) tells us more about this vast ecosystem and the actions she leads. 

ESSEC Alumni: What is the profile of Sport Business Club members? 

Noémie Claret: We’re geared towards alumni from the sports sector in its broadest sense, from federations and clubs to stadium-type facilities, sports centres, gyms, outfitters, dedicated media, sponsors, specialist agencies in sport event sponsoring and sportstech start-ups, in addition to public administrations, NGOs, charities and leisure players such as ski resorts or e-sport. We’re undoubtedly the greatest French or even European community of sport professionals. We play in the same league as Cambridge and Oxford!

EA: How do you showcase this expertise? 

N. Claret: We strive to promote the ESSEC brand in sport and provide visibility to alumni in this field, firstly by giving them centre stage in our media and communication. Secondly, we organise events enabling them to come together and share their experience, with conferences on market trends or around key sector figures and athletes, visits to organisations our members work for to meet sector players on the ground, and participation in events including the French Open or the Tour de France in partnership with the Sports Chair. We organise learning expeditions such as the recent 2-day event in association with international sports companies and institutions in the Alpine region around Annecy and Lausanne.

EA: What links do you have to the School and its students?  

N. Claret: Karoline Strauss, the tenured professor of the Sports Chair, plays an active role in our club. She provides us with access to her network, academic research and contacts in sports institutions. Furthermore, our graduates offer guidance to students interested in a career in sports. Some are mentors, while others contribute to classes or assist groups with their practical case studies.

EA: What plans does your office have for the Sports Business Club? 

N. Claret: We’re going to continue organising the conferences and breakfast events, but also offer lunch events for small groups around renowned figures. We’d like to provide targeted mentoring and develop a social aspect by presenting our sector’s professions to secondary school pupils in priority districts. And lastly, seeing as all our members are sports enthusiasts, why not organise our own sporting event?

EA: How can alumni support your actions?

N. Claret: We’re looking for volunteers to help us organise certain events, update our database and act as mentors. Don’t hesitate to contact me at: noemie.claret@gmail.com.

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni
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