Female CEO Excellence 2017 Awards

18 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 , “Sports Revolution has been in a period of transition, from a focus on media sales to a full-service sports media specialist. Winning this award for best Sports Media & Rights Agency helps us continue our mission to be the best independent sports agency in the UK.” “I am also a non-executive director of Women’s Sport Network, a not-for-profit community promoting issues and opportunities around women’s sport. Essentially, I would like to do more develop both the Women’s sports network and Women’s sports in general, but beyond that I am committed to delivering revenues and beneficial sponsorships to under- represented sports, not just for women but for federations and associations for both sexes. Women’s sport sits in a long line of under-represented sports sectors such as squash or parkour, yet sponsor revenues are consistently pointed at the top 5. I would like to help change this and deliver a more rounded approach.” Lastly, Kelly signs off by explaining what she would like to see change with regard to women Sports Revolution is an international sports marketing agency offering a range of services including sports sponsorship, consultancy andmedia planning. We invitedManaging Director KellyWilliams-Richardson to tell us more about the company and give us a fascinating insight into her own success. Sports Marketing MD of the Year – South England & Best Sports Media & Rights Company - UK Sports Revolution works with teams in the English Premier League and Championship, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Bundesliga and also Euroleague Basketball and rugby. Kelly talks us through her work, explaining how the work she does varies on a regular basis, interchanging between different sports with different activities. “Here at Sports Revolution, our work is varied, and as such I work on a variety of projects. I could be working with a Premier League football club to negotiate a sponsorship deal, helping a brand in Asia build a marketing campaign through sport, or helping a rights holder like UEFA to maximise the value of its sponsorship assets.” Possessing extensive knowledge of the sporting industry, Kelly’s previous job roles highlight her experience in the market. She details some of the changes she has seen since she started her career, both within her firm and also within the sports industry, with regard to women. Interestingly, Kelly believes that being a woman in a male dominated industry can be advantageous for her. Her enthusiasm for sport is evident, and this translates into her vision of seeing women holding an equal standing in sport. “I have seen a significant shift in the attitude towards women’s sport in the UK over the past five years, and I think this offers further confidence to those women in the commercial area of the business to continue to grow and develop their careers. Being a woman in a male dominated environment can be a real advantage, as people tend to remember you, but ensuring that you are also taken seriously is very important, and the shift in perception from female commentators to commercial directors is hugely positive. “Excitingly, the recent success of national women’s sports teams in football, cricket and rugby is really helping to raise the profile of women’s sport. I think we are at a crucial moment in the history of this market: our national women’s team are starting to receive the commercial and media recognition they deserve, which is good news for the sport business industry and our FCE17021 clients, presenting us with lots of opportunities to connect brands with fans.” Commenting on her leadership style, Kelly explains how she ensures everyone in her organisation understands her vision and works towards reaching the same goals. Inspiration and passion are key aspects of what Kelly believes make a successful team. “For me, it is about inspiring a team to feel as passionate about a project as you do. I remember early in my career working for a sales director whose style was to rule by fear, he was aggressive in his approach and whist it delivered results, the staff turnover was high, and team spirit was low. I remember making a promise to myself that if ever I was in that position I would want to inspire my team and deliver results based on hard work, respect and belonging, so that is what I try to do.” Looking ahead, Kelly talks us through her future plans for Sports Revolution, before going on to mention her ideas for her own career, including how she aims to build upon her own success.