This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
From Pharmacist to Sports Consultant: Sharon Alella's Unconventional Journey ¶
Published on June 18, 2020
Sharon Alella's childhood interests never pointed her towards a career in sports. Growing up, she loved football, but the prospect of a career in sports never crossed her mind. Instead, she wanted to be a pharmacist, but couldn't make the grade to go to medical school.
Undeterred, Sharon elected to study recreation and sports management at Kenyatta University, where the arc of her career began pointing to a direction she had never originally imagined – sports consultancy.
Five years later, Sharon is a sports journalist at Capital FM, a sports business consultant, and columnist with the Business Daily and Forbes Africa magazine.
So, what does sports consultancy entail? It involves many different things relating to sports activities, such as events planning, media relations, logistics, technical team support, sports marketing, and even security. Sharon's job is to manage all these aspects to deliver an exciting sporting experience to spectators and other stakeholders.
Is it a lucrative career? 'There is a great opportunity to make money within the industry. However, sports consultancy in Africa is tough because the industry is still in its nascent stages. There is still a lot of work to be done.'
Sharon's passion for sports is complemented by her love for storytelling. The need to tell stories that would otherwise end up untold is what motivates her to keep doing what she does. Such stories can inspire future generations of African sports lovers.
Sharon has chosen to invest extensively in sports communication. She likes seeing children participate in sports and encouraging them to keep playing is the best way to nurture their talent.
Her volunteer work at Futbol Màs Kenya has helped her understand values such as resilience, respect, and teamwork, which are essential in professional sports. These attributes make you a better person even outside work.
Sharon admits that the cancellation and rescheduling of live sports events due to the Covid-19 pandemic threw her off balance. Redrafting her strategy for 2021 has taken up a significant portion of time so far.
She recently started conversations on Instagram with prominent figures in sports, engaging athletes and administrators from around the world about the most pressing sports issues.
Sharon hopes to become a respected voice in sports advocacy in five years and take up a more engaging sports leadership role. She also intends to raise the quality of local sports events, encourage more people to take up careers in sports, and advance her education in sport management.
