Why Mak left a prestigious role in investment banking for a career in sports marketing

Mak Dorić, Senior Media Rights Sales Manager

After studying finance and investment management, landing a coveted role at a leading global investment banking firm at age 22 should have been a dream job for Mak. But it wasn’t actually his dream. And as a result, he was profoundly unhappy and quit within a year.

Additionally, despite being born and raised in Canada, Mak never felt completely at home there. His parents had fled Bosnia during the 1992 war and, now, he was ready to explore more of his culture and experience life outside North America. He bought a one-way ticket to Indonesia and travelled the world for six months. Since then, his love of travelling has only grown — he has visited 85 countries and is steadily making progress toward his goal of 100.

Swapping finance for football

During his travels he made the decision to re-start his career in sports. He relocated to his native Bosnia, where he worked for FK Željezničar in Sarajevo, the country’s most famous club. At the club he had the opportunity to do pretty much everything, from sponsorship deals to contractual negotiations with players. The role also confirmed that Mak definitely wanted to work in sports. However, his ambitions led him to seek a greater challenge in the global football industry.

To further his studies and gain credentials in the sports world, he went to Switzerland to attend the well-respected International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS). He received a Master’s degree in Sports Administration and began the search for a full-time job.

Finding the perfect fit at TEAM

Mak first became aware of TEAM Marketing while attending a job fair in Lausanne. When a role in the digital sponsorships department was advertised, he jumped at the opportunity and was hired. For two years, he progressed quickly and knew he had made the right decision to join TEAM. But when a media sales role focusing specifically on Central Eastern Europe opened up within the organisation, he knew it would be an even better fit. He advocated to switch roles internally and now is doing exactly what he loves.

“I absolutely love coming to work. This role combines my love of travelling, sports and negotiations, while allowing me to use my language skills and build my network.”

With his frequent travelling also comes an affinity toward learning languages. When both Mak and TEAM saw the opportunity for him to learn Russian, courses were organised. Now, two and a half years later, Mak is fluent in Russian, bringing his language tally to a total of five. It’s a benefit for him, but also for the company, since he can now give sales presentations in Russian, Bosnian, French, German and English.

Working at TEAM has given me incredible experiences – from collaborating with the smartest people in the industry in a high-stakes environment, to travelling across all parts of the Old Continent in a quest to grow European football.

Are you interested in making the move to a career in sports? Check out our Careers page to learn more about Life at TEAM and our open roles.