More than 250 students from 14 academic institutions and 32 organisations from the sports sector attended the second edition of the SPORTS BUSINESS Job Fair, organised by Johan Cruyff Institute and Impulsyn
The event once again brought together young talent and leading brands from across the sports industry in Barcelona. More than 250 students from different academic institutions had the opportunity to explore career paths in the sector and learn how to enter and grow within the industry.
Held at the Antigua Fábrica de Estrella Damm, the event featured roundtables, interviews and networking activities that enabled direct connections between future professionals and leading sports organisations and brands.
Alex Zusammen, founder and CEO of Impulsyn, explained the importance of the event: “The SPORTS BUSINESS Job Fair was created to connect young talent with the professional reality of the sports industry. We want students to understand what profiles companies are looking for today, what opportunities exist, and how they can begin building their careers in this sector.”
Careers in sports retail and equipment distribution: the case of Sports Emotion
The event opened with an interview with Irene Merino, Chief People Officer at Sports Emotion. Moderated by Xavier Trallero, Managing Director of Barcelona Sports Hub, the conversation focused on advice for students seeking their first job in the industry.
Merino, who has more than 15 years of experience in talent management in the sports sector, emphasised the importance of developing soft skills.
“Technical skills are important, but what really makes the difference when someone starts their career are soft skills: attitude, the ability to learn quickly, teamwork and the capacity to adapt to changing environments”.
Corporate roles in the fitness sector: insights from one of the fastest-growing areas in the sports industry
The next roundtable featured professionals from the fitness industry. As highlighted by Álex Zusammen, who moderated the discussion, the fitness sector is currently the fastest-growing area within the sports industry and the one generating the most job opportunities on the Impulsyn platform.
The panel included Carla Sucarrat, Managing Director at Énergie Fitness; Lydia Herranz, Trade Marketing Manager at Planet Fitness; and Héctor Robledo, Franchise Business Consultant at Anytime Fitness Iberia. Each of them shared their perspectives on career opportunities and current challenges in the sector.
“If you want to go far, you can’t burn out along the way. It’s about finding a balance between personal and professional life so you can build a long career and continue performing at your best over time,” said Carla Sucarrat.
Lydia Herranz explained her role as a Trade Marketing Manager: “It’s about aligning brand marketing strategies with sales execution. Trade marketing managers implement, design and oversee in-store displays, banners and promotional materials.”
Héctor Robledo also explained the franchise model used by Anytime Fitness: “The franchise model allows entrepreneurs to enter the fitness industry with the support of a global brand, a proven business model and the guidance needed to develop a project in the long term.”
Managing a semi-professional football club: the case of CE L’Hospitalet
The next interview featured Max Smith, Business Director of CE L’Hospitalet, one of the historic clubs in Catalan football. In conversation with Alex Zusammen, he explained that his role focuses on developing the club from a business perspective, including operational management, commercial partnerships, marketing and the long-term sustainability of the sporting project.
Recently, CE L’Hospitalet began a new chapter with a high-profile investment group led by former footballers Jordi Alba and Thiago Alcántara, together with Glovo CEO Oscar Pierre.
“In clubs like CE L’Hospitalet, the challenge is to professionalise the structure and build a sustainable project that combines sporting ambition with strong business management”.
Girona FC: career opportunities within a LALIGA club
The final interview of the SPORTS BUSINESS Job Fair featured Joan Closa Rovira, Football Experiences Coordinator at Girona FC. He was interviewed by Edgar Romero Jara, Manager, Hospitality & Partnership Lead at the F1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Closa explained how Girona FC’s professional structure operates, the types of roles involved and the different career paths available within the industry.
“A professional football club requires a wide range of profiles: from marketing and communications to operations, events, data or fan experience. It’s an industry with many entry points for people who want to work in sport”.
Networking session: leading sports brands connect with young talent
Following the interviews with industry professionals, the networking session began. More than 250 students from 12 academic institutions across Spain had the opportunity to connect directly with leading companies such as Decathlon, Deporvillage, Girona FC and Celebreak, among others.
In total, 32 organisations met with students during the event, encouraging the exchange of ideas, mutual learning and the creation of professional opportunities in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
With this second edition, the Job Fair continues to establish itself as a space for connection, learning and networking for both companies and students seeking their first professional experience. The third edition, which is already in preparation, will take place in 2027.
