It is my absolute pleasure to be a part of the Atletico Ottawa team, especially being hired as a part of the initiative for Women in Soccer, a commitment that the club strives for. 

The nation recognizes women each year on March 8th, International Women’s Day, to continue the goal of achieving gender equality worldwide. An investment in the future of equal rights for all genders is an investment in the progress of our community and culture. #InspireInclusion is the theme of #IWD2024.

I am joining the club as a marketing coordinator, working directly with Jon Sinden, the club’s COO and CMO. Through this position, I aim to acquire all the tools I need to grow in my professional career in the sports and entertainment world. I grew up in Ottawa; I have been here from the beginning of my life, and my childhood home is within walking distance from Lansdowne. Since I was just a little girl, I always loved soccer; I started playing at four years of age and have not stopped loving it. 

I have always had a passion for sports, specifically soccer; once I got to high school, I knew that working in sports was a career path I wanted to pursue. For the last five years, I have worked at Carleton University as the Game Public Announcer for The Women’s & Men’s Soccer Teams, The Women’s & Men’s Hockey Teams and the Women’s Rugby Team. It has been an encouraging experience to know that, as a woman, I had a place in sports where I could work and grow in my industry knowledge. I have been a fan of the club for many years and have aspired to work within the Atletico Ottawa club because I see it as a platform that can grow our culture and community as the country’s capital city.

In my first week on the job, I participated in sales team training led by Lou Depaoli, the President of Executive Search and Team Consulting at General Sports Worldwide. The training and conversations with Lou and our sales team gave me tools and ideas to help me strengthen my position and opportunities to grow the globe beyond what I imagined. 

Getting the opportunity to work with Atletico Ottawa is more than a dream; it is my passion. On one of my first days, CEO Fernando Lopez said you need to sign my contract now; it is a contract that simply says, Respect. Commitment. Passion. These are the three things I need to remember when continuing on my path as a woman in this industry: stay committed, be passionate, feel respected and respect everyone around me. I cannot thank Atletico Ottawa enough for this opportunity to be a part of this team. I cannot wait to grow as a woman in sports and advocate for other girls and women with the same passion and dreams as mine; anything is possible. Just don’t stop believing in yourself.